All four Season Four film trailers have been named finalists in the 20th annual MY HERO International Film Festival! Congratulations to the teams of RETURN DATE: UNKNOWN by Tymur Tsapliienko, SEEDS OF LIFE by Diya Payal, BEEKEEPER by Keith Griffith III and ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE by Helena Marschall happening on November 16 in Los Angeles. SEE THE TRAILERS AND FILMS
NEWS
“BEEKEEPER” SELECTED FOR RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
September 3, 2024
BEEKEEPER is an official selection for the Richmond International Film Festival (September 24 to September 29, 2024). The film is screening on Thursday, September 26 at 10 am at the Boyd Theater. Congratulations to the team including Keith (Beeing2gether LLC) and his mentor Evan Mascagni. This film is a powerful story of how bees changed this teens life, especially after his parents were incarcerated. Keith explains what bees have taught him: cooperation, community and emotional well-being, lessons he shares in workshops and talks around his hometown, Louisville, Kentucky. BUY TICKETS HERE
We are also honored that SEEDS OF LIFE was a finalist.
“BEEKEEPER” NOMINATED FOR EMMY AWARD
July 20, 2024
Thrilling to celebrate the Emmy nomination of BEEKEEPER for the 2024 The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Ohio Valley Chapter with Keith Griffith III (Director, Cinematographer and Narrator), Evan Mascagni (Mentor), Bryn Silverman (Editor), Keith’s mom, dad, grandma and uncle (who got him into beekeeping!) WATCH FILM
NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH BREAKTHROUGH MIAMI
June 29, 2024
In a new, exciting partnership with Breakthrough Miami and hosted by the Breakthrough Miami Alumni Network, teen filmmaker, Keith Griffith III presents his film about using beekeeper to preserve his mental health when both of his parents were incarcerated. Screened at the Coral Gables Art Cinema with a panel discussion with Keith and three Breakthrough Miami participants.
Thanks to Board members, JuliAnne McDowell and Abby Zanarini, and CEO Lori-Ann Cox and all the guests for a powerful afternoon celebrating youth storytelling. BYkids was thrilled to have Keith’s mom, dad and grandfather there as well as his film mentor, Evan Mascagni.
Summer BYkids Community of Learners Workshops
May 22, 2024
Announcing the free 2024 BYkids Community of Learners Workshop series! In-person sessions are three days and the virtual sessions are two days. Participants should come ready to engage in active conversation and co-creation — as you will discover, the BYkids Community of Learners is a welcoming and dynamic group! See what current participants say:
Sessions will be approximately six hours a day with lunches included at the in-person sites.
The EMA Foundation is underwriting all expenses so there is no financial cost to participate. We hope you will participate and please distribute to your colleagues and networks.
SIGN UP FOR WORKSHOP: https://forms.gle/hdj5eTQxCyKarkCU9
DOWNLOAD FLYER: BYkids-Professional Development InformationDownload
BYkids Presents at the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Trustees Lunch
May 19, 2024
Thanks to our supporter, Tina Thomson, trustee of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, we were honored to discuss our work at their monthly Trustee lunch. We also had the chance to visit with the education team at The Norton Museum of Art to brainstorm a fall screening event with them.
BYkids partners with Fotografiska New York for another screening event
April 15, 2024
BYkids was thrilled to partner again with Fotografiska New York for another sold-out screening event BEEKEEPER and ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE with a conversation with former White House climate expert, David Sandalow.
Thank you Fotografiska NYC for hosting another successful screening of BEEKEEPER and ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE, with a fascinating and inspiring conversation with David Sandalow (former White House climate expert) and Holly Carter (BYkids) about the power of teens telling their own stories around climate change and how important it is to engage youth in the solutions for our future. HEAR FROM ATTENDEES
“I have worked at the White House, the State Department and the U.S. Department of Energy. Mobilizing young people to tell stories about climate change, and other topics, can really help change the world. Thank you BYkids for the work you’re doing in this area. Look forward to much more in the years ahead.” – David Sandalow.
“I think BYkids is just such a beautiful outlet for kids to feel empowered in their own experiences, and to share their own stories,” says one young attendee.
Fotografiska Hosts Special Screening with BYkids
March 22, 2024
In our exciting new partnership with Fotografiska New York, we hosted a sold-out screening of RETURN DATE: UNKNOWN and BEEKEEPER followed by a conversation and Q&A with BYkids Founder and Executive Director Holly Carter and Peter Lattman. Peter is the Managing Director of Media at Emerson Collective, Vice Chair of The Atlantic, and a former journalist at The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. The conversation centered on the power of youth storytelling, the impact of story sharing on the classroom experience and how personal stories make global issues relevant and actionable. SHARE THE CONVERSATION
“BYkids shows us the indelible power of storytelling–it is what activates empathy and action in each of us. BYkids is a filmmaking force for good in the world.” – Peter Lattman
“BEEKEEPER” WINS BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT AT SOCIALLY RELEVANT FILM FESTIVAL NEW YORK
March 19, 2024
We are delighted that BEEKEEPER was screened at the closing ceremony of the Socially Relevant Film Festival New York at the National Arts Club to 140 filmmakers, jury members and friends. The film won Best Documentary Short. Congratulations to everyone on the team.
ENGAGING EDUCATORS TO INCREASE IMPACT: SXSW EDU
March 9, 2024
BYkids was chosen from among 1,600 applicants to screen RETURN DATE: UNKNOWN at SXSW EDU (one of the largest national K-12 education events). This was followed by a discussion with our Ukrainian teen filmmaker, WNET’s Director of Education and a roomful of enthusiastic educators and future partners. WATCH RECAP