With the support of our donors, we had an incredibly impactful 2023 in which we harnessed the power of film to spark actions and change around the world.
Some of the highlights from 2023 include:
Partnered with U.S. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) to host an event on Capitol Hill featuring our film Home Is Somewhere Else to bring together key figures from the world of politics and advocacy to discuss the pressing need for comprehensive immigration reform that prioritizes the wellbeing of children and families.
Through Our Eyes: Homefront, our short documentary about the impact of military service on families, was celebrated as a finalist at the 2023 duPont Columbia Awards, which recognize outstanding public service audio and video reporting. The film illustrates the need for services for veterans’ children and families.
From This Small Place premiered at festivals in October. This feature documentary follows a six-year-old boy named Hossain who is growing up in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh as the Rohingya refugee crisis becomes increasingly dangerous.
Home Is Somewhere Else won an Ariel Award (the Mexican Oscar) for Best Animated Feature Film after it was held over for more than 12 weeks in Mexican cinemas with over 760 events in 47 cities. Through a series of screenings on both sides of the US/Mexico border, we are sharing the emotional complexities that immigrant children and their families experience in order for audiences to better understand and empathize with their struggles.
The 2023 Children’s Resilience in Film Awards featured events in both NYC and LA that honored 6 filmmakers whose films celebrate the strength and power of children around the world – with the grand prize winner Name Me Lawand receiving a $15,000 cash prize – as well as celebrating individual honorees.
And there’s so much more to announce in 2024!
Shine Global is an award-winning non-profit media company with the mission to improve the lives of children by telling powerful stories that 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.
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Lucy Allen is a senior at SUNY Plattsburgh studying TV-Video Production. In May of 2022, she graduated from the same institution with a Political Science and Latin American Studies degree, but after some deliberation, she decided to return to school. Lucy is passionate about storytelling and aspires to incorporate more diversity into the future of film and TV. When she isn’t brainstorming her next script, Lucy likes to experiment with oil pastels and practice yoga.
Reyna Alonso
Reyna Alonso is a first year Master’s student at Pepperdine University studying Psychology with an interest in research, marketing, and consumer psychology. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA. She has always had an interest in advocating for children and sharing their stories which aligns with Shine Global’s mission. Reyna has experience working with children with autism where she gained a focus in accessibility, inclusivity and connecting with others.
Shine Global Announces ‘Name Me Lawand’ as Winner Of 2nd Annual Children’s Resilience in Film Awards
The 2022 Documentary Directed by Edward Lovelace Was Recognized at Award Ceremony in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, CA (October 4, 2023) – Last night, Shine Global – the renowned nonprofit media company dedicated to producing and supporting impactful documentaries about children’s issues – awarded Name Me Lawand as the winner of their second annual Children’s Resilience in Film Awards in Los Angeles.
The Children’s Resilience in Film Awards, now in its second year, honors exceptional films that center around the resilience of children in the face of adversity. The winning film, Name Me Lawand, is a rapturous portrait of a deaf Kurdish boy’s emotional journey towards discovering how to express himself using British Sign Language, and a love letter to the power of communication and community.
“It is our true honor and pleasure to award Name Me Lawand the winner of this year’s Children’s Resilience in Film Awards,” said Susan MacLaury, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Shine Global. “The film exemplifies our mission – it gives a voice to the people who need it most and still manages to tell stories of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. We thank all of our finalists, and filmmakers telling important stories around the world, for their continued hard work.”
Name Me Lawand was awarded the grand prize of $15,000 at the Children’s Resilience in Film Awards ceremony last night on October 3, 2023, at Paramount Pictures, where filmmakers, industry professionals, and children’s rights advocates gathered to celebrate the remarkable achievements of all of the film finalists. The film was selected by a jury panel including Anita Chandra (Vice President and Director of RAND Social and Economic Well-Being and a Senior Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation with a focus on childhood development), Tyler Coates (Awards Editor at The Hollywood Reporter), Jill Burkhart (VP of Unscripted Programming for MGM+), Greg Sorvig (Artistic Director for Heartland Film), and Brian Walker (CEO of Picture Motion).
