Official Selections

2022

Be Kind, directed by Jesse Foy: Sometimes the ones we feel deserve love the least need it the most.
Epic for Everyone, directed by Matt Coddaire: The Epic for Everyone Youth Access Program, in partnership with community organizations such as Good Shepherd Services, provides urban communities with an introduction and continued access to winter sports and careers in the outdoor industry.
Confessional, directed by Donal O’Dea: A man enters the confessional with something deeply troubling on his mind. He wants to kill a priest.
UKWATI // The Wedding, directed by Sean William Economou: Across the globe, child marriages are still taking place. Girls as young as 10 years old are being stripped of their innocence and thrown into the responsibilities of marriage. Our film, “UKWATI”, which translates to “The Wedding”, sheds light on the lengths to which a mother must go when living in extreme poverty. With limited opportunity, scarce resources and lack of education, millions of families are faced with this sobering reality. “UKWATI” captures the relationship between a mother and her daughter as they both struggle to survive. Watts of Love provides financial literacy training and a solar light which empowers people to raise themselves out of poverty and onto a path of prosperity.
Born Under Punches, directed by Gaoyang Ganjin: Tyler is trapped in his father’s dream of being a boxing champion, but he’s put up with it for too long. Following the journey of his internal chaos and pursuit of freedom, Born Under Punches is about finding yourself in the prison of other peoples’ expectations and breaking out.
What’s the Mark?, directed by Stacey Larkins: Through the lens of an actress unintentionally involved in a controversial commercial, What’s the mark explores the power of media and advertisements in influencing public opinion and the perpetuation of stereotypes and its effects.
RABBIT, directed by Jasper Fletcher, Lukas Fletcher: A boy celebrates his 18th birthday; gets wet.
Kojak: A Fuller Life, directed by Darien Taylor: Former high school basketball star, Kojak Fuller, uses his life’s tragedies to help the youth in his community flourish.
Contraception is not for p*ssies (Baas in eigen zak), directed by Lynn Deen: Imagine: Screaming children, sleepless nights and no more spontaneous nights out with your friends; for most men, unplanned parenthood sounds like the ultimate nightmare. Gone are the days of not worrying about anything. Gone are the times of being playful, young, and building a future. However, when it comes to sex, men seem to experience a position of privilege, getting the pleasures without taking any of the responsibilities. Many of them put complete trust in their partner to be in charge of birth control, putting these men in a dangerously dependent position. Because can you really trust your one-night stand? Do men have any autonomy over their own sperm? Are condoms or a vasectomy really the only two options for them? Isn’t it about time that men take charge of their own fertility? In this short, fragmental documentary we’ll accompany young men, confronted with their own reproductive responsibilities and the male-female relations that define our current day society.
BONUS FILM: The revolutionary life of former Black Panther and political prisoner Eddie Conway On February 13, former Black Panther and political prisoner Marshall Eddie Conway passed away. Conway dedicated his life to the cause of Black freedom struggle and the fight against racism and inequality. He spent 44 years behind bars as a political prisoner. Conway was an integral part of the Baltimore chapter of the Black Panther Party. Even as his health declined, Eddie never left the struggle. He lived his life for the people.

