PROGRAM Welcome Remarks Mayor Sheldon Neeley FYFF Opening 2021: How Many Films? Welcome Remarks Justin Brown, Festival Director Evening Hosts Alexandria Douglas and Madison LaBonte Craft Writing Awards Craft Cinematography Awards
Craft Directing Award 13-15 Achievement Award Honorary Chair Remarks Kyle Bowser 16-19 Nonfiction Award 16-19 Fiction Award Screenplay Achievement Award 20-25 Nonfiction Award 20-25 Fiction Award The Heart Award presented by Congressman Dan Kildee Audience Choice Award Best of Festival Award Closing Remarks Alexandria Douglas and Madison LaBonte
RODNEY W. BROWN On behalf of the Board of Directors, Host Committee and the Executive Planning Committee, it is with extreme pride and pleasure that we welcome you to the 6th Annual Flint Film Festival Awards Gala which serves as the organization’s signature fundraiser for the year! This event will be virtual this year, in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Thank you for joining us this evening as we celebrate exceptional young filmmakers and pay tribute to their extraordinary achievements. The 6th Annual Flint Youth Film Festival shines a spotlight on filmmakers ages 25 and younger. The festival is designed to educate, celebrate and encourage youth filmmakers by screening officially selected work, encouraging their creative activities, providing informative workshops, and culminating with the Awards Ceremony. The Flint Youth Film Festival is sponsored by iMichigan Productions, Michigan Humanities Council, Share Art Genesee, Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, James A. Welch Foundation, A.G. Bishop Charitable Trust, Flint Institute of Arts, and Mott Community College. There is no way to measure the gratitude we have for all our distinguished corporate sponsors. Thank you and enjoy!
Rodney W. Brown Rodney Brown Founder iMichigan Productions
FYFF DIRECTOR
JUSTIN R. BROWN Good Evening, We’re so grateful for everyone who helped make this evening a success. We are thrilled to be here celebrating phenomenal filmmakers. None of this would have been possible without the help of our sponsors whose generous support allows us to continue our impactful work with aspiring youth in the year ahead. The heart of what we do is our filmmakers. These young people embrace challenges, see mistakes as opportunities to learn, and persist in the face of setbacks.
We must express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for joining us virtually tonight and consistently supporting the mission. Your help contributes to the continuation of this important work. Regards
Justin R. Brown Justin R. Brown Award Winning Writer, Director, Producer and Editor
FYFF HONORARY CHAIR
KYLE BOWSER I am proud to serve as the Honorary Chair for the 6th Annual Flint Youth Film Festival. Since 1909, NAACP has served as America’s chief advocate for social justice and civil rights. While our mission has always remained the same, we have adapted our tactics to fit the times. Most recently, we embraced the idea that controlling our narrative is the way forward. We recognize that filmmaking is one of the most compelling forms of storytelling. I salute the youth of the FYFF who have dedicated themselves to telling stories through film. I want them to continue to work on their craft and when they are ready, we look forward to welcoming them to the Hollywood industry where they can tell stories that not only gratify themselves but, change our world for the better. Congratulations to all the nominees.
Enjoy your evening!
Kyle Bowser Kyle Bowser Senior Vice President NAACP Hollywood Bureau
SPECIAL GUEST DAN KILDEE House of Representatives, (MI-05) Born and raised in Flint, Congressman Dan Kildee is a lifelong Michigander. In Congress, he has proven he can bring people together and get real results for his constituents and Michigan. Congressman Dan Kildee holds various leadership positions in Congress. As Chief Deputy Whip—part of the Democratic leadership team in the 116th Congress—he acts as an important liaison among Members of Congress and the leadership to build support for Democratic priorities and legislation. Congressman Kildee serves on the prestigious Ways and Means Committee, the oldest and one of the most powerful committees in the U.S. House of Representatives. On the committee, Congressman Kildee works to lower the costs of health care premiums and prescription drugs, protect Social Security and Medicare, negotiate fair trade deals, and create a tax system that benefits working families, not just the richest corporations. The committee also has vast jurisdiction over important programs including Unemployment Insurance, enforcement of child support laws, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and foster care and adoption programs. Before being elected to Congress, Congressman Kildee co-founded and served as the president of the Center for Community Progress, a national non-profit organization focused on urban land reform and revitalization. He also founded Michigan’s first land bank – the Genesee County Land Bank – which is responsible for tens of millions of dollars in redevelopment in Flint. The Genesee County Land Bank later served as a model for over 100 other land banks across the nation. Previously, Congressman Dan Kildee served as the Genesee County Treasurer, on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, and on the Flint Board of Education. Additionally, he worked for eight years at the Whaley Children’s Center, a residential treatment facility in Flint for children who have experienced trauma and abuse.
