NEWS

April 1, 2021

Season Three of Films BYkids airing on public television beginning April 6, 2021

April 1, 2021

Teens document antisemitism, disability, generational trauma and globalization in Season Three of Films BYkids airing on public television beginning April 6, 2021.

The new season of Films BYkids presents teenagers from diverse cultures documenting their experience of struggle and triumph dealing with antisemitism, disability, generational trauma and globalization. A collaboration between THIRTEEN and BYkids, Films BYkids pairs accomplished filmmakers with teens from around the world to create short personal documentaries that encourage understanding about universal issues and help foster empathy and global citizenry.

In the New York metro area, the series begins airing on Sunday, April 18, at 7:00 p.m. on THIRTEEN.

Sunday, April 18, at 7:00 PM for AGAINST THE CURRENT
Sunday, April 18, at 7:30 PM for L’CHAIM
Sunday, April 25, at 7:00 PM for FAITH’S WORLD
Sunday, April 25, at 7:30 PM for BUDDHISM, BHUTAN AND ME

National viewers, please check your local listings for air dates beginning April 6, 2021.

April 1, 2021

MIKE MARTIN IS NAMED JUDGE IN THE VIDEOS FOR CHANGE COMPETITION

April 1, 2021

This is impact! Mike Martin, BYkids director of I COULD TELL YOU ‘BOUT MY LIFE is named a judge for the 2021 US Videos for Change competition run by our friends at High Resolves. Middle and high school students are invited to submit a one-minute video about the social issue they are most passionate about, with the goal of inspiring others to care about the issue and take action. Deadline is April 30.

March 25, 2021

“FAITH’S WORLD” SELECTED FOR RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN SEPTEMBER

March 25, 2021

FAITH’S WORLD is an official selection of the RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. 16-year-old Faith Guilbault from Baltimore, Maryland loves skydiving, horseback riding and has walked the runway at Fashion Week in New York City. She is also one of 61 million people in the United States living with a disability. Guilbault is visually impaired and has cerebral palsy, which affects her ability to move and maintain balance and posture, yet she does not want anyone to feel sorry for her. She is resilient, hard-working and determined to realize her dreams. With guidance from filmmaker Joyce Chopra, Guilbault shines light on her world, inviting viewers to focus on the similarities rather than differences between people living with and without a disability.

The Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF) screens more than 125 international cutting edge films, making it one of the Mid-Atlantic’s largest international competitive festivals. The festival will run September 7-12, 2021

March 21, 2021

“AGAINST THE CURRENT” DIRECTOR WINS EMERGING FILMMAKERS AWARD AT SOCIALLY RELEVANT FILM FESTIVAL NEW YORK

March 21, 2021

Daunnette Moniz-Reyome, director of AGAINST THE CURRENT, wins the Emerging Filmmakers Award at the SR Socially Relevant Film Festival in New York. Congratulations to Daunnette and her mentor, Evan Mascagni.

March 20, 2021

“AGAINST THE CURRENT” SELECTED FOR SILICON VALLEY’S CINEQUEST FILM FESTIVAL

March 20, 2021

AGAINST THE CURRENT screens at the Cinejoy Film Festival March 20-30 as part of a lineup of 200 films from 55 countries (111 of them world and U.S. premieres) and virtual experiences for a 10-day event that kicks off March 20. 

March 4, 2021

“L’CHAIM” HAS WORLD PREMIERE AT THE HARMONIE CLUB, NEW YORK

March 4, 2021

It was an exciting world premiere screening and panel discussion of L’CHAIM for the Harmonie Club with the young filmmaker (Semon Shabaev), his mentor (Anja Baron), Semon’s sister and best friend – all from Berlin. We all learned so much about what it means to be Jewish and German. L’CHAIM will broadcast as part of the national Films BYkids series on WNET on Sunday, April 18 at 7:30.


February 25, 2021

COLLEGE STUDENT GROUP PARTNERS WITH CALIFORNIA FILM INSTITUTE AND BYKIDS TO HOST SCREENING, CONVERSATION AND ENGAGEMENT

February 25, 2021

A group of 20 college kids from the Transdisciplinary Education and Arts Collaboration Hub (TEACH) imagined and organized a powerful night of film, conversation and engagement by partnering with the California Film Institute EDUCATION and BYkids with a screening of I COULD TELL YOU ‘BOUT MY LIFE (documenting Mike Martin’s return to Harlem after five months on Rikers Island), a live conversation between director Mike Martin and his mentor Chiemi Karasawa and moderated by Kenyamarie Mahone (TEACH member and Pomona College student) with a lively audience Q&A, a virtual after party featuring musical performances by Mike Martin, New York-based poet/Hip-Hop artist Messiah Ramkissoon and percussion artist Bashiri Johnson and an opportunity to TAKE ACTION.

February 17, 2021

BYKIDS WELCOMES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS

February 17, 2021

We welcome two new Board members who bring amazing expertise to our mission, Maya Kopytman and Brian Mateo. Maya Kopytman is a partner at C&G Partners in New York City, a multi-specialty creative studio dedicated to design for culture. She has three decades of design experience and is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in interactive media. After more than a decade at IconNicholson, where she served as Chief Creative Officer, Maya joined C&G Partners in 2006, where she leads interactive, web and branding for non-profit and cultural institutions.

Brian Mateo is Bard College’s Associate Dean of Civic Engagement and Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Globalization and International Affairs Program. Brian is also a term member on the Council on Foreign Relations, a trustee at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, a Truman National Security Project fellow and a Climate Reality Leader.

February 7, 2021

“FAITH’S WORLD” SCREENS AT BARD COLLEGE IN THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE “21ST CENTURY: LEADERSHIP AND THE CHALLENGE OF THE ENGAGED CITIZEN” PROGRAM

February 7, 2021

BYkids screened FAITH’S WORLD and discussed the film and models for civic engagement with the film and educational resources with student leaders from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey from the Civic Engagement in the 21st Century: Leadership and the Challenge of the Engaged Citizen program. We discussed the universal needs of being seen and heard despite our visible and invisible disabilities, as well as the worry of a parent about their kid’s future when they are gone.

Brian Mateo, Bard’s Associate Dean of Civic Engagement and BYkids Board member, said, “students were able to explore how to tell their own stories with Holly Carter, executive director of BYkids, as well as learn more about living with cerebral palsy through the film FAITH’S WORLD.”

February 2, 2021

BYKIDS LIVE WORKSHOP FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February 2, 2021

Screening I COULD TELL YOU ‘BOUT MY LIFE, middle and high school teachers joined veteran educator, Matt Nink, to talk about Black History Month and racial justice and explore resources for using this powerful film in their classrooms.

TEACHER QUOTES: “If we are to build a better world for our children and future generations, then we must act now – there is simply no time left for the privileged few to live without consideration of the disadvantaged many–these films help me and my students to see with new eyes,” HS teacher in Connecticut

“This workshop was very helpful for me to add to my tool box. Thanks for such timely resources and ideas. ~MS teacher in Wisconsin

Another 75 minute workshop for teachers to experience MY BEAUTIFUL NICARAGUA plus resources to explore climate change is happening May 11. SIGN UP HERE.