2021

Gender and Machismo, directed by Allison Chaves: Puerto Rican professionals discuss domestic violence in Puerto Rico and how it is influenced by gender perspectives and machismo.
America, You’re Beautiful, directed by Crossley Hawn, Allan Laino, Jacob Perry Jr., Gilbert Spencer: Poet Nina Brewton expresses the complicated relationship she and many other Black citizens have with America, while contemplating a path forward. The wordless soundtrack for voices was composed by Scot Hanna-Weir, and performed by Bridge Voices. Presented in collaboration with The Poet Life.
Oh Mercy – Searching for Hope in the Promised Land directed by Robert Bilheimer: a documentary film about thousands of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers from Central America who awaited court dates and immigration hearings in the US — many for almost two years, with no end in sight. Increasingly desperate and discouraged, they huddled in squalid camps and detention centers on both sides of the Rio Grande, which, for several hundred miles, serves as a natural border between Mexico and the United States.
Resurgence, directed by Kristin Adair: Resurgence tells the story of Jonas Gilham, a poet from Washington, DC, on a journey to transcend his own learned toxic masculinity from the street to prison, where self-education and egalitarian principles transformed a very troubled boy into a man committed to guiding other men through their own personal revolutions. After 17 years behind bars, Jonas offers his voice into the critical conversation about how we as a society can heal and prevent violence by reimagining masculinity to build a better, more equal future.
Covered, directed by Cherrye J. Davis: In a COVID impacted New York City, X, a black woman jogger, has a few things to consider before going outside for a run.
Child Of This Land, directed by Nik Yousefi: This video is just a protest and invitation of the people and the ruling system to empathy and cooperation with each other. This video is the wish of the majority of Iranian society to convey the message of empathy and cooperation of the ruling system with the people.
Let’s Talk About Farts, directed by Greg Runnels: A team of experts discuss flatulence.
Stores of Hope, directed by Steven Holloway Films: “Stores of Hope” is a three-year story about a former drug dealer, Gerry Palmer, and his journey to “serve in a good way” his beloved hometown and community of Sandtown in Baltimore, Maryland. Together with friends and volunteers, they opened Gerry’s Goods, the first resident-owned retail store in Sandtown, in over 20 years. But unlike all the other stores in the community, Gerry’s Goods doesn’t have the thick barrier of Plexiglas that separates the customer from the store’s goods. At first, some called Gerry crazy for not installing Plexiglas in his store. Still, now, after two years, the store has served the community without a single incident, giving the residents of Sandtown a renewed sense of pride and hope. “It’s not so much the freedom [for the children] to reach and grab a candy bar as it is the dignity that’s being afforded, once they cross the threshold of the store.” -Antoine Bennett, Sandtown resident
Wild Winds: Spirit of the Bison, directed by Sawyer Pasma: A buffalo preserve in northern Indiana is home to over 250 wild bison (also known as “buffalo”). Their human caretakers share their passion for the United States’ national animal, and its importance to the nation’s history and future.
The Rotation, directed by Hazhir As’adi: There is a war between two tribes on claiming the sun in the sky. As a result to that war, sun annihilates and the volcano erupts. Those two tribes now are dead and a new sun is made, both by that lava. Several century will pass and the humans are still in a war to claim the sun in the sky.
Fugetsu-Do, directed by Kaia Rose: “We had to live the American Dream twice.” An intimate portrait of a sweet shop that has been an anchor for the Japanese-American community in Little Tokyo since 1903. The ingredients of the brightly-colored pieces of mochi-gashi that line Fugetsu-Do’s wood-paneled cases include so much more than rice flour and sweet bean paste. Mixed inside are stories of joy and pain, tradition and racism, legacy and loss. Survival is never easy; it’s complicated and messy, full of contradictions and surprises. In the three generations that the Kito Family has been running Fugetsu-Do, the store has become a memory bank for the community and the stories that line its walls could not be more relevant in today’s America.
The Difference, directed by Brianne Berkson, Miguel Gluckstern: “Do we really want to bring a child into this World?” The question’s often posed, the global reality surely daunting. As soon-to-be-parents, we wonder what can we do to make a difference? In collaboration with the Holistic Life Foundation of Baltimore, we explore how we can provide all children with accessible, inherent tools so they live and thrive rather than struggle to survive – tools such as yoga, meditation, breathwork, mindfulness, self-care techniques and music. Ultimately, despite the external chaos that may be occurring, the children realize “we have the power, its in our hands its up to us.”
At Night, I dream, directed by Frédérique Buck: Entirely shot in the elevator of a retirement home, “At Night, I dream”, is a documentary about tender encounters with fellow human beings. A tale about age, aging, loss, love, longing, mourning and the power of human connection. “La Nuit, je rêve” touches the daily life of the residents, their relationship with the care staff, their relationship to life and finally also our own relationship to age and to the elderly, who are so often excluded and sidelined from our lives. The lift interested me as a place of exchange because it is a central feature in a retirement home, since without it, people remain confined to their rooms.
2020, directed by Tom Bessoir: A film for 2020, a year to remember. 2,020 different colors create a flicker film. Music by Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth). THIS FILM SHOULD BE PLAYED LOUD IN A DARK ROOM.

