What do the occupation of Alcatraz, the science fiction of Ursula K. Le Guin, the unresolved legacy of war for Fresno’s Hmong community, and a funky punk band from South Central LA all have in common?

They’re just a few of the stories told by the film, radio, and new media productions we’ve supported through the California Documentary Project (CDP). Each adds a new layer to a complex and growing portrait of California. Together, they help us better understand who we are and where we live.

We at Cal Humanities have a long history of supporting exceptional documentaries that have won Emmys, been nominated for Academy Awards, and garnered Peabodys. Through national broadcast, distribution, and film festival screenings, they inspire lively conversation, quiet reflection, and surprising epiphanies.

Since 2003 Cal Humanities has awarded nearly $3 million in research and development, production, and public engagement grant awards to media makers who go deep and reach broadly to capture California in all its complexity. Click HERE to see descriptions of past and present CDP projects.

What’s your California experience?

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