“This award is for Lawand, for his bravery, his determination in getting his message out to the world. His message is a beautiful one – which guided the entire filmmaking process,” said Director Edward Lovelace in a written acceptance speech read by cinematographer Lol Crawley. “We as filmmakers have learned so much just by watching and listening to these young people who seem to have a wisdom on how to live, about how our planet should be. We need to all listen to the voices of tomorrow to stop us from growing old and unwise.”
The Short Film Prize winner, Ayenda, Directed by Marie Margolius (2023, United States, Portugal, Afghanistan) was previously announced at the Indy Shorts International Film Festival in June in partnership with Heartland Film with a $2,500 prize and the trophy was presented during the ceremony last night. The short documentary follows members of the Under-18 Afghan National Women’s Football Team as they attempt a daring evacuation from their homeland after the fall of their country to the Taliban.
This year’s nominees represented a diverse range of powerful stories from around the world, showcasing resilience in various forms. Through the lens of these films, audiences witness the inspiring spirit of children as they overcome obstacles, navigate through personal hardships, and inspire others through their achievements. In addition to Name Me Lawand, other finalists included Aurora’s Sunrise – Directed by Inna Sahakyan (2022, Armenia, Germany, Lithuania); Bigman – Directed by Camiel Schouwenaar (2022, The Netherlands, Germany); Children of Las Brisas – Directed by Marianela Maldonado (2022, Venezuela); and The Ordinaries – Directed by Sophie Linnenbaum (2022, Germany). The three other short film finalists were Barricade Directed by Alice Johannessen (2023, UK); Lunchbox directed by Anne Hu (2022, USA); and Translators Directed by Rudy Valdez (2023, USA).
In addition to the winning films, Shine Global highlighted three honorees making a difference: Margie Cohn, President of DreamWorks Animation, as the Titan Honoree, Former NFL Player and Founder and CEO of Project Transition Marcellus Wiley as the Children’s Champion Honoree, and Graceyn Hollingsworth, the voice of Gracie on Gracie’s Corner, as the Youth Activist Honoree. In her acceptance speech, Margie Cohn said, “I am beyond honored to be here tonight, being celebrated, especially considering the great work we have just seen and considering the great work that Shine Global does in turning a much-needed spotlight on underserved and at risk, but resilient kids all over the world.”
The winning film, Name Me Lawand, was also awarded the ReelAbilities Accessibility Award as part of the partnership between Shine Global and ReelAbilities Film Festival, the nation’s premier festival dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. The award includes the production of audio descriptions and captions for the film, and an invitation for the filmmakers to present the film in person in New York at the 16th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival as well as the affiliate festivals program to screen around the world.
You can watch a compilation trailer of the 2023 nominees:
The 2023 Children’s Resilience in Film Awards is sponsored in part by media partner The Hollywood Reporter who uplift these powerful, culture-shifting films to receive the recognition they deserve; Paramount Pictures; hospitality partner Sunset Marquis Hotel; Quest Pacifica; Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang; Jonathan and Dianne Moonves Charitable Fund; pocket.watch; Mattel Inc; DreamWorks Animation; and Sunlight Entertainment.
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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 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, which is available on HBOMax, and Home Is Somewhere Else, which is currently in festivals.
ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S 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 films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.
