Shine Global is pleased to announce the call for submissions for the 2023 Children’s Resilience in Film Awards. This annual event recognizes and celebrates the films and filmmakers that highlight the resilience and strength of children in the face of adversity.

The awards are open to feature films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination. The films must have been completed after January 1, 2022, and must have a running time of at least 70 minutes.

“We are excited to announce the 2023 Children’s Resilience in Film Awards and continue to shine a light on the incredible stories of children who have faced and overcome adversity,” said Susan MacLaury, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Shine Global. “Through these films, we hope to inspire and empower viewers to take action and make a positive impact on the lives of children around the world.”

The second edition of the awards is sponsored in part by The Hollywood Reporter and Paramount Pictures. An open call for submissions of films starts today, April 17th and will close on June 30th, through the FilmFreeway platform. The official selections will be announced in September 2023 with film screenings of the nominees scheduled in New York City. The jury is comprised of film industry experts, children’s rights activists, and distinguished youth voices. The winner will be announced at an awards show in Los Angeles at Paramount Pictures on Oct. 3, with a grand prize of $15,000.

Last year’s edition of the awards show was hosted by Emmy-winner Mike O’Malley and the grand prize was awarded to ballet documentary Lift, directed by David J. Petersen. The runner-up nominees included Ham Tran’s Maika: The Girl From Another Galaxy, Engeli Broberg’s Gabi: Between Ages 8 and 13 and Jared Jakins’ Scenes From the Glittering World. The winner was selected by a jury panel, including Kay Wilson Stallings, Maria Perez Brown, Amy Kennedy, Jana Sue Memel and THR‘s Scott Feinberg. The awards also recognized three special honorees: Youth Activist Award honoree and Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate Cydney Brown for her work inspiring children and families to fight for change; Titan Award recipient and Sesame Street alum Sonia Manzano for her contributions to children’s entertainment; and Champion for Children Award recipient Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, for her dedication to advocating for children’s rights.

For more information about the 2023 Children’s Resilience in Film Awards and to submit a film, please visit https://filmfreeway.com/ShineGlobalChildrensResilienceinFilm/.

About Shine Global

Shine Global is a non-profit media company that gives voice to children and their families by telling their stories of resilience to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. We produce inspiring films and compelling content about underserved children. Through tailored distribution and outreach, we connect with our audiences in communities, classrooms, museums, and on Capitol Hill as part of a powerful engagement campaign to encourage social change.

Since its founding in 2005, Shine Global films have won more than 100 major awards, including an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject for Inocente and an Academy Award®-nomination and two Emmys® for War/Dance. Recent films include the documentary-animation hybrid Liyana, the hit documentary The Eagle Huntress, Through Our Eyes: Homefront which is available on HBOMax, and Home Is Somewhere Else which is currently in festivals.