The exciting lineup includes actress Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love, The Bookshop, Mary Poppins Returns), head of cultural programs at Cinecittà and co-founder of Cinema Italian Style Camilla Cormanni, Syros International Film Festival co-founder and director Jacob Moe, and journalist and project manager at iMEdD (the incubator for Media Education and Development) Nikolas Aronis.
The competition invites young content creators to submit short films sharing their own stories about technology creating connections between people and deepening our humanity. Six finalists will each receive a $3,000 production award and a spot in a 10-week lab to take their projects to the next level with guidance from industry professionals. The deadline for submissions has been extended to November 8, 2021.
“I am proud to work with any effort empowering young people and excited to give six of these creators this opportunity to deepen their artistry,” said Jacob Moe. “The medium of film has the potential to catalyze much-needed change and share vital, human stories with the world.”
“In 25 years of grantmaking, we've learned that the best way to serve society is to listen to those closest to the issues. When it comes to the relationship between technology and humanity, no one will be more affected than young people. We’re delighted that these incredible jurors have joined us in inviting stories from the digital native generation that will widen the frame of what we think is possible,” said SNF Chief Programs & Strategic Initiatives Officer Stelios Vassilakis.
“We are excited to have this panel of esteemed judges join all of us at Ghetto Film School and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for this competition. It’s pertinent that all young creatives have the opportunity to share their stories and light the way forward as we explore compelling new narratives on the intersection of humanity and technology,” said Sharese Bullock Bailey, Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer and Principal of SCOPE, the consulting arm of GFS.
As part of the film challenge, GFS is offering free open masterclasses, available online to all content creators, covering topics from making a teaser to creating practical effects.
The competition is taking place as part of SNF’s 25th anniversary celebration and its ongoing efforts to ensure that we hear from young voices as we envision how we can create a more equitable future. Through grants to thousands of nonprofits around the world over the past quarter-century, the Foundation has sought to empower humanity across the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare.