The Ford Foundation has announced grants totaling $4.2 million in support of 59 documentary projects focused on social justice.

The foundation’s latest round of JustFilms grants include two documentaries that premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. JustFilm’s grants support content that spans the foundation’s key strategic areas such as natural resources and climate change, gender justice, disability inclusion, and racial and ethnic justice. The films explore themes of social justice including, but not limited to, women’s rights (particularly at the intersection of land rights and reproductive justice), environment/natural resources, Latin American history and culture, disability justice and accessibility, the U.S. education system, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the criminal justice system. JustFilms also champions several organizations and their ongoing work to identify, support, and train emerging filmmakers as well as confront systemic challenges that filmmakers face, particularly BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ filmmakers.

“Our grantees represent a diverse tapestry of narratives, reflecting deeply ingrained societal concerns and cultural legacies shaping our collective consciousness. Each documentary helps to illuminate the multifaceted experiences that define our present era,” said JustFilms program officer Jon-Sesrie Goff. “In a world increasingly filled with misinformation and polarization, it’s critical to support artistic works that help to counter this and offer nuanced views of our society.”

For a complete list of recipients, see the Ford Foundation website.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/ZeynepKaya)