Shine Global Announces 2023 Children’s Resilience in Film Award Honorees
PRESIDENT OF DREAMWORKS ANIMATION MARGIE COHN, FORMER PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER AND PROJECT TRANSITION FOUNDER MARCELLUS WILEY, AND SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION GRACEYN HOLLINGSWORTH ARE HONOREES FOR UPCOMING CHILDREN’S RESILIENCE IN FILM AWARDS
Honorees to be Recognized at Award Ceremony on October 3 in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 14, 2023) – Today, Shine Global – the renowned nonprofit media company dedicated to producing and supporting impactful documentaries about children’s issues – announced the honorees for its annual Children’s Resilience in Film Awards. The honorees at this year’s ceremony will include internet talent and star of YouTube children’s channel, “Gracie’s Corner,” Graceyn Hollingsworth for the Youth Activist category, President of DreamWorks Animation Margie Cohn for the Titan category, and former pro-football player and founder of Project Transition Marcellus Wiley for the Children’s Champion category. Each of this year’s honorees have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to promoting education, health, and social skills for children.
This announcement comes off the heels of their recent nominee announcement. This year’s nominees represent a diverse range of powerful stories from around the world, showcasing resilience in various forms. Through the lens of these films, audiences will witness the inspiring spirit of children as they overcome obstacles, navigate through personal hardships, and inspire others through their achievements. The finalists are as follows:
Bigman – Directed by Camiel Schouwenaar (2022, The Netherlands, Germany)
Children of Las Brisas – Directed by Marianela Maldonado (2022, Venezuela)
Name Me Lawand – Directed by Edward Lovelace (2022, United Kingdom)
The Ordinaries – Directed by Sophie Linnenbaum (2022, Germany)
The Short Film Prize winner Ayenda, Directed by Marie Margolius (2023, United States, Portugal, Afghanistan) was previously announced at the Indy Shorts International Film Festival in June in partnership with Heartland Film with a $2,500 prize.
You can watch a compilation trailer of these nominees:
You can purchase tickets for the opening night party and film screenings in NYC and the awards ceremony in LA HERE.
The Children’s Resilience in Film Awards, now in its second year, honors exceptional films that center around the resilience of children in the face of adversity. It aims to shed light on the countless stories of courage, strength, and determination that children demonstrate in challenging circumstances. These films not only inspire audiences but also help create awareness and promote positive change in society.
The winner will be named and awarded the grand prize of $15,000 at the Children’s Resilience in Film Awards ceremony on October 3, 2023, at Paramount Pictures, where filmmakers, industry professionals, and children’s rights advocates will gather to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these films. The winning film will be selected by a jury panel including Anita Chandra (Vice President and Director of RAND Social and Economic Well-Being and a Senior Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation with a focus on childhood development), Tyler Coates (Awards Editor at The Hollywood Reporter), Jill Burkhart (VP of Unscripted Programming for MGM+), Greg Sorvig (Artistic Director for Heartland Film), and Brian Walker (CEO of Picture Motion).
Shine Global is hosting an Opening Night Party on Thursday, September 28th, and screenings with filmmaker Q&As of the five film nominees from Friday, September 29th – Sunday, October 1st in New York City. You can purchase tickets for both the screenings and award ceremony here: https://childrensresilience23.eventive.org/
The 2023 Children’s Resilience in Film Awards is sponsored in part by media partner The Hollywood Reporter who will uplift these powerful, culture-shifting films to receive the recognition they deserve; Paramount Pictures; hospitality partner Sunset Marquis Hotel; Quest Pacifica; Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang; Jonathan and Dianne Moonves Charitable Fund; pocket.watch; Mattel Inc; DreamWorks Animation; and Sunlight Entertainment.
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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 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, which is available on HBOMax, and Home Is Somewhere Else, which is currently in festivals.
ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S 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 films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.
Shine Global Announces Nominees for 2023 Annual Children’s Resilience in Film Awards
Winning Film to Be Selected by Jury of Industry Tastemakers and Announced at Award Ceremony on October 3 in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 6, 2023) – Today, Shine Global – the renowned nonprofit media company dedicated to producing and supporting impactful documentaries about children’s issues – announced the nominees for its annual Children’s Resilience in Film Awards.
