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Do you remember the very first moment when you realized a movie could be far more than just a brief, amiable diversion from the temporal slog of life as an extant human? That first moment you realized film could be art capable of providing a fully nourishing spiritual experience? That perhaps even made you want to become a filmmaker in order to provide that experience to someone else? Just as important: Do you recall the most recent movie that gave you that same feeling or fit of inspiration? Well, in this week’s Survey Says that’s just what we asked: What’s the first movie you saw that you considered a masterpiece… and the most recent?

Thirty-plus years of Film Independent Artist Development, of course, means access to the accumulated wisdom Film Independent Fellows. So with our latest query in hand, we took a trip down memory road to...

Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program supports an inclusive variety of projects, narrative and nonfiction, shorts and features, as well as the occasional new media project, special event or advocacy initiative. Each month, our Fiscal Spotlight column introduces three new fiscally-sponsored projects worth supporting.

But maybe you’re curious how some of those prior subjects have turned out? That’s right: it’s time for another FiSpo Update highlighting the recent achievements of previous Fiscal Spotlight subjects. Curious how it all works? See below:

Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. The projects and makers participating in the program express a uniqueness of vision, celebrate diversity and advance the craft of filmmaking through the creation of these special works. To see the full range of projects that are part of our program, visit our Sponsored Projects page.

Down Below...

Exclusive: Andrea Bang (Kim’s Convenience) will exec produce and topline Surrender, an indie drama marking the first feature from writer-director Jess Dang, which has entered production in Los Angeles. Co-starring Gilmore Girls‘s Keiko Agena, the film is one of ten in the fiction space to have recently been selected for fiscal sponsorship through Film Independent’s Fast Track Fellowship Program.

Pic tells the story of Naomi (Bang) a young, Asian American female looking to escape past trauma who falls into the world of blackjack to regain a sense of control, but finds herself addicted to the game. By day, Naomi is successful at her job. By night, she is a high-limit blackjack player. Her compulsive gambling puts her in a secret cycle of shame as she suppresses her internal feelings to appear externally sound, impacting her mental health.

The project began its life as a short film, also starring Bang and Agena,...

Exclusive: Jhené Chase has been tapped to direct Winter State Entertainment‘s forthcoming Christmas thriller, Santa’s List — a film described as a festive Christmas version of your favorite slashers.

Written by Winter State’s Hamid and Camille Torabpour, the film is set in Deep Haven, which is known for its world-renowned Santa Claus festival that keeps the small town alive all year round. But beneath all the Christmas Spirit, tinsel and lights, there’s a darkness lurking. And this year, the 12 days of Christmas get turned upside down. After the murder of her best friend, big city detective, Eve, is lured back to her hometown to solve the crime. With each passing victim, the killer seems to be closer to home than ever. Will she solve what “my true love gave to me” before it’s too late or will Santa check the final name off his list?

Chase...

According to casino.org, world gambling statistics show that around 26% of the population gamble. That means around 1.6 billion people worldwide gamble and 4.2 billion gamble at least once every year. Jess Dang, director of “Surrender” states, “It has taken me ten years to admit that I'm a compulsive gambler. I have silently struggled with a gambling addiction for the past decade and it is finally something that I am learning to live without”. As such, she is actually one who can really talk about the issue, which is exactly what she tries to do with the particular short.

“Surrender” is screening at New Filmmakers Los Angeles

The movie starts in a barely lit setting, in an apartment, where Naomi, a young Asian-American, is evidently in angst about something. The story than jumps back in time, with her as a child witnessing her father assaulting her mother. The crisis passes, and in the next scene,...