Liyana and Tre Maison Dasan coming to DVD and Blu-Ray this November

Liyana and Tre Maison Dasan coming to DVD and Blu-Ray this November

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Liyana and Tre Maison Dasan coming to DVD and Blu-Ray this November Pre-Order your copy now!

[Liyana DVD]Liyana release date November 19th

In this documentary/animated film, a talented group of orphaned children in Swaziland collaborate to write an original African tale about Liyana, a girl on a dangerous quest. Inspired by the children’s darkest memories and brightest dreams, their fictional character’s journey reveals parallels between her fate and that of the young storytellers.

  • Winner of more than 35 audience and jury awards!
  • 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes!
  • 5-Star review from Common Sense Media!

Tre Maison Dasan release date November 26th

Tre Maison Dasan is a story that explores parental incarceration through the eyes of three boys. Following their interweaving trajectories through boyhood marked by the criminal justice system, and told directly through the child’s perspective, the film unveils the challenges of growing up and what it means to become a man in America. Hilarious, heartbreaking, uplifting and ending with tremendous hope, Tre, Maison and Dasan’s lives are stories of growing up, struggle, loss, empathy, positivity, resilience and unconditional love.

Meet our 2019 Fall Interns

Meet our 2019 Fall Interns

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Meet our 2019 Fall Interns!

Meet our 2019 Fall Interns Amanda Rivera and Autumn Gonzalez

Autumn Gonzalez: I am a junior at The City College of New York where I am majoring in Film and Video Production with a minor in Journalism. A city kid at heart, I am from Brooklyn, New York. My drive to study film derives from my love of storytelling, and I love storytelling because of its power to evoke emotion. I want to evoke emotion from the many with my work, and if I can use that to inspire people to be better and do better, then I am doing my job right. After a recent volunteer trip to Puerto Rico this past summer, where I spent two weeks with the most amazing individuals working to help rebuild in the area, I couldn’t wait to keep the good streak going. Shine Global allows me to do just that by putting my efforts towards helping the underserved youth of the world. Additional fun facts: I can juggle, play alto saxophone, and do some card magic!

Amanda Rivera is a senior at CUNY Queens College majoring in Media Studies and minoring in Film Studies. Born in Long Island, raised by her Salvadoran mother, she learned firsthand accounts of trauma endured during the Salvadoran Civil War. These stories of resiliency and others have shaped her desire to advocate for social change through film. Amanda was compelled to join Shine because Shine highlights the strength of children in times of adversity and how these stories can inspire impactful change amongst educators, communities, and governments. Essentially this is what makes Shine Global a unique place to work and she is grateful for the opportunity. Amanda is currently co-producing a Salvadoran coming of age film and aspires to create a non-profit arts center in the US and El Salvador.

Learn more about internship positions as Shine Global here: https://shineglobal.org/internships/

 

A Night of Shining a Light

A Night of Shining a Light

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A Night of Shining a Light: Shine Global’s 5th Annual Gala

On Thursday, October 10 we threw the fifth annual Shine Global Gala with the theme “Why we Shine a light,” bringing together filmmakers, Shine Global supporters, and champions of children’s rights highlighting our mission of sharing stories of children and their families’ resilience through film.

Following cocktails with music performed by Don Sarlin, Shine Global board members Marilyn DeLuca (Chair of the Development Committee) and Anne Prost (Chair of the Board) kicked off the evening by explaining the need for donors and philanthropists to support Shine Global’s type of storytelling, and what that support has accomplished in the last 14 years.

Shine Global co-founder Albie Hecht acknowledged just how many amazing stories are currently being told by talented filmmakers, which makes it tough to choose which films are going to be Shine Global films. “So what do we look for? We look for stories that shine a light on untold issues and we look for them to take us to places we have never gone before.  And finally, we look for compelling characters that charge the stories with emotion and a cinematic feel like you normally find in a fiction film,” he explained.  He then introduced three current projects of Shine Global: Virtually Free by director André Robert Lee focusing on the need for alternatives to sending kids to jail; an upcoming film by directors/producers Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci filmed over a decade and telling the coming-of-age story of an undocumented boy in New York City; and a film still in production about the Rohingya refugee crisis by Director Taimi Arvidson and Producer Brette Ragland.

Executive Director and Co-Founder Susan MacLaury highlighted the urgency of the moment in supporting storytelling about children’s issues and premiered a new video about why Shine Global “Shines a Light.”  Reflecting on recent governments lack of support for the neediest in the world, Susan declared, “This is a time for personal and group activism, to fight the good fight on behalf of our neediest children. It is not only right, but essential, that we each pay attention to those who are suffering and do what we can to end it.”  And affirming that “These are Shine Global’s children now and we will keep faith with them and do all that we can to make sure their hope is rewarded.”

The Spirt Award was presented to Dario Spina, the Chief Marketing Officer of Viacom Velocity and a long time Shine Global board member for his dedication to using the power of media to transform children’s lives.  Speaking about what makes Shine Global unique, Dario said “the stories we tell are typically through the eyes of a child…. we find that it’s more impactful to tell the individual stories of these amazing children, that give a voice to and represent potentially millions of kids and their families that are affected by these issues…in the end, what’s more important than making this world a better place for our children? Nothing!”

And that’s what made the evening so inspiring.  A ballroom full of people who believe what Dario believes – that we must act now to better the lives of children around the world – and in the power of film and storytelling to be a part of that change.

If you missed the gala, you can still contribute to Shine Global’s mission by becoming a member or making a donation before the end of the year!

And check out the photos from the event on our Facebook page!

And watch the new highlights video “Why We Shine a Light” that we premiered at the gala:

 

 

 

SPECIAL THANKS

Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors: Viacom and Nickelodeon
Lead Sponsor: pocket.watch
Wine Provided by: Heritage Auctions
Music Performed by: Don Sarlin
Other Sponsors: Sunset Marquis Hotel

SPECIAL THANKS

Host Committee

Anne Prost & Olivier Robert
Betty & Greg Murphy
Ellen & Wendell Maddrey
Gail & Victor Khosla
Luz & Bill MacArthur
Marla & Bobby Baker
Maria & Keith Brown
Marilyn DeLuca & John Rotrosen
Marcia Marley & Peter Rappoport
Susan & Arthur Hatzopoulos
Susan MacLaury & Albie Hecht
Susan Ringo & Barry Sonnenfeld

SPECIAL THANKS

Volunteers

Yasmeen Alkooheji
Alex Erdekian
Rose Frankel
Autumn Gonzalez
Alex Hecht
Whitney Hudson
Carole Martinez
Amanda Rivera
Julia Rothkoff