2020

Big Boys Don’t Cry, directed by Joe Byrne: Big Boys Don’t Cry is a spoken word piece written and directed by Joe Byrne. Its aim is to tackle some of the ideas of what it means to be a man in society today, by going straight in and dismantling the commonly used phrase “Big Boys Don’t Cry”. Its main objective is to smash the false idea and belief that men and boys should not show emotion, or by in doing so you are somehow weak or inadequate. It touches on subjects such as suicide, loneliness, isolation and the social conditioning that`s shaping the generations of males now growing up amongst us. It is a call to action for men to open up and not to be afraid to express themselves freely.
It is estimated that in 2015 in the UK and Ireland alone there were 6,639 suicides and of those 4,997 were males.
Pure Euphoria, directed by Timo Bruun & Edward Knowles: Pure Euphoria is a look into the mind of a determined man’s rise from the depths of depression and suicidal thoughts. Todd Crandell is a former drug addict and, now, an 81-time Ironman finisher. He has reached his higher purpose by pushing his body, mind and spirit to the limit. A journey of consciousness with one of the world’s most extraordinary humans as he completes a gruelling swim, bike, and run through mystical terrain.
QUOTES: DIVIDED WE FALL, directed by Desmond Faison: This is not your typical short film. This film is one of a kind that uses the medium of film to share a powerful message. What if your words continued to speak long after you left this world? What would your message be? Quotes: Divided We Fall explores this idea by using only the famous, profound and inspiring quotes of some of the world’s most influential leaders as the dialogue (Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jesus Christ) to highlight and examine our complex humanity. Through dramatization, this short film articulates the integrity of these quotes for a new generation taking the audience on a thematic journey in three unique vignettes focusing on prejudice, racial profiling and forgiveness.
Burner Of Ships, directed by Leonardo Campaner: When fourteen-year-old Nausicaa’s bourgeois parents welcome a young migrant into their home in the Italian countryside, she develops an infatuation for the new guest.
Karuna, directed by Eric Herron: After the devastating earthquake of 2015, many women and children disappeared from their homes and villages in Nepal. In the shadow of the mighty Mt. Everest lies some of the world’s most active human trafficking trains.
Years before the crushing natural disaster, Sharmila Ghimire lays gasping for breath, her heart struggling to pump blood through her body. Her husband, Dhan Raj Ghimire, desperately pleads to an unknown god for mercy, and her condition stabilizes in response. Weeks later, Sharmila’s physician shockingly concludes she is healed of her yearslong heart failure. Motivated by their miraculous recovery, Sharmila and Dhan Raj resolve to show compassion to the lost and hurting of Nepal. Many families live in the slums where children are not encouraged to attend school, with government apathy allowing for the continuation of human slavery. In spite of the pain and poverty of Nepal, the Ghimire’s are betting on an agricultural investment that could change Nepal forever.
Holy Fields, directed by Emma Horne: Holy Fields provides a glimpse into the lives of Muslims living in the largely Christian landscape of Central Indiana.
What’s Left of Home, directed by Antoine Maksoudian: Would you keep your loved one next to you no matter what or let them go if it’s for their own good? When Josef, a Lebanese closeted guy in his mid-twenties gets a job abroad, his life is put into perspective.
We Walk, directed by Marc Lesperut: “We walk” is a moving piece that talks about the traumatic experience of what it means to run away from your roots and become an immigrant. Purposely set up in an undefined country, the main character battles against desolation and torment while thinking about his family back home. This short portraits a story of survival, hope and wish for freedom.
Eat the Rainbow, directed by Brian Benson: EAT THE RAINBOW is a musical fable about an odd yet kind man named Bayani who moves into a conservative suburban neighborhood and disrupts the otherwise comfortable homogeny. He doesn’t look or act like anyone else which causes fear and panic and eventually a demand for him to leave the neighborhood. Cousin Wonderlette befriends Bayani and together they take on the opposition led by manipulative and unscrupulous realtor Lobelia Gerber.
ZOO, directed by Will Niava: A misunderstanding between three juveniles and a troubled man escalates to a point of no return.
Sadaf, directed by Anne Jammet: “A WINNER IS A DREAMER WHO NEVER GIVES UP “. A dancing story about an iranian girl who loves boxing.