GALA HOSTS ALEXANDRIA DOUGLAS Award Winning Filmmaker Alexandria is a former film student of Tisch School of the Arts in NYC. Back from New York Alexandria wants to give back to the city that has given her so much. She has always been passionate about nurturing creatives and helping them find outlets for their art. In the early years of the Flint Youth Film Festival Alexandria worked as the Entrant Coordinator while she was attending the Media Arts and Entertainment Technology program at Mott Community College. She is happy to be back in Flint to create a place for Flint natives and youths to share their voices and experiences.
MADISON LABONTE Filmmaker and Actress Madison LaBonte is an aspiring film director, writer, and producer. She has worked on many small projects and personal productions, inspiring her to make this her career. Madison’s passion comes from a long line of theater fanatics, and she has been involved with theater for as long as she can remember. She is studying media arts and entertainment at Mott Community College and will be graduating with her associate’s degree within the next year. She plans on going further with her education and is excited to make her mark in the industry.
13-15 ALL
NOMINEES
Aidan Cockrell The Chase
Matthew Tschirhart Video Message
Gio Orlando No More Fascist Pigs!
Nolan Baker The Caliente
Hunter Tabor, Aden Pierce Running From Death
Ollie Rodriguez Two Brothers
Jake Cortez Dissonant
Simon Pasquesi Face Off!
Jeff Huang Impact
Simon Pruitt Arthropod
Justin Castro New Beginnings
Skyler Garcia Retaliation
16-19 Fiction OFFICIAL SELECTION Jeffery Wu THE MUGGERS
Amia Datts-Voluntad SILENCE Anna Kordzakhia DR. BRIGHT Arman Taheri CYCLE
Brooke Burnett KEJO Gabriella Hsu LEGATO Gabriella Hsu NEVER HAVE I EVER Isabella O'Brien YELLOW Jasmine Scriven BLACK FUTURES
Kaia Chambers A STICKY SITUATION
Mark Teaford KINDRED May-Lynn Le WRITE OFF THE PAGE Michelle Tang CAVED IN ANIMATION Parker Kerns I LOVE YOU MORE Phoebe Yung WHEN THE TIDE FALLS OUT Sanay Saboo GYM DAY Sophia Pangalos VIRGINITY ROCKS Tyler Harding CELESTIAL BURNING
16-19 Non-Fiction OFFICIAL SELECTION
Caroline Riechel AFTER TODAY
Rachael Doel IMPOSSIBLE
CJ Villaflor TAKING A STEP BACK
Ryan Blackwod A DAY IN THE WOODS
Elyas Masrour THE ARTIFICIAL REVOLUTION
Seamus Mahoney SERVICE: THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS
Kristin Quintanilla LA VOODOO FEMME Laila Sparks COMING UP FOR AIR Laila Sparks SMILE
Steven Simpson AN ECOSYSTEM ON THE LINE Zachary Goodwin EYES
20-25 Fiction OFFICIAL SELECTION Zachary Simon TACET Allison Riley LIMIT OF ONE Jakob Cansler PLAYING THE GAME
Antonio Corsi SUMMER FLINGS AND FUNERALS
Jeanne DiMaggio THE HOMECOMING
Brian Mack DEAR DESTINY
Jessica Ordz DRIVING TEST!?
Danielle DeRosa PHASES
Jiamu Tao DAD'S HIBISCUS
Danny Souza TAMBORINEHAND
Lyanne Rodriguez MOTHBOY
Elsa Nilaj A GIRL IN A BOX
Rebecca van der Meulen TO WADE OR ROW
Hugo Ortiz Clemens JUEVES AFTERNOON
Ruthie Grumbine THE OTHER SIDE
I Ting Kao THE EXPLORER
Sylvia Lee POSTHUMOUS
J.T.J Studios PARANOIA
20-25 Non-Fiction OFFICIAL SELECTION Kara Headley MISSED STEPS Andrea Chiara Mangano DANCE!
