Anuja Wins Best Live Action Short at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival

Anuja Wins Best Live Action Short at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival

by | Aug 19, 2024 | Shine News

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Anuja Wins Best Live Action Short at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival

L to R: Producer Krushan Naik, Producer Suchitra Mattai, Writer/Director Adam J. Graves at HollyShorts

August 19, 2024 — Anuja, produced in association with Shine Global, was announced as the Best Live Action Short Winner at the prestigious HollyShorts Film Festival last night in Los Angeles. HollyShorts is one of about 150 Oscar-qualifying festivals whose top winners automatically become eligible for Oscars in the three shorts categories.

Anuja is the brainchild of the husband and wife team of Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai (Cycle Vérité). With Graves directing and Mattai producing, Anuja tells the story of an exceptionally bright 9-year-old, Anuja (Sajda Pathan), who works with her 17-year-old sister Palak (Ananya Shanbhag) at a garment factory in Delhi, India. When a teacher shows up at the factory, promising Anuja the rare chance to attend an elite boarding school, Anuja faces a difficult decision.

The film was developed in association with the India-based non-profit, Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), founded by Dr. Praveen Nair. After her daughter Mira Nair’s film Salaam Bombay! exposed the harsh conditions of children living on the streets, Dr. Nair was motivated to make a difference in the lives of street and working children in Delhi. Lead actress Pathan resides in an SBT home that provides shelter and education for girls formerly living on the street and brings her personal experience and passion for acting to the role.

Shine Global, a non-profit with the mission to improve children’s’ lives through powerful storytelling and the company behind Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning War/Dance (2007) and the Oscar-winning short documentary Inocente (2012), is planning a robust impact campaign around the film focusing on child labor and girls education. Shine Global is a member organization of the End US Child Labor Campaign and has worked closely over the years with many organizations worldwide towards ending child labor.

  • 1 in 10 children worldwide is in child labor
  • In the beginning of 2020, a total of 160 million children were in child labour – an increase for the first time in 20 years
  • 79 million children were in hazardous work that directly endangers their health, safety and moral development
  • Worldwide, 129 million girls are out of school
  • When we invest in girls’ secondary education:
    • The lifetime earnings of girls dramatically increase
    • National growth rates rise
    • Child marriage rates decline
    • Child mortality rates fall
    • Maternal mortality rates fall
    • Child stunting drops

Along with first time actors Pathan and Shanbhag, the film also features popular award-winning Indian television actor, Nagesh Bhonsle, best known internationally for his supporting role as police deputy commissioner, “Vam” in Hotel Mumbai starring Dev Patel.  Rounding out the core team are Aaron Kopp (Saving Face, Liyana, Hunting Ground) and Krushan Naik (Resurgence) who serve as producers on the film. Other producers include Michael Graves, Ksheetij Saini, Alexandra Blaney (Creative Director, Shine Global), Susan MacLaury, and Albie Hecht.

Follow Anuja on Instagram: @graves_films
Website: https://www.anujathefilm.com/
#anujathefilm 

About Shine Global

Shine Global is a non-profit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories 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 our 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 the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, which is currently in festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE 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 films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.

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Shine Global Announces Nominees & Honorees for 2024 Annual Resilience Awards

Shine Global Announces Nominees & Honorees for 2024 Annual Resilience Awards

by | Aug 12, 2024 | Shine News

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Shine Global Announces Nominees & Honorees for 2024 Annual Resilience Awards

$35,000 In Prizes Presented To Films That Shine A Light On Children’s Resilience; Will Also Honor Jim Steyer of Common Sense Media, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Author/Illustrator and Former Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 12, 2024) – Today, Shine Global – the renowned nonprofit media company dedicated to producing and supporting impactful documentaries about children’s issues – announced the nominees and honorees for its 2024 Resilience Awards.

Shine Global’s annual Resilience Awards, now in their third year, honor exceptional films and extraordinary individuals. Each of the nominated films center the resilience of children and further the organization’s mission of improving children’s lives through the power of storytelling, and each honoree has made a significant impact on the lives of children and families.