2019

Burqa City, directed by Bracq Fabrice: Souleymane and Leila just got married, for better or for worse. The better is that they love each other very much. The worse is that they live in an absurd and kafkaesque country.
Pizza, Democracy & the Little Prince, directed by Alessandro Leonardi, Elena Horn: International students agreed to be interviewed by Syrian children who are currently seeking refuge in Istanbul.
Mindfulness is Elementary, directed by Geoffrey Chandler: How do teachers and students react to learning meditation techniques in this elementary school?
Hoan Alone: Personal Stories from the Bridge, directed by Aaron Johnson: Milwaukee’s Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge is the crown over Summerfest and has become one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. But it’s also a popular site for suicides. This animated documentary explores the issues of the bridge and suicide through three intimate interviews. Follow animator, Aaron Johnson, as he shares the stories of Dave, John, and Mary. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xrA495uA6-Y
Moving On – A Short Film About Grief, directed by Nyasha Hatendi: The day of his Dad’s funeral Steve receive s a phone call. Harry’s Diner: 9pm…Apparently things aren’t as simple as they seem.
Ethereal Frekweency, directed by Sky-Ra: Ethereal FreKweency is the 3rd film in the Ethereal Trilogy. It is a the story of beings coming to Planet Earth to carryout a mission. Through space and time, they have traveled here as bringers of balance. Tuners of frequency. Mostly in places deemed unbalanced and unworthy. In this film, laced with the frequencies of MovaKween, we find the answer in the Lyric. The girls leave their “hometown” of Baltimore, MD, USA and are called elsewhere to deliver a well timed message. Lyric, the angel, guides the other bringers of balance through a place of sunshine and shit-shows.. Beauty and destructive behavior.. Love and mental war.. Los Angeles, CA, USA, Planet Earth. *Music in film is tuned to 432hz for the purpose of atonement, accordance, alignment and the overall health of your human body.
Acaiaca, directed by AXEL SANDE: Acaiaca is based on a legend about a sacred cedar that was chopped down by the Portuguese, which caused the destruction of the nearby Puri Indian tribe in just one night. The Legend of Acaiaca was portrayed in the novel Acayaca 1729, by 19th Century Brazilian writer Joaquim Felicio dos Santos. The song was recorded in April/2017 by Urca Bossa Jazz, and it is one of the last works of percussionist Laudir de Oliveira (1976 Grammy Award Winner). The videoclip with narration in Portuguese was released in July/2017. This new production received an opening text and English narration by Mac Margolis.
Dance With Your Heart (Tengo Talento Cuba), directed Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi: Jennyselt is a dancer of Afro Cuban Folklore, with great prestige within Cuba and internationally and currently dances with the group Yoruba Andabo. She seeks her successor to keep the legacy of Afro-Cuban culture, dance and religion alive. Jennyselt takes us to the side of Havana that is rarely seen by tourist, Juanelo. Where there is a community project cultivating dreams and teaching the next generation of dancers. Who will she choose to keep the legacy alive?
The Interpreted Dream, directed by Hessam Daraei: The story of a man who is wretched because of how his new town’s people look at him and his backpack…
The Land, directed by Stephen Crout: An abstract snapshot of creative life at the edge of the Sonoran Desert. On the southern most border of Arizona’s Cochise County, the Sonoran Desert provides a life of creative expression for those able to live in concert with its diverse plants, animals and people. A deep regional history reveals itself each year as the community gathers to share in fire and rebirth. Shot on decades old expired 16mm film stock, the imperfect visual texture and meditative docent-like voiceover is complimented by a live, improvised instrumental soundtrack. The resulting exploration of sound and image exposes a life of beauty, freedom and powerful self-reflection.
Superhero, directed by Raza Ry & Jason Coppedge: Written in response to the campaign leading up to the 2016 election, and the subsequent increase of bigotry and racism being supported by the current administration. “SUPERHERO” available NOW on iTunes, Amazon, Google Music, Spotify, Tidal and wherever else you get good music!
Blind Birdwatcher, directed by Morten Andersen: Juan Pablo has been blind since birth but he has become one of the best “birdwatchers” in the world by using his ears, not his eyes.
His father encouraged him to play birdsong on the piano as a child and took him to museums to feel their feathers.
Different This Year, directed by Meghann Artes: After one hour of training, two elementary school teachers receive their government-issued firearms and are clearly now ready to take on any perpetrator, no matter how armed. Or maybe not.
Sound of Silence – Born severely deaf, directed by Philippe Woodtli: A young man born severely deaf faced exclusion from society from his early days on. He was bullied by his peers, branded a fool by his teachers, and locked away in a basement at his first job at a bank—but Robin Gillon found his way through, all thanks to skiing.
Wild Woman, directed by Vanessa Sweet: Wild Woman is an animated poem to mankind which invokes current world issues such as drone-strikes and religious persecution in a plea for empathy. Scenes transform and melt as the animator also explores her personal struggle of becoming a mother and identifying as such in our current social and political climate.
My Rap Show, directed by Dawn Douglas, MF Jonez: This is a music video for a song I did called “My Rap Show”

