The Filmmakers Collaborative was formed in 1986 to reduce business and administrative costs through combination and economies of scale, thus enabling greater artistic independence, and ensuring for society the benefits of diverse, independent, public issues filmmaking -- an essential element in modern democracy. As the Collaborative approaches its twentieth anniversary, it has grown and matured as an institution in its own right, It has sponsored 48 film and video projects, and administered over $7 million in national grants; the projects are self-generated and non-commissioned, independently produced on subjects the artists feel passionately about. Some of this work airs nationally in prime-time public television, but many of the films are for smaller audiences (e.g. educational films). Two of its public programs–Film Works (teaching hands-on videomaking), and Film Talks (screenings and discussions of new films, cited as a “Gold Star Program” by the Massachusetts Cultural Council), are directed at underserved youth. A third, Filmmakers Open Studios (workshops, demonstrations, panel discussions and screenings) is for the public and profession. If you are interested in philanthropy to support independent filmmaking in America, this is for you.