This year, Shine Global will honor Common Sense Media founder and CEO Jim Steyer for his commitment to advocating for children’s rights; author/illustrator and former Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava for her advocacy for youth mental health and well-being around the world; and SpongeBob SquarePants, for promoting emotional resilience, positive social interactions, and a love for creativity among children.

This year’s film nominees present an extraordinary range of powerful stories from around the world, each highlighting the resilience of young individuals. From young girls in the U.S. preparing for a special dance with their incarcerated fathers in “Daughters” (Angela Patton and Natalie Rae), to Jesselyn Silva’s fight against cancer while pursuing her boxing dreams in “JessZilla” (Emily Sheskin). “Kensuke’s Kingdom” (Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry) takes us on an adventure with a shipwrecked boy forming an unlikely alliance with a Japanese man on a remote island. “La Suprema” (Felipe Holguín Caro) follows a girl in a forgotten Colombian town striving to watch her uncle’s world title boxing match, and “Searching for Amani” (Nicole Gormley and Debra Aroko) chronicles a Kenyan boy’s quest to uncover the truth behind his father’s murder while becoming an activist amid a severe drought.

“These exceptional films embody Shine Global’s mission to illuminate the resilience and strength of children around the world,” said Shine Global co-CEO and Creative Director Alexandra Blaney.  “Each story showcases young individuals facing extraordinary challenges with courage and determination and not only reveal the indomitable spirit of youth but also inspire audiences to see the power of hope and perseverance. These films are a testament to the transformative impact of storytelling, encouraging us all to strive for a brighter future.”

The Grand Prize winner will be named and awarded $10,000 cash in addition to receiving $15,000 of impact campaign services provided by Picture Motion at the Resilience Awards ceremony on October 15, 2024. Additional category prizes were previously awarded throughout the year at film festivals and will be featured as part of the ceremony as well.  Filmmakers, industry professionals, and children’s rights advocates will gather at the historic Paramount Pictures lot to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these films.

The grand prize winning film will be selected by a jury panel including Scott Feinberg (Executive Editor, Awards at The Hollywood Reporter), Anita Raswant (Lead Programmer, Nantucket Film Festival), Amanda Spain (VP Longform Acquisitions at MSNBC Films), and Eden Sapir (Campaign and Grassroots Partnership Manager of Picture Motion). Screening attendees will also have a chance to vote on their favorite films, and the audience vote will count as an additional juror in the selection of the winner.

You can purchase tickets for both the screenings and award ceremony here: 

https://resilienceawards2024.eventive.org/

The 2024 Resilience Awards Nominees are as follows:

Daughters (United States) | 104 min (2024)
Directed by Angela Patton, Natalie Rae
Producers Natalie Rae, Lisa Mazzotta, Justin Benoliel, James Cunningham, Mindy Goldberg, Sam Bisbee, Kathryn Everett, Laura Choi Raycroft 

Four young girls prepare for a special Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, as part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C. jail. 
JessZilla (United States) | 84 min (2023)
Directed by Emily Sheskin
Produced by Ben Kainz

Jesselyn Silva is a 3x national boxing champion. As Jesselyn is on the cusp of making the Junior Olympic team, she is forced to face her toughest battle yet – a cancer diagnosis.
Kensuke’s Kingdom (United Kingdom) | 84 min (2023)
Directed by Neil Boyle, Kirk Hendry
Producers Camilla Deakin, Ruth Fielding, Adrian Politowski, Martin Metz, Stephan Roelants, Jean Labadie, Anne-Laure Labadie, Sarah Radclyffe, Barnaby Spurrier

A young boy, shipwrecked on a remote island, discovers he is not alone when he encounters a mysterious Japanese man who has lived there since the end of World War II. As dangerous invaders appear on the horizon, it becomes clear they must join forces to save their fragile paradise.
La Suprema (Colombia) | 84 min (2023)
Directed by Felipe Holguín Caro
Produced by María Teresa Gaviria

In a town erased from the maps where there’s not even electricity, a girl dreams of boxing. When she learns her uncle will box for the world title and it will be broadcast live on tv, she and the community will do everything to watch the fight, while battling oblivion.
Searching for Amani (United States, Kenya) | 80 min (2024)
Directed by Nicole Gormley, Debra Aroko
Producers Nicole Gormley, Peter Goetz, Mungai Kiroga, Caryn Capotosto