This year’s nominees represent a diverse range of powerful stories from around the world, showcasing resilience in various forms. Through the lens of these films, audiences will witness the inspiring spirit of children as they overcome obstacles, navigate through personal hardships, and inspire others through their achievements. The finalists are as follows:
Aurora’s Sunrise (Armenia) Directed by Inna Sahakyan Produced by Vardan Hovhannisyan, Christian Beetz, Justė Michailinaitė, Kęstutis Drazdauskas, Eric Esrailian, Inna Sahakyan The true story of how a fourteen-year-old girl escaped the slaughter of the Armenian genocide and embarked upon an odyssey that took her to the heights of Hollywood stardom.
Bigman (The Netherlands) Directed by Camiel Schouwenaar Produced by Reinier SelenConnected by their passion for football, Dylan and Youssef rediscover the power of friendship to overcome a life-changing event.
Children of Las Brisas (Venezuela) Directed by Marianela Maldonado Produced by Luisa De La VilleThree impoverished children strive to become professional orchestra musicians in a country on the verge of collapse.
Name Me Lawand (UK) Directed by Edward Lovelace Produced by Fleur Nieddu, Sam Arnold, Beyan Taher, Neil Andrews, Marisa Clifford, Edward LovelaceName Me Lawand is a rapturous portrait of a deaf Kurdish boy’s emotional journey towards discovering how to express himself using British Sign Language. A love letter to the power of communication and community.
The Ordinaries (Germany) Directed by Sophie Linnenbaum Produced by Britta Strampe, Laura KlippelHave you ever felt like a Supporting Character in your own life? What if you really are one…?
The Short Film Prize winner Ayenda, Directed by Marie Margolius (2023, United States, Portugal, Afghanistan) was previously announced at the Indy Shorts International Film Festival in June in partnership with Heartland Film with a $2,500 prize.
You can purchase tickets for the opening night party, film screenings, and awards ceremony HERE.
The Children’s Resilience in Film Awards, now in its second year, honors exceptional films that center around the resilience of children in the face of adversity. It aims to shed light on the countless stories of courage, strength, and determination that children demonstrate in challenging circumstances. These films not only inspire audiences but also help create awareness and promote positive change in society.
“These films showcase the incredible resilience of children around the world, and we are honored to recognize the filmmakers who have brought these stories to life,” said Susan MacLaury, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Shine Global. “The winning film and filmmaking team will not only be honored for their exceptional storytelling but also for their dedication to highlighting the resilience and strength that can be found in the lives of children worldwide.”
The winner will be named and awarded the grand prize of $15,000 at the Children’s Resilience in Film Awards ceremony on October 3, 2023, at Paramount Pictures, where filmmakers, industry professionals, and children’s rights advocates will gather to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these films. The winning film will be selected by a jury panel including Anita Chandra (Vice President and Director of RAND Social and Economic Well-Being and a Senior Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation with a focus on childhood development), Tyler Coates (Awards Editor at The Hollywood Reporter), Jill Burkhart (VP of Unscripted Programming for MGM+), Greg Sorvig (Artistic Director for Heartland Film), and Brian Walker (CEO of Picture Motion).
Shine Global is hosting an Opening Night Party on Thursday, September 28th, and screenings with filmmaker Q&As of the five film nominees from Friday, September 29th – Sunday, October 1st in New York City. You can purchase tickets for both the screenings and award ceremony here: https://childrensresilience23.eventive.org/
The 2023 Children’s Resilience in Film Awards is sponsored in part by media partner The Hollywood Reporter who will uplift these powerful, culture-shifting films to receive the recognition they deserve; Paramount Pictures; hospitality partner Sunset Marquis Hotel; Quest Pacifica; Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang; Jon and Diane Moonves; pocket.watch; Mattel Inc; DreamWorks Animation; and Sunlight Entertainment.
###
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 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, which is available on HBOMax, and Home Is Somewhere Else, which is currently in festivals.
ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S 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 films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.
Shine Global is an award-winning non-profit media company with the mission to improve the lives of children by telling powerful stories that 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.
Lucy Allen