2018

The Baltimore Galaxy Project, directed by Kyle Yearwood: The Baltimore Galaxy Project is a series of animated photos that captures the essence of Baltimore but pushes the viewers imagination to galactic dimensions.
Progressive Therapy, directed by James Bruffee: This comedic political short is born out of frustration with progressives attacking and blaming each other after Trump’s election. It imagines that former Hillary and Bernie supporters are a married couple in counseling. The therapist strives to get them to see that what unites them is much more meaningful than what separates them. And more importantly, that their unity is crucial to addressing the great challenges that progressives face moving forward.
HUMANO, directed by Marco Castro Terrazas: Visual poem in which we show the connection between mankind and the world, proposing a vision of the beginning and the end of existence. It suggests the Genesis that surround us and tries to justify with technology the intention that the times we are living will come to an end. Why don’t we ascend? Why are we still castaway?
A Whole World for a Little World, directed by Fabrice Bracq: A woman tells a great story to her baby. In the manner of a tale with princes and princesses, she remains into his memories to pass on his daughter.
The School of Honk, directed by Patrick Johnson: The School of Honk is an open community brass band that promotes joy and inclusivity through weekly gatherings and parades around Somerville and Cambridge.
Black Hair, directed by Gabrielle Bernard, Miquel Galofré: The struggles of having Black Hair. Gabriella Bernard is an upcoming international model based in Trinidad & Tobago. Even though she has faced colorism time and time again, in the workplace, among social circles, and even in the modelling industry, she relentlessly pursues her goals to become an established international model.
Diego, directed by Kristin Zimney: An undocumented immigrant’s fight to keep the American Dream alive after President Trump’s decision to rescind the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program.
Mamo, directed by Bruna Capozzoli: Mamo is an African woman struggling with life in a foreign country while protecting her granddaughter Felicia. Living in a dystopian society, Mamo bravely holds her sorrow in order to shelter Felicia from life’s hardship.
Sweet Yoyo, directed by Mark Cira: Nine-year-old Yoyo must confront the reality of being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes with her single mother Hannah.
Flagged: An American Love Story, directed by Miles McKeller-Smith, Acobe Cheek: After being thrown into the national spotlight, a young North Carolina educator learns what “Making America Great Again” means and how deep the love of country goes.
No Reservations, directed by Trevor Carroll: What if the moccasin was on the other foot? Written and directed by Trevor Carroll, NO RESERVATIONS is political satire inspired by true-life events, giving a hypothetical look at what life would be like if the roles in Standing Rock were reversed. Protests erupt as an upper-middle class Caucasian neighborhood attempts to thwart the construction of a pipeline from an Indigenous Corporation. Starring Lorne Cardinal as Joseph Stillwater, No Reservations aims to provide an alternative point of view of the political threads that have become so tense after the events in North Dakota. Bravely challenging its viewer from the perspective of both First Nations and Caucasian cultures, the film presents a unique point of view in its statement, and a voice of accountability to the Indigenous people of North America.
Hearing Films, directed by Arsen Martyrosian: A story of visually impaired film enthusiast Joe Sidarose, that questions the perception of film as a visual medium and exposes the way descriptive cinema influences audience.