A 13-year-old aspiring journalist investigates his father’s mysterious murder within the boundaries of one of Kenya’s largest wildlife conservancies. As a ravaging drought encroaches, his quest to find the killer shifts, and an activist is born as the collateral damage of a warming world is revealed

Five additional films were previously announced as winners in different categories and awarded cash prizes in partnership with several film festivals:

Winner of the Unstoppable Kids Prize for family-friendly films at the 2024 New York International Children’s Film Festival
Dounia – The Great White North (Canada) | 51 min (2024)
Directed by Marya Zarif, André Kadi
Produced by Judith Beauregard

“Dounia: The Great White North” follows the journey of 7 year-old Dounia and her grandparents as they get to know Canada, the country that welcomed them when they fled their war-torn homeland.
Winner of Children’s Resilience in Screenwriting Award at 2024 Nantucket Film Festival
Los Frikis (United States, Dominican Republic) | 105 min (2023)
Directed and Written by Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson
Producers Jordan Fudge, Jeremy Allen, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Rebecca Karch Tomlinson, Aditya Sood, Michael Schwartz & Tyler Nilson

A group of punk rock teenagers from Havana deliberately inject themselves with HIV to escape the oppression of “special period” Cuba.
Winner Children’s Resilience in Disability Stories Award at 2024 ReelAbilities Film Festival
Okthanksbye (The Netherlands) | 92 min (2023)
Directed by Nicole van Kilsdonk
Producers Rogier Kramer, Laura Bouwmeester

An adventurous coming-of-age drama about two young deaf girls who go on an unforgettable road trip together where they not only get to know each other better, but also themselves.
Winner Children’s Resilience in Short Film Prize at 2024 Indy Shorts International Film Festival
Unibrow (Canada) | 14 min (2023)
Directed by Nedda Sarshar
Producers Rabiya Mansoor, Shreya Patel

An Irani-Canadian girl (Lina Sennia) is forced to rethink her relationship with her unibrow and her Irani heritage, when she is forced to make friends with the new girl from Iran.

Winner of the Shine Global Resilience Award for Young Filmmakers at Montclair Film
3am Thoughts (USA) | (2024)
Directed, written, and produced by Gabriella Keil

A teenager has an anxiety attack in the middle of the night about absolutely everything.

You can purchase tickets for New York City film screenings and the Los Angeles awards ceremony HERE.

The 2024 Resilience Awards are sponsored in part by media partner The Hollywood Reporter who will uplift these powerful, culture-shifting films to receive the recognition they deserve; hospitality partner Sunset Marquis Hotel; Quest Pacifica; Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang; Jon and Diane Moonves; CBS; Paramount Pictures; pocket.watch; DreamWorks Animation; Mattel.

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About Shine Global
Shine Global is a non-profit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories 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 our 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, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and Comedy Against the Odds which is currently in film festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE 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 films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.

VIEW ALL POSTS
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Unibrow wins Shine Global’s Children’s Resilience in Short Film Prize at Indy Shorts Film Festival

Unibrow wins Shine Global’s Children’s Resilience in Short Film Prize at Indy Shorts Film Festival

by | Jul 29, 2024 | Shine News

News

Unibrow wins Shine Global’s Children’s Resilience in Short Film Prize at Indy Shorts Film Festival

Heartland Film Artistic Director Greg Sorvig, “Unibrow “star Lina Sennia, and Shine Global Creative Director Alexandra Blaney at the 2024 Indy Shorts International Film Festival Awards Ceremony on July 27, 2024.

July 28, 2024 – Shine Global announced that the short film “Unibrow,” written and directed by Nedda Sarshar, has been honored with the Shine Global Children’s Resilience Short Film Award at the Indy Shorts International Film Festival. This prize is given to a short film at the festival that sheds light on the challenges faced by children and their remarkable strength. The winner is awarded $2,500 and an invitation to participate in Shine Global’s upcoming 2024 Resilience Awards events on the Paramount Pictures lot in Los Angeles, CA on October 15th.

