Film Fund
The Stept Film Fund is dedicated to supporting breakthrough filmmakers with short documentary films. With a commitment to fostering creativity and diverse perspectives, in Spring 2024 the Fund invited emerging and experienced filmmakers to submit proposals that explored the richness of the human condition, offering a fresh and dynamic perspective on the stories that shape us. While submissions are currently closed, this annual initiative aims to continue to empower filmmakers to delve into the intricacies of the human experience, providing a platform for compelling narratives that resonate on a deep and emotional level.
Stept has chosen two projects for this year’s fund. We are honored to celebrate the following Film Fund Official Selections:
Sing at my wake
Director Jonathan Pickett
an observational documentary that follows an innovative green deathcare company, and a family who has opted for this new end-of-life option.
Jonathan Pickett is an Emmy-nominated creative producer / director. His documentary work focuses on well-observed stories happening in real time, captured with a sense of intimacy and playfulness. His work has been released through GQ Magazine, New York Times, The Atlantic, ALTER, NoBudge & Short of the Week. He's had projects premiere at film festivals like Sundance, Tribeca, Seattle, Austin, HollyShorts, Mountainfilm, Palm Springs, and dozens more. His most recent short documentary "Chicken Stories" won the jury prize for Artistic Vision at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, after which it was acquired by The New Yorker and selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick.
Odd Man In
Director Matt Nadel
PRoducers Luke Hodges, Peter Lansworth, Matt Nadel
In 1951, a closeted writer ignited the gay rights movement—and then betrayed it. Edward Sagarin’s book The Homosexual in America, published under the pseudonym Donald Webster Cory, inspired a generation of activists with its call for self-acceptance and equality. For years, Sagarin was the beloved “father” of the gay cause, until he unexpectedly embraced conversion therapy. Decades later, Sagarin’s only son reckons with his father's betrayal—of his family, his movement, and his ideals.
Matt Nadel is a documentary filmmaker unearthing hidden, often messy LGBTQ+ histories. His documentary shorts have been acquired and distributed by the New York Times, The New Yorker, and PBS. Nominated for a 2024 GLAAD Media Award and named a Vimeo Staff Pick, Matt's most recent film, "CANS Can't Stand" (The New Yorker 2023), won awards at festivals around the world, including NewFest, Outfest, and Provincetown.