Anna Yang PAUSE Calvin Herbst IN A SEA OF LAND Casey Iles A DESTINED FIND Claudia Peralta Torres LOST IN THE DAZE OF CANDY Emily Burroughs WITH LOVE, POPS Gi Tucker ABOUT GENDER Julia Raye TOO SLOW
Lorenzo Benitez JAIVEER HAS A DAY JOB Madi Garcia RAGTOWN Markeice Patrick PANDEMIC DIARIES: PARENTHOOD Maura De Rose THE BLESSED MOTHER Megan Kipper A NORMAL HAPPY KID
Remy Styrk FROM HERE AND BACK; RESIDUAL Remy Styrk THE SMELL OF BURNING Zixin Zhang TED
FYFF JUDGE
MICHAEL LLUBERES Michael Lluberes is an award-winning director, playwright and actor. He is currently the Producing Artistic Director of Flint Repertory Theatre where directing highlights include: The Glass Menagerie, Into The Woods, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, ASSASSINS, Songs About Stuff (World Premiere), The Boatman (World Premiere). Writing/Directing: The Boy in the Bathroom (New York Musical Theatre Festival, NYMF Best New Musical and Best Book Awards, ASCAP/Disney Workshop. The show has gone on to receive productions at The Chance Theater, The Adirondack Theatre Festival, Bloomington Playwrights Project, The Festival of New American Musicals, Curtain Call Theatre, Penn State University, New Jersey Rep, Peppermint Creek Theatre, Spirit of Broadway Theatre, Sandbox Collective, Manila Fringe Arts Festival, Firehouse Theatre), Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers (Broadway World Los Angeles Theatre Award Best Play, LA Weekly Theater Award Nomination Best Production, The Blank Theatre, No Rules Theatre Company, Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival), The Geranium on the Windowsill Just Died But Teacher You Went Right On (FYT, ASCAP/DreamWorks Workshop). Other Directing: Bayonets of Angst (New York Musical Theatre Festival), Twelfth Night (Sonnet Repertory Theatre), Simon Dawes Becomes A Planet (Time Shared), Nighttime Traffic (NYMF), 1,000 Cats (UCB, HBO’s Funny Or Die Presents) The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, A Wrinkle in Time, The Adventures of Robin Hood (Flint Youth Theatre). Acting: Broadway First National Tour: Dirty Dancing. Off-Broadway: Heaven Knows (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Off-Broadway/U.S. Tour: American Dreams: Lost and Found, Pudd’nhead Wilson, The Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It (The Acting Company). Regional: The Old Globe, Cincinnati Playhouse, St. Louis Rep, Casa Mañana, Capital Rep, Maltz Jupiter, Pioneer Theatre Company. TV: “Chappelle’s Show,” “Law & Order,” “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.” Michael has received numerous awards including, the ASCAP Foundation Harold Adamson Award, The American Harmony Prize, an NEA New Artist Initiative Award, Anna Sosenko Trust Award and fellowships at The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Hambidge and Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
FYFF JUDGE
KIKI SHEPARD KiKi Shepard is the Founder and Executive Director, The K.I.S. Foundation. She is dedicated to raising awareness of Sickle Cell Disease for over 19 years. She has worked with the National Association (SCDAA) as their Spokesperson for 10 years, carries Sickle Cell Trait, and uses her national celebrity to raise awareness. Ms. Shepard is an actress and is best known as the “Apollo Queen of Fashion”. For 15 years, she starred as the smashing Co-Host of NBC’s original “It’s Showtime at the Apollo”. KiKi Shepard is a graduate of Howard University and holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and has relationships with Herbalife, Xerox, California African America Museum, Verizon, Sickle Cell Foundation of Orange County, SCD Collaborative. In addition to associations with numerous highlevel celebrities, and several top television shows. Ms. Shepard is the proud Guardian and Auntie/Mom to two teenage nieces.
FYFF JUDGE
MICHAEL J. THORP
Michael J. Thorp is a storyteller, and a television and radio broadcaster. He is the host and writer of the “Huckleberry Radio Hour,” an Emmy award–winning live radio variety show, the host of "Michael J. Thorp's The American Civil War Years" on Public Television, and has written a children's book, "The Legend of the Abominable Huckleberry. The Abominable Huckleberry was created as a character on the radio show. Thorp, who earned a BA in history from the University of Michigan-Flint, has been a television news anchor, disc jockey and television/radio talk show host. Thorp lives in Flint, Michigan with his wife, Ginny. They have two daughters, Libby (married to T.J.), Grand Daughter Emersyn and Ella.
