Women in Film Portland Announces Winner For “Vision Grant”

Lindsay Trapnell wins Women in Film Portland Vision Grant for documentary about Rose City Riveters, supporters club for the Portland Thorns women’s soccer team.

Portland, Oregon; November 20, 2019Women In Film Portland has announced Lindsay Trapnell as the winner of its $5,000 Vision Grant award for her documentary film in progress called “Riveted.” The film is about the Rose City Riveters, a supporters club for the Portland Thorns women’s soccer team. It is one of the largest and most avid groups of supporters in all of professional women’s sports.

Trapnell has been shooting footage at nearly every Thorns game for the past two seasons. “The Riveters are the most passionate fanbase in all of women’s professional sports. They are making big strides to transform soccer culture into an inclusive and welcoming place for all, especially the LGBTQ community,” she said. “This mission is what drew me to the project. I’m also drawn to exploring the subculture the Riveters have created. It is a deeply passionate community.” she continues. “They have their own lingo, inside jokes, and traditions. Many consider each other family.”

Trapnell hopes to finish the film before the 2020 Summer Olympics and is raising funding. “The U.S. women’s soccer team has done a lot to drive the conversation about equal pay, so I think that would be a great time to get the film out,” she added. The teaser for “Riveted” can be viewed on Trapnell’s website, along with many of her other film and photography projects.

Women In Film has just celebrated 10 years in Portland. Nearly 40 women and non-binary filmmakers from Oregon and southwest Washington submitted their projects for the 2019 Vision Grant. The grant had been dormant for three years until Catherine Blanksby, a venture capital investor who is active in Portland’s startup community, stepped up to fund it this year. Blanksby spent many years in TV and video production in New York City, including three years at MTV, before working on business ventures in Los Angeles, Russia, France and Australia.

“Trapnell impressed the selection committee as a strong cinematographer with crucial behind-the-scenes access to a singular Portland story,” Blanksby said. Interest in women’s soccer has had a big bump recently due to the World Cup wins by the U.S. Women’s National team and ‘Riveted’ is poised to leverage that momentum.

About Women In Film Portland and its Vision Grant

Women in Film (WIF) Portland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, membership-driven organization that connects Oregon filmmakers to a network of peers and mentors, funding opportunities and hands-on training. It was founded with the belief that a thriving network of filmmakers makes Oregon’s media industry stronger.

The WIF Vision Grant honors both narrative and documentary filmmakers who convey a compelling answer to the question: “What impactful story do you have to tell and what is your access to tell it?”

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