WALK ON MY OWN has been selected for the London Lift-Off Film Festival to happen virtually for the month of December, 2020. In her film, 13-year-old Ndèye Fatou Fall illuminates the cultural shift in Senegal that has allowed her to remain in school and to make decisions about her own future. Congratulations to the team including mentor Elizabeth Hummer, our partners at Tostan and the Wheeler family. TICKETS HERE

WALK ON MY OWN is a finalist at the prestigious #JapanPrizeNHK, Holly Carter and film mentor, Emmy-award winning filmmaker Elizabeth Hummer, participate in a panel about diversity and inclusion. In her film, Ndèye Fatou Fall (age 13) explores cultural shifts as her small village abandons forced marriage and genital cutting.

Almost 100 guests participated in our virtual benefit on October 27 co-hosted by Helen Tsanos Sheinman (BYkids Board) and Isabel Sheinman (BYkids Junior Board) with a lively conversation about the transformative power of film in this era of virtual learning with storytellers, educators and students including Holly Carter, BYkids Founder and Executive Director; Kristina Kirtley, WNET Senior Producer, Content and Youth Engagement; Dustin Liu, global education advocate and student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education; Qetsiyah Lynch, sophomore, City College; Brian Mateo, Bard College Associate Dean of Civic Engagement and moderated by Matt Nink, President, Nink Group Educational Consulting. Using the magic of Zoom, we also had powerful messages from our filmmakers including Faiza Almontaser, now 27, directed POET AGAINST PREJUDICE at age 17; Daunnette Moniz-Reyome, now 18, directed AGAINST THE CURRENT at age 17; Mohammad Shasho, now 21, directed OUT OF ALEPPO at age 17; and Alcides Soares, now 30, directed HOME IS WHERE YOU FIND IT at age 16. SEE A RECAP

We are grateful for the Host Committee, who helped us raise $65,000 before the event even started. 

Alcides Soares, now 30, directed HOME IS WHERE YOU FIND IT at age 16

Faiza Almontaser, now 27, directed POET AGAINST PREJUDICE at age 17

Daunnette Moniz-Reyome, now 18, directed AGAINST THE CURRENT at age 17

Mohammad Shasho, now 21, directed OUT OF ALEPPO at age 17

Congratulations to director, Faith Guilbault, and her mentor, Joyce Chopra, for winning the Youth Vision Award at the United Nations Association Film festival (UNAFF) for FAITH’S WORLD! Such a powerful way to celebrate the 30th year anniversary of the Disabilities Act with this personal and Illuminating film that will broadcast on public television in 2021. UNAFF is an international documentary film festival that celebrates the power of films dealing with human rights, environmental themes, women’s issues, protection of refugees, homelessness, racism, children, disease control, universal education, war and peace.

Join us October 27 for a conversation about the transformative power of film in this new era of virtual learning with storytellers, educators and students. This virtual event will be held on Zoom. Please register at Eventbrite at this link.

Messages from our filmmakers:
— Faiza Almontaser, now 27, directed POET AGAINST PREJUDICE at age 17
— Daunnette Moniz-Reyome, now 18, directed AGAINST THE CURRENT at age 17
— Mohammad Shasho, now 21, directed OUT OF ALEPPO at age 17
— Alcides Soares, now 30, directed HOME IS WHERE YOU FIND IT at age 16

Conversation about the transformative power of film in this era of virtual learning
— Holly Carter, BYkids Founder and Executive Director
— Kristina Kirtley, WNET Senior Producer, Content and Youth Engagement 
— Dustin Liu, global education advocate and student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
— Quetsiyah Lynch, sophomore, City College
— Brian Mateo, Bard College Associate Dean of Civic Engagement
— Matt Nink, President, Nink Group Educational Consulting

2020 Woodstock Film Festival awards AGAINST THE CURRENT directed by Daunnette Moniz-Reyome with Best Documentary Student Short.

Jury Statement: “We are thrilled to present the award for Best Documentary Student Short film to AGAINST THE CURRENT. The film is a beautiful celebration of Native American ritual, culture and humanity. This is a film both about reflecting on one’s self and the community as a whole. Expertly crafted by Daunnette Moniz-Reyome who at only 17 years old directed and narrated the documentary along with also being the cinematographer. Daunnette has a long career ahead of her and we can’t wait to see what she makes next!”

Director of FAITH’S WORLD, Faith Guilbault, is nominated for the 16th International Children’s Peace Prize, which is awarded each year to a child who has made a special effort to promote children’s rights and better the situation of vulnerable children. Last year, the prize was awarded to Greta Thunberg from Sweden and Divina Maloum from Cameroon. Three finalists will be announced by our patron and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu. On November 13th, the final winner of 2020 will receive the International Children’s Peace Prize with the world as their witness.

AGAINST THE CURRENT has been was selected by American Indian Film Festival screening virtually November 6-14. Congratulations to Daunnette Moniz-Reyome (BYkids filmmaker) and her mentor, Evan Mascagni. “See” you at the movies.

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. INFO

In the film, Daunnette shares her family’s journey to retain the sacred rituals and values of their culture in the wake of centuries of loss from disease, war and government policies. 

The 45th annual American Indian Film Festival continues the American Indian Film Institute’s tradition of premiering the best of movies, music videos and original entertainment by, for and about American Indian and First Nations people. With 102 films, 55 world premieres, and nine days of virtual/online this year, the American Indian Film Festival maintains its focus on cinematic content that informs, educates, uplifts and invokes the catalyst of cathartic cultural exchange.

We are pleased to welcome Elisabeth Inzinna as our new Fall Intern. She will graduate from Eckerd College in May 2021 with a degree in Marketing. “Working with BYkids gives me will the opportunity to combine my passions of film and social justice effectively.” linkedin.com/in/elisabeth-inzinna-8a3473184

AGAINST THE CURRENT is an official selection of the 37th FACETS Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, the oldest and one of only two Oscar-qualifying children’s film festivals in the world. This year, the Oscar-qualifying festival will be offered online from November 12-22. INFO