The live action short film follows Leyla (Lina Sennia), a second-generation Irani-Canadian girl striving for the perfect brows, as she befriends a new student from Iran, Sahar (Parastoo Amanzadeh), who introduces her to the cultural significance of eyebrows.

“We are so pleased to be able to honor “Unibrow” for its heartfelt portrayal of an Irani-Canadian girl navigating her cultural identity and personal insecurities,” said Alexandra Blaney, Shine Global’s Creative Director. “The film beautifully captures the themes of self-acceptance and the power of friendship as she learns to embrace her heritage while confronting societal beauty standards and her desire to fit in. This inspiring story will resonate with audiences of all ages, encouraging us all to embrace our uniqueness and celebrate our differences”

Shine Global featured four films in total in the Spotlight: Children’s Resilience program with films that feature the incredible resilience and unwavering spirit of children as they overcome challenges and find strength in unexpected places.

 

 

1 UP | 2023 | United Kingdom | Greg Francis | Midwest PremiereWhile dealing with the loss of his father, 15-year-old Andrew struggles to support his grieving mother through her emotional turmoil-and as his world slowly begins to fracture, he searches for guidance and connection through his late father’s record collection.
A Short Film About Kids | 2023 | Palestine | Ibrahim Handal | Indiana Premiere

Four kids from the refugee camp in Bethlehem decide to visit the sea for the first time in their life.
Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World | 2023 | United States | Julio Palacio | Indiana Premiere 

In the heartwarming short documentary, “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World”, we are introduced to a remarkable young girl whose spirit and determination defy all expectations. Makayla, a teenage girl, has spent her life grappling with a rare form of autism that rendered her essentially nonverbal. However, her parents, filled with unwavering belief in their daughter’s potential, embarked on a transformative journey to discover the true depth of Makayla’s inner world.
Unibrow | 2023 | Canada | Nedda Sarshar | Indiana Premiere

An Irani-Canadian girl is forced to rethink her relationship with her unibrow and her Irani heritage, when she is forced to make friends with the new girl from Iran.

Indy Shorts is an Academy Award®-Qualifying Film Festival in all three short film categories (Live Action, Documentary and Animated) in addition to being named as both one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” and one of the “Best Short Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine. Indy Shorts had a 30% increase in short film submissions from last year, with 5,130 shorts submitted for consideration to the 2024 festival with just over 200 receiving an Official Selection.

Shine Global’s annual Resilience Awards honor exceptional films that center around the resilience of children and further the organization’s mission of improving children’s lives by harnessing the power of storytelling. Past winners include the feature documentaries Name Me Lawand (2023, Directed by Edward Lovelace and produced by Fleur Nieddu), Lift (2022, Directed by David Petersen and produced by Mary Racine), Ayenda (2023, directed by Marie Margolius) presented in partnership with Heartland Film’s Indy Shorts International Film Festival, the Unstoppable Kids prize presented to the animated children’s film Dounia – The Great White North (2024, directed by Marya Zarif and André Kadi and produced by Judith Beauregard) in partnership with the New York International Children’s Film Festival, a Children’s Resilience in Disability Stories Award to Okthanksbye (2022, directed by Nicole Van Kilsdonk and produced by Rogier Kramer) in partnership with ReelAbilities, and a Children’s Resilience in Screenwriting Award to Los Frikis (2024, written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz) with Nantucket Film Festival.

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About Shine Global
Shine Global is a non-profit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories 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 our 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, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and Comedy Against the Odds which is currently in film festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE 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 films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.

About Heartland Film

Heartland Film is a nonprofit arts organization that runs the 11-day Heartland International Film Festival in October, the Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival in July, the Truly Moving Picture Award and other year-round programs. Based in Indianapolis, Heartland Film was founded in 1991 with the mission to curate, promote and celebrate thoughtful and engaging films from diverse perspectives. Over the years, Heartland Film has presented $3.5 million in cash prizes – the largest total amount awarded by any film festival in North America – presented 200+ studio films with the Truly Moving Picture Award, and showcased more than 2,000 feature and short films, including 10 Oscar®-winning short film titles. MovieMaker Magazine named both the Indy Shorts and Heartland International Film Festival on the top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World list for 2023. The 7th Annual Indy Shorts International Film Festival is scheduled July 23-28, 2024 and the 33rd Heartland International Film Festival runs October 10-20, 2024. For more information, visit www.HeartlandFilm.org.