2017

I Like Adoption., directed by Mark Baas: The Dennehy’s decide to give the gift of family to nine children from around the world.
GOONie, directed by Manuel Cuéllar: Goonie chronicles the life of L.P and his search for personal freedom. L.P has to decide between the life of hustling in the streets or finding a basic job to pay his sick mother’s bills. L.P and his surroundings confront the crude reality of a goonie. Goonie is, by definition, a good friend or a ‘homie’. It is also a gang terminology for low level gang members. Goonie is a real person and, an invisible one. This short film explores how this two definitions impact L.P in a crucial moment of his life.
Ceddyjay, directed by Cedric Preval: As An Upcoming Artist I Show Myself Reminiscing About Past Events Such As Concerts , Friends , Old Concert Fliers , Etc . I’m In A Position Where A Series Of Events Have Led Me Up To A Point Where I Feel Discouraged & Don’t Really Know What The Next Step Is For Me Concerning My Music Career . Towards The End Of The Intro I Find Motivation To Pick Up The Pen & Begin Working On Songs Which Eventually Become The 2 Songs That I Perform Afterwards.
OutLoud, directed by Chantale Glover: This documentary focus on the life of Nadia, a black transgender woman who is dealing with the acceptance of her family and life’s daily struggles.
Rise – Fall, directed by Clark Peacock: Through footage collected in a year’s worth a travel, “Rise – Fall” is a short film depicting the inherent beauty and grim industrialization of our environment.
Orchids never die, directed by Olivia Martinez de la Grange: It is the story of three generations of women. It deals with a reflection on roots and the haunting legacy we inherit from previous generations and how we cope with it in our own lives.
Rough Waters, directed by Claire Imler, Troy Charbonnet: Submerged in the darkness of her depression, Katie struggles to stay afloat the rough waters in her life, but uncovers what matters most in her journey to recovery.
Choreographing Healing, directed by Michael Muchnij: A short documentary about dance, choreography, and healing from the grip of mental illness.
Arrested (Again), directed by Dan Goldes: Activist Karen Topakian has been arrested dozens of times for using nonviolent civil disobedience to protest nuclear proliferation, human rights abuses, environmental issues, and war. What drives her to repeatedly put her body on the line? In turn lighthearted and moving, Karen’s story speaks to the need for Americans, now more than ever, to exercise this important First Amendment right. Karen is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Greenpeace, Inc. She began protesting in New York City and her native Rhode Island as well as the greater New England area, and now lives in San Francisco, with her wife, Peg Stevenson.
Safe Spaces, directed by Wide Angle Youth Media: Students from the Baltimore Speaks Out Program at Patterson Park Public Charter School share things that they find funny, things that they like, and things that they worry about when it comes to being a young person in Baltimore.
After Freddie Gray: What Now?, directed by Wide Angle Youth Media: In spring 2016, high school students at Wide Angle Youth Media decided to explore how the Baltimore Uprising in response to Freddie Gray’s death has impacted different youth-serving organizations. Hear from different voices about what is being done in Baltimore in the aftermath to shape supports for youth in the city.
