The Power of the Story: Emerging Filmmaker Competition — Finalist Screening

Discover bold new voices that use film to help us see social justice differently. These six remarkable social justice films take audiences inside stories and issues they may never have encountered—and bring unexpected perspectives to issues they thought they knew.

The program features six exceptional short films, each under 30 minutes, selected from a highly competitive field of nearly 100 submissions from student and emerging filmmakers nationwide. These six emerging filmmakers rose to the top for their powerful storytelling, fresh perspectives, and distinctive approaches to social justice.

SESSION COMPONENTS

• A joint reception bringing together student and emerging filmmakers, attending jury members, and the broader community to celebrate this year’s finalists
• Screening of the finalist films
• A talkback hosted by Emmy-winning producer Opal Hope Bennett

MEET THE JURY

The emerging competition films were adjudicated by a distinguished jury bringing deep expertise in filmmaking, film production, and social justice:

• Alexandra Strunin, award-winning filmmaker, visual artist, and musician—and a former March On! Student Short Grand Prize winner
• Jalaya Liles-Dunn, Director of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Learning for Justice program and a leader in social and racial justice education
• Nicholas Maye, co-founder of the Oscar-winning production company Six Feet Over and executive producer of the Oscar-winning short film Two Distant Strangers

SEE WHO WINS

Come watch the films, then join us Saturday evening to see the winners announced during New Orleans’ National Impact: Three Families Behind a Movement.

Register here to be there when the next generation of civil rights storytellers is recognized.

Five Awards will be presented:

• Best Documentary Short – Student Filmmaker
• Best Documentary Short – Emerging Filmmaker
• Best Narrative Short – Student Filmmaker
• Best Narrative – Emerging Filmmaker
• Social Impact Grand Prize.

The Grand Prize identifies the film with the greatest potential to support organizing efforts that spark meaningful engagement and action on a social justice issue. The awardee will receive technical assistance from March On! to develop a social impact campaign.

PARTNER

Ronald W. Walters Leadership & Public Policy Center, Howard University’s Office of External Affairs, and the Department of Media, Journalism & Film