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Susan MacLaury to Retire as Executive Director of Shine Global, Transitioning to Senior Advisor and Board Member; Alexandra Blaney and Francile Albright Mullen Appointed as Co-CEOs

Susan MacLaury to Retire as Executive Director of Shine Global, Transitioning to Senior Advisor and Board Member; Alexandra Blaney and Francile Albright Mullen Appointed as Co-CEOs

by | Jul 15, 2024 | Shine News

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Susan MacLaury to Retire as Executive Director of Shine Global, Transitioning to Senior Advisor and Board Member; Alexandra Blaney and Francile Albright Mullen Appointed as Co-CEOs

 

Shine Global co-founders Albie Hecht and Susan MacLaury at the 2023 Shine Global Resilience Awards at Paramount Pictures Studios on October 03, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Shine Global Inc)

Watch a video message from Susan

July 15, 2024 – Susan MacLaury, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Shine Global, the award-winning non-profit media company that improves children’s lives by telling powerful stories, has announced her retirement. After 19 years of leading the organization, MacLaury will transition to a senior advisor role and continue to serve on Shine Global’s Board of Directors as the organization changes to a co-leadership model led by Alexandra Blaney and Francile Albright Mullen.

Susan has been a driving force behind Shine Global since co-founding it with her husband Albie Hecht in 2005.  Beginning with the Emmy Award®-winning, Academy Award®-nominated documentary War/Dance, which MacLaury Executive Produced, Shine Global’s films have been used to take action on child labor, child abuse, and child soldiering, shared moving stories about the effects of war, parental incarceration, undocumented immigration, and homelessness on children, and highlighted the power of music, dance, and sports to overcome intolerance.

“Co-founding and serving as Executive Director of Shine Global has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Working with courageous and caring filmmakers, our small staff, and boards, we have told powerful stories of underserved children the world over, highlighting their resilience. Our educational outreach is global in scope and we’re proud to have presented several films for members of the US Congress, Department of Labor, and Department of State in support of pro-child legislation. I know that our new co-CEOs, Alexandra Blaney and Francile Albright Mullen, will surpass the work Shine Global has accomplished to date.”

In addition to War/Dance, MacLaury also Executive Produced The Harvest (La Cosecha) with Eva Longoria, the Academy Award® winner Inocente, 1 Way Up in 3D, The Eagle Huntress with Executive Producer Daisy Ridley, Liyana with Executive Producer Thandiwe Newton, Home Is Somewhere Else, Through Our Eyes: Homefront, From This Small Place, Comedy Against the Odds, and Anuja. Additionally, she produced The Wrong Light and Virtually Free and co-produced Tre Maison Dasan. Susan has been instrumental in spearheading Shine Global’s educational outreach and social advocacy initiatives for all its films.

With dual degrees in social work administration and health education, Susan was an associate professor of health education at Kean University from 1994 through 2013. In 2022 she was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from her alma mater, the State University of New York (SUNY) Cortland.

In light of Susan’s retirement, Shine Global is excited to introduce a new co-CEO leadership model. Alexandra Blaney will assume the role of Co-CEO, Creative Director, while Francile Albright Mullen will take on the position of Co-CEO, Executive Director.

Alexandra Blaney, who has been with Shine Global since starting as an intern in 2009, brings a wealth of experience in film production and creative direction. Her vision and creativity have significantly contributed to the success of Shine Global’s projects. She most recently produced Shine Global’s film Through Our Eyes: Homefront with Sesame Workshop, Executive Produced From This Small Place, Comedy Against the Odds, and Anuja, and created Shine Global’s Resilience Awards, now entering their third year.  As Co-CEO, Creative Director, Blaney will continue to oversee the creative aspects of Shine Global’s productions, ensuring that the organization remains at the forefront of impactful storytelling.
Francile Albright Mullen joins Shine Global as Co-CEO, Executive Director, bringing extensive expertise in non-profit management and organizational leadership as well as in educational and community engagement with films. Mullen’s strategic approach and commitment to social advocacy align perfectly with Shine Global’s mission. In her new role, she will focus on the administrative, operational, and fundraising aspects of the organization, driving forward Shine Global’s mission to create impactful media that advocates for children’s rights and well-being.