To Serve and Protect?, directed by Gandhi Brigade Youth Media: We see it all over the media, but excessive use of force by police isn’t new. We’ve known about the killings of men, women, and children of color too many times over the last few decades as a result of interactions with law enforcement. The only thing that is new is the video camera. Gandhi Brigade Youth Media worked with nine high school students to produce this documentary during a six week period over the summer of 2016.
The Box of Your Life, directed by David F Vega: In a dystopian future, the TV show “The box of your life” has become a media phenomenon daily followed by millions of viewers. Leading the contest is Toni, an unscrupulous showman able to do anything to please his dehumanized audience. Mary, a middle age mother, goes to the contest hoping to win the grand prize to improve his poor personal situation.
Etherealistic: The Movie, directed by Keem Griffey & Kyle Yearwood: Serving as the Prequel/Sequel to last years “Ethereal”, watch as Cidney & Iyana’s lives take a different turn on their journey to self discovery through dance.
Girls Like Us, directed by C. Dallas Golden: n Tanzania, the expectations for what women should do are apparent. They are expected to stay home, cook, clean, and take care of the children while their husbands are away at work. Like a typical teenager, Winnie needed an outlet for her curious mind. In 2013, She joined Apps & Girls, an organization that teaches young girls how to code their own websites, and Carolyne Ekyarisiima, the founder of Apps & Girls, became her mentor. Now, because of the program and Carolyne’s mentorship, Winnie has started her own NGO, has become the mentor to countless young women in Tanzania and is on her way to the prestigious African Leadership Academy in South Africa with dreams of becoming a computer scientist.
Primary Colours, directed by Derek Price: A cinepoem by Sudanese-Canadian artist Roua Aljied, aka Philosi-fire, about the realities of domestic violence and how each step a woman takes is a new colour to paint on the canvass of her life. Created in partnership with Women in International Security Canada and the 16 Days of Activism Campaign in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and performed live for the 2016 International Women’s Day ceremonies in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
How It Sounded to Squish a Cockroach, directed by Lisa Russell: A new poetry video on police brutality by Emmy-winning filmmaker, Lisa Russell, featuring NYC’s Youth Poet Laureate, Nkosi Nkululeko.
G.I. Hospital, directed by Jonny Lewis: Antiwar comedy. A group of severely wounded soldiers are cheerful about their injuries. After all, it’s not like they lost their arms or legs for nothing. It was “for their country,” so that makes it okay. This film uses humor to encourage the viewer to think twice about the personal cost of war.
ALL IT TAKES, directed by Jake Hochendoner, Drew Dickler: ALL IT TAKES explores the opiate epidemic in Lorain County, Ohio from the point of view of addicts and through the efforts of those who strive to help them recover their lives and their dignity.
Mother’s Cry, directed by Lisa Russell: “Mother’s Cry”, a short creative video by Emmy-winning filmmaker, Lisa Russell, uses the power of the spoken word as its storytelling device. Featuring renowned youth poet, Savon Bartley, who cleverly weaves together creative metaphors comparing the demise of our Mother Earth to the struggles of women facing domestic violence, neglect, chaos and loneliness, the video juxtaposes images of our planet set to the emotional connection we have with a critical relationship we can all relate to – our mothers.. Edited in high contrast black and white and set to indigenous music, “Mother’s Cry” aims to rebrand the climate change issue for young people by using stylistic imagery and profound words more typical of a socially conscious music video than a documentary.

