Archive · 16 Sep 2026
'Ear Hustle' and 'Indígena' Win Inaugural Documentary Grants
The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation gave two documentary films grants to help them continue their work.
Each film received $50,000 that can be used freely for the project.
One film follows the people who created the Ear Hustle podcast.
They travel to prisons around the world and share stories about life inside.
The other film is called Indígena.
It follows filmmaker Siku Allooloo as she explores her mother’s activism and Taino resistance.
The filmmakers will also join a creative retreat during a film festival in Maine.
The retreat is meant to help them improve their films and work together.
The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation awarded $50,000 unrestricted grants to two documentary films.
The supported projects are Erika Cohn’s Untitled “Ear Hustle” Film and Siku Allooloo’s Indígena.
Untitled “Ear Hustle” Film follows podcast creators visiting prisons worldwide to share incarcerated people’s stories.
Indígena explores Taino resistance and a filmmaker’s connection to her mother’s Red Power Movement activism.
Both film teams will attend a Points North Institute creative retreat during the Camden International Film Festival in Maine.
- Who
- The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation awarded grants to filmmakers Erika Cohn, Kristina Motwani, Siku Allooloo, Avrïl Jacobson, and Lawrence Jackman’s projects.
- What
- Two documentaries received the inaugural Documentary Film Award, including $50,000 unrestricted grants and participation in a creative retreat.
- When
- The Camden International Film Festival and retreat run Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 17-20; the year is not specified.
- Where
- The festival takes place in Camden and Rockland, Maine.
- Why
- The foundation said the grants recognize artistic excellence and support research-driven truth-telling in documentary filmmaking.
- Award
- Inaugural Ellis-Beauregard Foundation Documentary Film Award
- Grant amount
- $50,000 unrestricted per film
- Recipients
- Untitled “Ear Hustle” Film and Indígena
- Retreat host
- Points North Institute
- Festival
- Camden International Film Festival
- Festival location
- Camden and Rockland, Maine
- Jury
- Chloe Walters-Wallace, Jeff Seelbach, Nell Lawrenz-Wareham, and Ian Kibbe