“We are both in awe of and incredibly grateful for Susan’s unbelievable dedication and visionary leadership over the years. From the very beginning of Shine Global, Susan has inspired us with her passion and empathy for children’s issues that has enabled us to grow into the influential organization we are today,” said Albie Hecht, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board. “As we move forward with Alexandra Blaney and Francile Albright Mullen at the helm, we are confident that Shine Global will continue to thrive and expand its impact of improving children’s lives through film.”

Susan MacLaury’s transition to a senior advisory role and her continued presence on the Board of Directors ensures that Shine Global will benefit from her wisdom and experience. The organization looks forward to this new chapter, embracing the innovative co-CEO leadership model to continue its mission of producing films that highlight and address critical issues for children around the world.

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About Shine Global
Shine Global is a non-profit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories 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 our 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, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and Comedy Against the Odds which is currently in film festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE 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 films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.

Donate in Susan's Honor
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Shine Global Is Celebrating Children’s Resilience with Indy Shorts Featuring 6 Inspirational Films At This Year’s Festival

Shine Global Is Celebrating Children’s Resilience with Indy Shorts Featuring 6 Inspirational Films At This Year’s Festival

by | Jul 1, 2024 | Shine News

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Shine Global Is Celebrating Children’s Resilience with Indy Shorts Featuring 6 Inspirational Films At This Year’s Festival

The 2024 Academy Award®-Qualifying Film Festival Running July 23-28 Will Screen Shine Global’s Films Comedy Against the Odds and Anuja and Award a Shine Global Short Film Prize to One of Four Finalist Films 

June 27, 2024 – Shine Global is delighted to announce our films Comedy Against the Odds and Anuja are official selections at the 2024 Indy Shorts International Film Festival as well as share the four finalist short films in the Spotlight: Children’s Resilience program that are eligible for the Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Short Film Prize.

Indy Shorts is an Academy Award®-Qualifying Film Festival in all three short film categories (Live Action, Documentary and Animated) in addition to being named as both one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” and one of the “Best Short Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine. Indy Shorts had a 30% increase in short film submissions from last year, with 5,130 shorts submitted for consideration to the 2024 festival with just over 200 receiving an Official Selection.  

Directed by 6-time Daytime Emmy Award winning Latina director/producer Suzanne Luna, Comedy Against the Odds, spotlights the struggle of growing up with labels, and how Austin uses comedy to embrace and overcome them, offering a heartfelt portrayal that will resonate with audiences of all ages. “Comedy Against the Odds” takes a poignant look at how humor becomes a powerful tool for self-expression and a means of breaking down societal stereotypes. Austin’s journey not only challenges preconceived notions about being on the spectrum but also highlights the universal power of laughter to bridge gaps and foster understanding. Comedy Against the Odds is screening Wednesday, July 24th at 7:45 PM at the Living Room Theaters as part of the Big Dreams program. Tickets are available here.

Anuja is Shine Global’s first fiction film and is the brainchild of the husband and wife team of Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai (Cycle Vérité). With Graves directing and Mattai producing, Anuja tells the story of an exceptionally bright 9-year-old orphan, Anuja (Sajda Pathan), who works with her 17-year-old sister Palak (Ananya Shanbhag) at a garment factory in Delhi, India. When a teacher shows up at the factory, promising Anuja the rare chance to attend an elite boarding school, Anuja finds herself facing external hurdles and inner conflict.  Anuja screens Sunday, July 28 @ 3:30 PM at Living Room Theaters as part of The Human Spirit program. Tickets are available here.