2016

Not About A Riot, directed by Malaika Aminata:
The Holistic Life Foundation: breathing love into a community, directed by Chris Farina: A portrait of the work being done by the Holistic Life Foundation in west Baltimore. Two of the three founders grew up in this tough inner-city neighborhood and have dedicated their lives to bringing the benefits of mindfulness, yoga and to put it simply, love to their hometown through their work with children at schools, drug rehab centers and community organizations for the past 14 years.
Ethereal, directed by Keem Griffey, Kyle Yearwood: Ethereal: extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world. Is this the perfect title for this creation? The Baltimore Riots are surrounded by many opinions. Regardless of what it is, what can’t be denied is the artistic impact it has had on the city. Watch and feel the contrast as these two little ballerinas prance around in some of the cities toughest neighborhoods.
Boxeadora, directed by Meg Smaker: One woman defies Fidel Castro’s ban on female boxing to follow her dream of Olympic glory and become Cuba’s first female boxer.
Juvenile Justice: The Road to Reform, directed by Gandhi Brigade Youth Media: It was a turbulent spring of 2015 as protesters and rioters took to the streets of Baltimore expressing their frustration with the justice system. Fifty miles away seven high school students watched the scene unfold and asked themselves why it happened. What were the factors that lead to this situation, and more importantly, what could be done to make our youth safer in the communities where they live? This documentary was conceived and produced by the members of Gandhi Brigade Youth Media.
Save the Bees, directed by Marta Topolska: Bees are responsible for one in three bites of food we eat. They are key to healthy ecosystems, plants and agriculture. This short animation tells the story behind dwindling bee populations, and asks us to take action.
The Mermaid, directed by Sara Werner: A moving drama about a young woman, her schizophrenic brother, and his pet goldfish — and one fateful afternoon that changes all their lives forever. *Selected for a 2015 SUNDANCE INSTITUTE FELLOWSHIP.
The Letter, directed by Yifan Xiao: When an American soldier during WWⅡ is captured by a young German soldier, he is offered a unique chance to escape when the Nazi captor steps on a landmine that will explode if he steps off.
The longest walk of their life: A heartbreaking story of migrants in Hungary who started to walk to Austria, directed by Barna Szász: Hungarian people are very nice, but the Hungarian government is bad – that’s how migrants summarize their experience with Hungar.
More Than God, directed by Kev Cahill: A short comedy set in modern Ireland that follows the attempts of a religious doctor to uncover his wife’s suspected affair, but instead is confronted by the rigidity of his religion, the boundaries of his love for his daughter, and his obligation to resuscitate her lover’s husband.
I Am Fundi, directed by Riede Dervay: “I Am Fundi” is a short documentary depicting the education system in Uganda and the measures that the organization, Fundibots, is taking to create change. Victor, a Fundi teacher with a challenging past, is changing the future of Uganda by preparing and instilling excitement for science in young children so that when they grow, they will be confident, supported, and prepared for contemporary practices and technological advances. The changes Fundibots is bringing about not only take place in the school system but in all of Uganda. Through their work, they are teaching people to create solutions, not expect them.
Two Secrets, directed by Charles Dye: An inspiring true story. Two secrets will tear a 12-year-old girl’s life apart. One she’s never told a soul. The other, her entire family’s never told her. Tonight they crash. A powerful coming-of-age film with a shocking ending that challenges each of us to become the real person we keep hidden inside.
Little Goddess, directed by Maria Jose Campos: Aira, Mother Nature’s daughter, steals the Earth from the skies and it quickly becomes her favourite toy. After she goes to sleep, her Shadow emerges and tries to eat Earth, which causes them to fight.
You Are Not Machines, directed by Matt Carlson: “You Are Not Machines” is a visual interpretation and creative redesign of Charlie Chaplin’s famous speech from the 1940 film, “The Great Dictator”.
Reminiscence, directed by Julie Tardieu, Emeric Renard, Clémentine Car, Pierre Marcantonio, Jonathan Nguyen, Antoine Blanc: During a dance hearing, among many dancers, one of them is falling prey to a sudden malaise and gets into her memories and trauma exhibited by a being who symbolizes her conscience.
Your F****** Bank, directed by José Luis Santos Pérez: Ramón has got tickets to go tonight with his son to the football king cup final between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid. But he must solve a question before that: he must rob a bank.
Save the Earth, directed by Ruslan Bokach: In this film we are using our bodies, wanted to show the need for all people on earth to stop and think about to what we are moving and what are the consequences of human activities on Earth.
Whatever will be will be, directed by Esma Saric: A simple robbery of an old man turns into an adventure where the robber learns a powerful lesson.

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