Maia Ermita is the director of the Media That Matters Film Festival, a project of Arts Engine. Now in its eighth year, the festival brings high-impact shorts and take-action tools to audiences around the country. This year I was lucky enough to serve on the jury of the festival, so I can say with assurance that these films are worth checking out. I invited Maia to tell us more about the festival, and this week’s activities.
Hope everyone rested up over the weekend in time for all of the events happening at Arts Engine with the eighth annual Media That Matters Film Festival!
This year’s collection includes some amazing films focusing on such issues as the essential role of youth in a democracy, the burden of war on a young boy’s life, the changing face of nomadic life in Tibet and the importance of honeybees on the environment. After watching these films and meeting with the filmmakers, we are proud to provide this platform to celebrate these visions of hope through film.
The world premiere on Wednesday, May 28th will feature 12 new inspiring short films from around the world at the IFC Center in New York City at 7pm. The filmmakers from this latest collection will be participating in a Q&A soon after the premiere, so come out to meet these great new advocates for social change through film. Get your tickets quick!
In case you can’t make it to our Wednesday premiere, due to popular demand, we’ll be having a second screening on Friday, May 30th at Tribeca Cinemas at 7pm where you’ll join many of our partners (including POV!) for a run of these same 12 films with many of the filmmakers for a follow-up Q&A session. Bring your friends to Tribeca Cinemas this Friday.
And if all of this isn’t enough, join us for the official Media That Matters after-party on Saturday, May 31st as festival winner African Underground: Hip Hop in Senegal‘s filmmaker and featured artists spin tracks and lay down beats at the Rose Live Music center in historic Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
I hope some of you are able to attend our events — but in case you can’t, the festival will officially launch online on May 29th.
Stay tuned for more screenings and events around the world with Media That Matters.
See you there!