named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Cinema of Commoning
International initiative bringing together artists and thinkers, hosted in locations including Berlin, focused on shared cinematic practices.
Fiscal Sponsorship Program
Enables documentary filmmakers to access grant opportunities, accept tax-deductible donations, and receive nonprofit administrative support.
Public Screenings & Events
Free outdoor and indoor screenings of documentary and experimental films, often co-presented with community partners.
UNDO CoLAB
Artist development program supporting collaborative documentary projects; provides space, resources, and community for experimental media-makers.
UNDO Membership
Membership program offering free access to in-person events and online content, including rare and groundbreaking documentaries.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 2 activities
- Funding independent documentary film projects through the Fondazione Prada Film FundAdministers the Fondazione Prada Film Fund, which awards grants to support up to 14 independent film projects annually with a €1.5 million endowment, including managing open application periods.
- Operating a fiscal sponsorship program for documentary filmmakersProvides fiscal sponsorship to independent documentary filmmakers, enabling access to grant funding, tax-deductible donations, and nonprofit administrative support through a structured program.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Operating a permanent event space and artist residency for documentary and experimental mediaRenovating and operating a permanent headquarters in Ridgewood, Queens that includes a 50-seat event space with full amenities and serves as an artist residency, supporting experimental media-makers and documentary creators through in-person and online programming.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Presenting and co-presenting documentary and experimental film screenings and live audio eventsHosts free in-person and outdoor film screenings, co-presents film programs with partner organizations, and presents live audio documentary events featuring filmmakers and performers, including premieres of works such as Terra Femme and Invention.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Supporting documentary film production through the UNDO CoLAB programSupports the development and screening of documentary films through its UNDO CoLAB program, including production support for films such as Barriga Llena, Corazón Contento, which premiered at Rooftop Films.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.74M
Contributions & grants$2.35M86%
Program service revenue$334K12%
Investment income$43K2%
Other revenue$14K
expenses
Total expenses$2.43M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$486K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.96M
Cash$1.27M
Investments$0
Liabilities$2.02M
Net assets$1.95M
Liquid reserves6.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +35.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER ALLEN | EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 45 | $107K |
board members · 12
- ADAM KATZ — BOARD DIRECTOR
- ALAN MINOR — BOARD DIRECTOR
- CYNTHIA KEUPPERS — TREASURER
- KIRSTEN LARVICK — BOARD DIRECTOR
- MARYANA GRINSHPUN — BOARD DIRECTOR
- MOIRA BRENNAN — BOARD DIRECTOR
- NOAH LANDOW — BOARD PRESIDENT
- ROB FIELDS — BOARD DIRECTOR
- SEBASTIAN DIAZ — BOARD DIRECTOR
- SHARON ULLMAN — BOARD DIRECTOR
- TONY GERBER — BOARD DIRECTOR
- YAEL MELAMEDE — BOARD SECRETARY
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- BFI Doc Society Funder — UnionDocs promotes the Made of Truth: BFI Doc Society Short Film Fund, indicating a relationship with BFI Doc Society as a funder in the documentary field.
- Berlinale Partner — Exhibited films through partnership with the Berlin International Film Festival.
- DCTV Partner — Hosted the New York premiere of "A Paradise Lost," a film fiscally sponsored by UnionDocs.
- DCTV Partner — Hosted the New York premiere of the fiscally sponsored documentary "A Paradise Lost."
- DCTV Partner — Partner organization where a fiscally sponsored film had its New York premiere.
- Doc NYC Partner — Hosted the NYC premiere of "The Great Experiment," a film fiscally sponsored by UnionDocs.
- Doc NYC Partner — Hosted the New York City premiere of the fiscally sponsored documentary "The Great Experiment."
- Doc NYC Partner — Partner organization hosting the NYC premiere of a fiscally sponsored film.
- Fondazione Prada Funder — UnionDocs promotes the Fondazione Prada Film Fund, suggesting a funding partnership or programmatic connection.
- Fondazione Prada Partner — Collaborates with Fondazione Prada to administer the annual Film Fund supporting independent cinema.
- IDFA Partner — Exhibited films through partnership with the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.
- LOCAL PARTNERS Partner — Collaborates with local partners in programming and community engagement around experimental media and critical discourse.
- La Clef Revival Partner — Collaborates with La Clef Revival in conversations at Cinema of Commoning about sustaining independent cinema spaces.
- Locarno Film Festival Partner — Collaborated on the premiere of the experimental film Invention.
- New York Film Festival Partner — Exhibited films through partnership with the New York Film Festival.
- Nooks and Crannies Partner — Co-presents film programs with UnionDocs.
- Palestine Film Fund Funder — UnionDocs promotes the Palestine Film Fund, suggesting a network or funding relationship with the organization.
- Palinale Festival Partner — Collaborates with Palinale Festival in discussions at Cinema of Commoning on models for collective film culture.
- Pop-up Animation Festival Partner — Collaborates on animated programming, as indicated by shared branding and promotional materials.
- PxrnFilmFestival Berlin Partner — Collaborates with PxrnFilmFestival Berlin in conversations at Cinema of Commoning about supporting artists and community through independent cinema.
- Rooftop Films Partner — Partner organization hosting a screening of a film produced through the UNDO CoLAB program.
- SFFILM Funder — UnionDocs promotes the SFFILM Rainin Filmmakers with Disability Grant, indicating a connection to SFFILM as a funding organization.
- SFFILM Partner — Collaborates on promoting the Rainin Filmmakers with Disability Grant.
- SXSW Partner — Exhibited films through partnership with the South by Southwest Film Festival.
- Signal Hill Partner — Collaborates with Signal Hill to present a night of live audio documentaries.
- Sundance Institute Funder — UnionDocs promotes opportunities from the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, indicating a funding relationship or alignment with the funder.
- The Flaherty Partner — Collaborates with The Flaherty, as indicated by cross-promotion of job opportunities and shared programming interests in non-fiction cinema.
- The Flaherty Partner — UnionDocs shares news about The Flaherty Film Seminar hiring an Executive Director, indicating an ongoing partnership or collaborative relationship.
- The Grierson Trust Partner — Collaborates with UnionDocs to promote the Grierson-Percy Documentary Grant.
- The Kenneth Rainin Foundation Funder — Provides financial support for the Rainin Filmmakers with Disability Grant.
+ 2 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Archival Reclamation as Cultural Inquirymethodology: archival-reclamationBy compiling and exhibiting amateur archival footage—particularly by women—the organization illuminates underrepresented historical narratives and explores the public unconscious, because recentering marginalized perspectives through film challenges dominant historical geographies and deepens cultural understanding.
- Artist-Centered Community Engagement Through Filmmethodology: artist-centered community engagementBy creating platforms for experimental and narrative non-fiction storytelling—including rare film access, live audio documentary performances, and co-presented programs—the organization fosters community engagement and artistic discovery, because immersive and collaborative film experiences deepen public connection to urgent human stories.
- Fiscal Sponsorship for Independent Filmmakersmethodology: fiscal_sponsorshipBy providing fiscal sponsorship to independent documentary filmmakers, the organization enables access to grant funding, tax-deductible donations, and administrative support, because such infrastructure increases the likelihood of project completion and sustainability for artists working outside mainstream systems.
- Open and Innovation-Focused Grantmakingmethodology: open-stage grantmakingBy supporting film projects at any stage of development and prioritizing artistic quality, originality, and applicant strength, the organization cultivates innovative cinema, because open-stage, merit-based funding lowers barriers for emerging and underrepresented voices in experimental documentary.