An emerging crisis in one of the last remaining rainforests in Central America ignites a heroic mission in PATROL. When illegal cattle ranchers decimate large swaths of rainforest, indigenous rangers join forces with an American conservationist and undercover journalists to expose the dark world of conflict beef.
As one of the only Black drivers and having no connections in the sport, Rajah Caruth is a relative outsider in NASCAR. Nevertheless, he has forged an unlikely path from virtual racing to the sport’s penultimate series, building stardom on the way.
This coming-of-age story follows four black teenagers from adolescence to adulthood who tap dance for tips in New Orleans, showing the joys and pains of growing up fast in the incarceration capital of the world.
Impact // Filmmaker’s Voice
Witnessing firsthand the disparities of our city, I’ve become passionate about shining a light on the crushing impact of carceral policies on Black communities. At its core, the goal of this film was to tell a coming-of-age story singular to New Orleans. In doing so, we give a face to the individuals most affected by the systemic injustice of Louisiana, where 95% of the youth arrested are Black. We watch the hopelessness and anger that flows directly from seeing authority figures presume them a threat to society (and punishing them as adults). For many Black youth here in New Orleans, being incarcerated is almost treated as an inevitability. As Deymond says in the cold open: “There’s two things to do down here: go to jail or die.” One Buck Won’t Hurt is an unambiguous affirmation of just how much Black lives matter and exactly why we still need to say so. – Christopher Stoudt
Lisa Creason, a reformed felon who dreams of becoming a nurse, fights an unjust law to provide for her family and create opportunities for thousands of others in her state.
Impact // Filmmaker’s Voice
As part of the impact campaign for Free to Care, our goal is reverse the law in 15 states where similar restrictions on ex-felons exist. We hope audience members come to us with connections and resources to create more equitable opportunities in their states.
Learn more at https://freetocarefilm.com/
– Owen Dubek, Chris Temple
In a story of self-resilience, Fight or Flight chronicles the journey of the only female pilot employed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife who overcame childhood trauma by taking to the sky.
Impact // Filmmaker’s Voice
Fight or Flight lives in tribute to “championing mental health” as a lifelong journey and hopes to reach youth, pilot and outdoor industry professionals, and sexual assault victims and therapists as its main audience. We believe this film can serve as a powerful uplifting tool for many walks of life, including serving as a way for young adults to process and gain courage to confront the lifelong and buried traumas they have encountered in their lives. – Lindsey Hagen
In a Bronx juvenile prison, a 16-year old boy faced with losing custody of his child must discover what it takes to be a father through the raising of a chicken.
Impact // Filmmaker’s Voice
84% of children in juvenile detention will be re-incarcerated within 5 years. Much of this is due to residents not believing they can reconcile their past – and not receiving the proper reintegration support they need. Our team hopes that audiences realize CHICKEN isn’t just a film – it’s the real lives of children in our backyards.
Our team remains committed to working alongside impacted BIPOC prison communities and recently-paroled children in the Bronx/Brooklyn through local city partners Sprout by Design, C3.NYC Juvenile Justice, and the NYC Administration for Children’s Services. We seek to mobilize volunteers for programs inside the detention centers, move audiences to donate to rehabilitation programs, and support mentorship and early-career programs for children exiting prisons/close-to-home facilities.
To learn more and to get involved, please visit www.chickenshortfilm.com – Josh Leong