The Children’s Resilience in Short Film Prize collaboration between Heartland Film Indy Shorts and Shine Global began in 2023 and aims to shed light on the challenges faced by children and their remarkable strength. The films featured in the Spotlight: Children’s Resilience with Shine Global program are all eligible to receive the Shine Global Children’s Resilience Short Film Prize of $2,500 and be honored again as part of Shine Global’s Resilience Awards ceremony in Los Angeles this fall.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Heartland Film to shine a light on these inspiring stories of children’s resilience from around the world,” said Alexandra Blaney, Creative Director of Shine Global. “The films featured in the program range in subject matter and style but all of them feature children’s remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. Audiences will be inspired by these children’s courage and will be left wanting to do more to help children around the world.”

Shine Global’s Children’s Resilience Program is Saturday, July 27 at 3:30PM at the Living Room Theaters. Tickets are available here.

The four films in the Spotlight: Children’s Resilience with Shine Global program are:

1 UP | 2023 | United Kingdom | Greg Francis | Midwest Premiere

While dealing with the loss of his father, 15-year-old Andrew struggles to support his grieving mother through her emotional turmoil-and as his world slowly begins to fracture, he searches for guidance and connection through his late father’s record collection. 

A Short Film About Kids | 2023 | Palestine | Ibrahim Handal | Indiana Premiere

Four kids from the refugee camp in Bethlehem decide to visit the sea for the first time in their life. 

Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World | 2023 | United States | Julio Palacio | Indiana Premiere |

In the heartwarming short documentary, “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World”, we are introduced to a remarkable young girl whose spirit and determination defy all expectations. Makayla, a teenage girl, has spent her life grappling with a rare form of autism that rendered her essentially nonverbal. However, her parents, filled with unwavering belief in their daughter’s potential, embarked on a transformative journey to discover the true depth of Makayla’s inner world. 

Unibrow | 2023 | Canada | Nedda Sarshar | Indiana Premiere

An Irani-Canadian girl is forced to rethink her relationship with her unibrow and her Irani heritage, when she is forced to make friends with the new girl from Iran.

Shine Global’s annual Resilience Awards honor exceptional films that center around the resilience of children and further the organization’s mission of improving children’s lives by harnessing the power of storytelling. Past winners include the feature documentaries Name Me Lawand (2023, Directed by Edward Lovelace and produced by Fleur Nieddu), Lift (2022, Directed by David Petersen and produced by Mary Racine), Ayenda (2023, directed by Marie Margolius) presented in partnership with Heartland Film’s Indy Shorts International Film Festival, the Unstoppable Kids prize presented to the animated children’s film Dounia – The Great White North (2024, directed by Marya Zarif and André Kadi and produced by Judith Beauregard) in partnership with the New York International Children’s Film Festival, a Children’s Resilience in Disability Stories Award to Okthanksbye (2022, directed by Nicole Van Kilsdonk and produced by Rogier Kramer) in partnership with ReelAbilities, and a Children’s Resilience in Screenwriting Award to Los Frikis (2024, written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz) with Nantucket Film Festival. 

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About Shine Global
Shine Global is a non-profit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories 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 our 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, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and Comedy Against the Odds which is currently in film festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE 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 films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.

About Heartland Film

Heartland Film is a nonprofit arts organization that runs the 11-day Heartland International Film Festival in October, the Academy Award®-Qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival in July, the Truly Moving Picture Award and other year-round programs. Based in Indianapolis, Heartland Film was founded in 1991 with the mission to curate, promote and celebrate thoughtful and engaging films from diverse perspectives. Over the years, Heartland Film has presented $3.5 million in cash prizes – the largest total amount awarded by any film festival in North America – presented 200+ studio films with the Truly Moving Picture Award, and showcased more than 2,000 feature and short films, including 10 Oscar®-winning short film titles. MovieMaker Magazine named both the Indy Shorts and Heartland International Film Festival on the top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World list for 2023. The 7th Annual Indy Shorts International Film Festival is scheduled July 23-28, 2024 and the 33rd Heartland International Film Festival runs October 10-20, 2024. For more information, visit www.HeartlandFilm.org.

