‘Filmanthropy’ Continues to Grow

With the success of “An Inconvenient Truth,” Al Gore’s documentary on climate change, a growing number of philanthropists are bankrolling documentary films to raise awareness about social problems, environmental dangers, and other concerns, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The so-called filmanthropists include Albie Hecht, the former president of the children’s cable network Nickelodeon. Mr. Hecht financed “War/Dance,” a documentary about Ugandan schoolchildren who survived the country’s civil war while competing in a music contest. The film won the award for best directing at the Sundance Film Festival last month.

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