FYFF JUDGE
KEVIN TONEY Kevin Toney is a true modern music renaissance artist. Throughout his career, he has continually pushed the envelope on contemporary music and has not allowed any genre to limit his creativity. All the while maintaining his unique musical voice. With an outstanding career spanning four decades and two Grammy nominations, three RIAA Gold Record awards, an NAACP Image Award, National Endowment For The Arts Fellowship Grant, Kevin continues to delight audiences everywhere. An award-winning pianist, composer, author and speaker, Kevin first started playing piano at age five in his city of birth, Detroit, Michigan. His first teacher was his sister Hefen. At eight, he added cello and alto saxophone to his skill set. He later attended the prestigious Cass Technical High School and performed with many of his city’s top musicians. Kevin graduated to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. where he earned his B.A. in composition and jazz studies. During his tenure, he became the leader of The Blackbyrds, the innovative jazz-R&B fusion sextet founded by jazz trumpet legend Donald Byrd. Kevin wrote and co-penned many of the band’s most memorable music including the funk hit “Rock Creek Park”, the lovely harmonica-laced instrumental ballad “All I Ask,” and the brassy Grammy-nominated scorcher “Unfinished Business.” After six `70s Soul classics, Kevin left the group and recorded his first solo LP, Special K in 1982. Kevin Toney also maintains a thriving life outside the performing stage and recording studio. Although God has blessed Kevin with a long successful striving music career, his greater purpose is “Helping Families Grow Through Faithfulness In Relationships.” As an author, Kevin’s books include The Virtuous Man~Breaking The Men’s Code (2011), His latest book titled Super Glue Your Love Relationship (2017) is a powerful resource to help married and unmarried committed couples attain and sustain love in a relationship. Kevin’s other published books are The Kevin Toney Collection Volume I and Heart Of Gratitude-Piano Solos.
FYFF JUDGE
EVAN WRIGHT
Evan Wright is a 22 year-old composer of film who got his start in music at the age of 8 singing negro spirituals at his home church in south Los Angeles, Second Baptist. Evan quickly became a lover of jazz music during his high school career at the L.A. County High School for the Arts. While there, he wrote compositions for big band and small ensembles performing them live at numerous jazz clubs in the area. After his acceptance as a Jazz Composition major at the New England Conservatory of Music, Evan was introduced to film scoring during his junior year studying as a composer and jazz vocalist. Evan has performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and has had his original big band works featured in the New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall in Boston. Since earning his BA in 2020, Evan has scored a number of independent films and is actively working as a composer in the Los Angeles Area.
ABOUT The Flint Youth Film Festival introduces the art of filmmaking to young filmmakers between the ages of 13 and 25. It provides these young filmmakers with venues for developing their storytelling talents. The program provides opportunities to share creative work with peers, the public, and professional filmmakers. By introducing our youth to the film industry, the program provides them with new media to express their creativity, improve their communication skills, and benefit their community. The festival received a record number of entries this year. Festival officials have notified these filmmakers of the official selections that will be part of the festival and the films are now out being judged by professionals from around the country. The festival entrants are divided into three age groups, 13-15, 16-19, and 20-25 years of age. The two older groups’ films are divided into fiction and nonfiction. The younger group is strictly judged by achievement to acknowledge the hard work it takes to make a film and to put no pressure of competition on kids that young that are just getting started in this creative pursuit. Craft awards also are presented for writing, directing, and cinematography for the two older groups. And there are other awards given which are determined by judges, for example The Best of Festival Award, The Heart Award, which is for a film that shows passion from the entrant(s) which outshine all others. And, of course, there is the Audience Choice Award. The 13-15 group’s films were limited to five minutes. The 13-19 age group limit was ten minutes and the 20-25 group’s limit was twenty minutes. For the audience, one good thing about watching the films on YouTube, Brown noted, is that the films can be watched more than once.
Founded by Award-winning television producer, Rodney W. Brown, iMP is a non-profit corporation that combines media production with education. iMP’s Flagship program, the Flint Youth Film Festival introduces the art of filmmaking to young filmmakers between the ages of 13 and 25 and provides these young filmmakers with venues for developing their storytelling talent. Additional signature programs include the Peaceful Warriors Project that recognizes the contributions of United States Veterans in arts, culture and community and the Film Appreciation Academy, a program to examine the styles of film the techniques used in making a film and the potential array of jobs that are available in the film industry. MISSION The mission is to inspire emerging filmmakers ages 25 and under to harness the power of storytelling to inspire and encourage positive change in the world. VISION Our vision is to provide emerging filmmakers a platform to showcase their perspectives through film.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank all of our Generous Sponsors, Donors and Contributors, Honorary Host Committee Members, Board of Directors of iMichigan Productions, Staff and Volunteers of iMichigan Productions
Event Producer Sheila Gilmore
Graphic Design Gilmore Marketing Group Digital Program Journal Power Is Now Media
Audiovisual Compumind Marketing Inc.
When you invest in our young filmmakers, you invest in our future. Thank You.
iMichigan Productions 124 W. First Street Flint Michigan 48502 PH: 810-282-1338 www.imichiganproductions.com imichiganproductions