Begin With a Bang -- Media That Matters Launch Events
Posted on May 29, 2005
Last Thursday night, May 26th, the filmmakers of the Fifth Annual Media That Matters Film Festival were honored at a star-studded Awards Ceremony at HBO headquarters in Manhattan. All sixteen films received awards and ten filmmaking teams received $1,000 each in outreach grants.
Guest presenters included actor Tim Robbins, author/comedian/radio personality Al Franken, NY Assembly Member Deborah Glick and award-winning filmmakers Barbarah Kopple and Rodney Evans. The event was hosted by Sam Seder of Air America Radio's Majority Report and included live musical performances by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary and by Glenn Scott and Chris "Shakademic" Johnson, the hip-hop artists who star in the festival's Jury Award-winning film Battleground Minnesota. More photos from the event coming soon.
On Friday, May 27th, the International Center for Tolerance Education in Dumbo, Brooklyn, hosted the Media in Action Coalition-Building Workshop, a daylong networking event for filmmakers, nonprofits, educators and youth. All of the festival films were screened in their entirety and the filmmakers spoke about their inspirations and goals for making an impact. Representatives from the nonprofits Demos, Indyvoter, Netaid, New Mexico Media Literacy Project, Social Groove Collective and more connected with filmmakers and explored ways that the films can be integrated into their campaigns throughout the coming year. Guest speakers included Clay Shirky and Robert McChesney!
Want to get in on the action? Come to the festival premiere at 7pm this Wednesday, June 1st at BAM!
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