XTR Is Trying to Solve the Crisis in Documentary Film, but Some Filmmakers Feel Betrayed

Writer Anthony Kaufman reports that filmmakers have accused nonfiction entertainment studio XTR of verbally offering and then retracting large grants. South African filmmaker Milisuthando Bongela, director of the Sundance film Milisuthando, shared her experience of promised funding not materializing. Similar incidents involving other filmmakers have been reported over the past few years. XTR, founded in 2019, has supported numerous nonfiction projects but now faces criticism for unreliable commitments and founder/CEO Bryn Mooser responds. Some filmmakers argue that such behavior is detrimental to their projects and undermines trust in the industry.