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Los Frikis Receives Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Screenwriting Award at 2024 Nantucket Film Festival

Los Frikis Receives Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Screenwriting Award at 2024 Nantucket Film Festival

by | Jun 26, 2024 | Shine News

News

Los Frikis Receives Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Screenwriting Award at 2024 Nantucket Film Festival

June 26, 2024 New York, NY – Nantucket Film Festival announced that the feature film Los Frikis, has been honored with the Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Screenwriting Award. This new prize is given to a film with outstanding storytelling that effectively portrays the resilience and strength of children and young people. The winner is awarded $2,500 and an invitation to participate in Shine Global’s upcoming 2024 Resilience Awards events on the Paramount Pictures lot in Los Angeles, CA on October 15th.

Inspired by true events, Los Frikis is a powerful coming-of-age story set in early 90s Cuba, centering around teenager Gustavo (Eros de la Puente) who idolizes his older brother Paco (an astonishing Héctor Medina) and his punk, “Frikis” bandmates. When word reaches the Frikis of a potential reprieve from the effects of the economic crisis, they do the now unthinkable: deliberately inject themselves with HIV to live at a government-run treatment home. It’s there that they create their own utopia to live and play music freely. This coming-of-age film is the latest from Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, the filmmaking duo behind 2019’s breakout hit The Peanut Butter Falcon. Produced by Academy-Award winning producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Lego Movie), and starring Adria Arjona, Hector Medina, and Eros de la Puente, Los Frikis is a poignant recollection of “Special Period” Cuba.

“We are honored to present the Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Screenwriting Award to Los Frikis for its compelling portrayal of youthful determination and creativity amidst severe adversity,” said Shine Global Creative Director Alexandra Blaney. “By focusing on Gustavo and his friends, who make extraordinary sacrifices to carve out a space for freedom and self-expression, the film powerfully illustrates the resilience and strength of young people. The nuanced storytelling and richly developed characters highlight the capacity for hope and defiance in the face of unimaginable hardships, making it a poignant and inspiring narrative that aligns perfectly with the values celebrated by Shine Global.”

“Los Frikis excited, inspired, and challenged our audiences at NFF with its powerful script and direction,” said Anita Raswant, Lead Programmer of the Nantucket Film Festival. “We are thrilled to honor filmmakers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz with this inaugural festival award for the profoundly emotional storytelling they employed to capture the spirit of the young people at the forefront of this cultural moment.”

“It’s an honor for Los Frikis to have been recognized by Shine Global at the Nantucket Film Festival,” said writers and directors Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson. “Like Shine Global, the team that made Los Frikis aimed to tell an honest and heartfelt story about children and their families overcoming hardship with the beauty of humanity.”

Shine Global’s annual Resilience Awards honor exceptional films that center around the resilience of children and further the organization’s mission of improving children’s lives by harnessing the power of storytelling. Past winners include the feature documentaries Name Me Lawand (2023, Directed by Edward Lovelace and produced by Fleur Nieddu), Lift (2022, Directed by David Petersen and produced by Mary Racine), Ayenda (2023, directed by Marie Margolius) presented in partnership with Heartland Film’s Indy Shorts International Film Festival, the Unstoppable Kids prize presented to the animated children’s film Dounia – The Great White North (2024, directed by Marya Zarif and André Kadi and produced by Judith Beauregard) in partnership with the New York International Children’s Film Festival, a Children’s Resilience in Disability Stories Award to Okthanksbye (2022, directed by Nicole Van Kilsdonk and produced by Rogier Kramer) in partnership with ReelAbilities, and the Shine Global Resilience Award for Young Filmmakers to 3am Thoughts (2024, Gabriella Keil) with Montclair Film.

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About Shine Global
Shine Global is a non-profit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories 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 our 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, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and Comedy Against the Odds which is currently in film festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE 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 films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.

About Nantucket Film Festival
The Nantucket Film Festival® was founded in 1996 by siblings Jill and Jonathan Burkhart. The Burkharts lived on the island year-round and knew it was the perfect place to begin a festival that combined with their love of film and community. In 1997, Mystelle Brabbée joined the team and today serves as the Executive Director. NFF® continues to thrive each year by always remaining true to its mission.

These days, NFF has become one of the premier destination film festivals in the world. Visitors flock from all over to experience our preview screenings, Signature Programs, and stand out hospitality on a magical island rich with history, a friendly atmosphere, and beautiful sandy beaches. For more information about NFF, visit www.nantucketfilmfestival.org.

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