Film Independent
To champion creative independence in visual storytelling in all its forms and to foster a culture of inclusion. We support a global community of artists and audiences who embody diversity, innovation, curiosity and uniqueness of vision.
Film Independent at a glance
In short: Film Independent gave $240K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $240,000
- +45.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,000
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $9,397,936
- +13.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (58% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Film Independent
Who Film Independent funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Artefacto Cinema Inc ($50K). Together the top 8 received $240K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 35 grants of 41 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Film Independent gives
- Giving grew 58% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $75K (2020) to $310K (2023). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $240K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Artefacto Cinema Inc West Hollywood, CA | Imaginar Producers Residency | $50,000 |
| One Rising LLC Los Angeles, CA | Sloan Distribution Grant (Humans in the Loop) | $50,000 |
| JM Harper Media LLC Brooklyn, NY | Amplifier Fellowship | $30,000 |
| Protostellar Media LLC Oklahoma City, OK | Sloan Producing Grant | $30,000 |
| Beholden Flilms LLC Durham, NC | Amplifier Fellowship | $30,000 |
| Nettles and Dirt Roads Inc Los Angeles, CA | Amplifier Fellowship | $30,000 |
| Orquidea LLC Oakland, CA | Cayton-Goldrich Family Foundation Fellowship | $10,000 |
| Third Cousin Pictures Inc Brooklyn, NY | Mpac Fellowship | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,397,936 | $19,150,546 | $18,866,656 | $240,000 | 8 | $105,320 |
| 2024 | $8,317,119 | $21,143,531 | $20,799,378 | $165,000 | 6 | $106,541 |
| 2023 | $8,703,547 | $19,440,991 | $18,955,082 | $310,000 | 9 | $68,239 |
| 2022 | $6,642,446 | $17,498,040 | $17,757,109 | $151,667 | 6 | $6,416 |
| 2021 | $7,465,634 | $11,527,723 | $9,398,478 | $262,724 | 12 | $254 |
| 2020 | $4,872,019 | $13,263,298 | $11,161,522 | $75,000 | 2 | $20,252 |
| 2019 | $2,567,191 | $11,123,880 | $12,959,325 | $230,000 | 9 | $28,870 |
About Film Independent
Based on IRS filings
Film Independent is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Los Angeles, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $240K. Net investment income was $105K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Film Independent is led by Josh Welsh, President on every filing since 2019; 7 of 35 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Josh Welsh
President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$287K (2019) → $294K (2025)
Brenda Robinson
Acting President
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2022
Board Chair → Acting President, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric D'arbeloff
Acting Board Chair
Director → Executive Committee Member-At-Large, 2023
Executive Committee Member-At-Large → Acting Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Walker
Senior Director of Development
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$139K (2019) → $173K (2025)
Maria Bozzi-Rahamad
Sr.director Educ & Int'l Programs
Senior Director of Education & International Ini → Sr.director of Education & International Program, 2024
Sr.director of Education & International Program → Sr.director Educ & Int'l Programs, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$130K (2019) → $165K (2025)
Aline Loustaunau
Director of Marketing
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$124K (2020) → $137K (2025)
Monique Coleman
Sr.director of Hr & Administrator
Senior Director, Human Resources & Administration → Senior Director of Human Resources & Administratio, 2023
Senior Director of Human Resources & Administratio → Sr.director of Hr & Administrator, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$115K (2020) → $133K (2025)
Valecia Phillips
Director of Finance & Oper.
Director of Finance & Operations → Director of Finance & Oper., 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$41K (2022) → $174K (2025)
Adriene Bowles
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alan Poul
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Schulman
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Col Needham
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Linde
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gail Mutrux
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Javier Fuentes-Leon
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karyn Kusama
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Kim
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Len Amato
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mathew Cullen
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Helfant
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mynette Louie
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randy Barbato
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sue Kroll
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ted Mundorff
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Gilbert
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sue Naegle
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Greenfield
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rhys Ernst
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alix Madigan-Yorkin
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Soros
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dan Stern
Director
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Davis
Executive Producer & Spirit
Executive Producer & Spirit Awards → Executive Producer & Spirit, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$119K (2020) → $136K (2025)
Andrea Sperling
Secretary
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ed Rada
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Executive Committee Member-At-Large
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Catherine Park (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Kasi Lemmons (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Alix Madigan Yorkin (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Vondie Curtis Hall (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Patricia Davis (2022) — Executive Assistant
- Former: Mary Sweeney (2019–2021) — Board Chair
- Former: Nancy Utley (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Nina Yang Bongiovi (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Allan Mayer (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Effie T. Brown (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Michael Joe (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Albina Oks (2019) — Director of Corporate Sponsorship
- Former: Elvis Mitchell (2019) — Film Curator
- Former: Jennifer Cochis (2019) — Director & La Film Festival
- Former: Michael Winchester (2019) — Managing Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $294K, to Josh Welsh (President (Until Dec 24)). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Film Independent
How much does Film Independent give each year?
Film Independent gave $240K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $165K across 6 grants.
What is Film Independent's typical grant size?
Film Independent's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $30,000, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Film Independent give grants?
Film Independent gives mostly in California: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (17%) and Oklahoma (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does Film Independent give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Film Independent's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Amplifier Fellowship" (3 grants).
Who are Film Independent's largest grantees?
Film Independent's largest 2025 grantees include Artefacto Cinema Inc ($50,000), One Rising LLC ($50,000) and JM Harper Media LLC ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Film Independent?
Film Independent reported $9.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $19.2M.
What is Film Independent?
Film Independent is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Los Angeles, CA. It holds $9.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Film Independent's EIN?
Film Independent's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3943485. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 4, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Film Independent's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Film Independent's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Film Independent down — hundreds of funders to go?