Thank you to the BYkids Junior Board for a great inaugural event — a conversation on engaging kids in learning around a screening of the documentary AGAINST THE CURRENT. Daunnette Moniz-Reyome (age 17) lives on the UmoNHon Native American reservation in Nebraska and wants to inspire her peers to celebrate their culture, despite being surrounded by depression and addiction.

Thank you to PenPal Schools for featuring BYkids films in their classrooms around the world. We love their Essential Question: How can storytelling and documentary filmmaking have a positive impact on the world? And teacher and student answers. See here

BYkids is honored to be part of EYES ON THE GOALS at the United Nations. 

BYkids filmmaker, Mohammad Shasho’s documentary about fleeing Aleppo, Syria for Berlin will be screened and discussed at this year’s South by Southwest EDU conference (SXSW EDU) in Austin, TX on March 11^th.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with Holly Carter, Kristina Kirtley, a senior producer at WNET, George Batah, the strategy and operations manager of Syrian Youth Empowerment, and Elissa Steglich, co-director of the University of Texas Immigration Clinic.

Congratulations to OUT OF ALEPPO filmmaker, Mohammad Shasho, and his mentor, Anja Baron, on being named a finalist in the MY HERO International Film Festival.

Thanks to all our friends and partners, on screen and behind the scenes, who bring our films to life, and share them with kids in homes and classrooms around the world. Thank you to the United Nations Association of New York for hosting us at the Dolby Screening Room, Mike Martin for sharing his story, Chiemi Karasawa for her mentorship, Matt Nink for moderating, and Holly Carter for the her indefatigable work. 

United Nations Association of New York generously hosts a special documentary screening and talk-back with filmmakers and educators about Mike Martin’s personal narrative as it illuminates issues of youth incarceration and juvenile injustice for teachers and kids.

A huge thank you Maysles Documentary Center for screening of I COULD TELL YOU ‘BOUT MY LIFE as part of your Social Justice Showcase — bringing together filmmakers, community organizers, activists, experts, and NYC residents to discuss and educate on the social justice issues that impact the quality of life for NYC residents.

BYkids’ Holly Carter and mentor, Elizabeth Hummer, share Ndèye Fatou Fall’s story about life in Senegal, WALK ON MY OWN, at the Chicago International Film Festival.

BYkids screens and discusses POET AGAINST PREJUDICE at Greenwich High School for their Innovation Lab. We then spent a class viewing and critiquing the kids’ short documentaries. Thanks to parent, Alexandra Burnes Ornstein and teachers, Jessica von Brachel and Michael Belanger and all the great kids.