July 28, 2025 – Shine Global announced the Zimbabwean short film “Rise,” written and directed by Jessica J. Rowlands and produced by Joe Njagu, has been honored with the Shine Global Children’s Resilience Short Film Award at the 2025 Indy Shorts International Film Festival. This $2,500 prize is given to a short film at the festival that sheds light on the challenges faced by children and their remarkable strength. 

In this short film, a charismatic young boy (Sikhanyiso Ngwenya) who lives on a rubbish dump in Zimbabwe, must convince a reclusive boxing coach (Tongayi Chirisa) to teach him to fight to find safety and strength in a world that has left him behind.  The film is inspired by the true story of Tobias Mupfuti who started a boxing academy and orphanage in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and the film was brought to life by an all Zimbabwean cast and crew. 

“Rise is a powerful and beautifully crafted film,” said Shine Global co-CEO and Creative Director Alexandra Blaney.  “While boxing is the backdrop, the story is really about two people, Rise and Coach, searching for belonging and connection. It also showcases the unforgettable performance of 8-year-old first-time actor Sikhanyiso Ngwenya. The film is a moving reminder of how, with even a small amount of support, children can rise above their circumstances and find the strength to pursue their dreams.”

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. 

The Children’s Resilience in Short Film Prize collaboration between Heartland Film’s Indy Shorts and Shine Global began in 2023 with past winners including the short documentary Ayenda (2023, directed by Marie Margolius) and the live action short Unibrow (2024, directed by Nedda Sarshar). This year, Shine Global featured seven finalist 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. In addition to Rise these include:

An Olive Branch | 2024 | Jordan, UK, Ireland | Sam Nutt, Shafiq Olabi 

Blackmoll | 2024 | Germany, United States | Alessia Mandanici 

Éiru | 2024 | Ireland | Giovanna Ferrari 

Les mousses | 2024 | France | Guillaume Schmitt-Bailer 

Single Residence Occupancy | 2024 | United States | Omer Ben Shachar 

When Big People Lie | 2024 | United States | Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz 

The Shine Global Resilience Awards were created to honor films that highlight the strength, dignity, and power of children in the face of adversity. Additional past winners of Shine Global Resilience Awards include the feature documentaries Daughters (2024, Directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae), Name Me Lawand (2023, Directed by Edward Lovelace), and Lift (2022, Directed by David Petersen), Los Frikis (2024, written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz) in partnership with Nantucket Film Festival, Okthanksbye (2023, Nicole Van Kilsdok) with ReelAbilities Film Festival, and the animated children’s films Savages (2024 directed by Claude Barras) and Dounia – The Great White North (2024, directed by Marya Zarif and André Kadi) in partnership with the New York International Children’s Film Festival.  

About Shine Global

Shine Global is a nonprofit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. We produce and support 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, an Academy Award® nomination for Best Live Action Short for Anuja, 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 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 2025. The 8th Annual Indy Shorts International Film Festival is scheduled July 22-27, 2025 and the 34th Heartland International Film Festival runs October 9-19, 2025. For more information, visit www.HeartlandFilm.org.

July 1, 2025, Nantucket Film Festival and Shine Global announced that the feature film DJ Ahmet has been honored with the Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Screenwriting Award. This annual prize includes $2,500 and is given to a film with outstanding storytelling that effectively portrays the resilience and strength of children and young people.

Written and directed by ​​Georgi M. Unkovski, the film follows Ahmet, a 15-year-old boy from a remote Yuruk village in North Macedonia, who finds refuge in music while navigating his father’s expectations, a conservative community, and his first experience with love — a girl already promised to someone else. The film, in Turkish and Macedonian, was filmed entirely on location in Northern Macedonia featuring local non-actor community members in the starring roles. It premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival where it won both the World Cinema – Dramatic Audience Award and the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision.

“We are honored to present the Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Screenwriting Award to DJ Ahmet for its heartwarming portrayal of teens defying traditional expectations and the unifying power of music,” said Shine Global Co-CEO and Creative Director Alexandra Blaney. “This film is a beautifully told coming-of-age tale that will make you laugh out loud and wipe tears away. The soundtrack will make you tap your feet, the cinematography will cast a spell, and the young cast can steal the show, but it is the warmth and humor of the storytelling that truly make this film stand out. Unkovski takes a universal story of forbidden love and youthful rebellion, and deftly weaves in unexpected clashes of tradition and modernity (and a pink sheep!), leaving audiences with a deeper appreciation of the courage it takes children to find their voice.”

“DJ Ahmet is a beautiful and evocative film, with nuanced storytelling, engaging performances and a vibrant soundtrack,” says Anita Raswant, the Lead Programmer of Nantucket Film Festival. “We are elated that Shine Global has recognized the film for its warm and humorous approach to youth, rebellion and the power of finding one’s own voice. Congratulations to Georgi and the entire team!”

“Thank you so much for this amazing recognition,” said Writer/Director Georgi Unkovski. “Who would’ve thought that a film shot in a tiny village, with more sheep than people, would end up connecting with audiences halfway around the world? It’s moments like this that make all the chaos, doubt, and creative meltdowns along the way feel totally worth it. Huge thanks to Shine Global and the Nantucket Film Festival for welcoming our film with such warmth and giving it a place on your platform.”

In addition to Writer/Director Unkovski, the North Macedonian film is produced by Ivan Unkovski and Ivana Shekutkoska with Cinematographer Naum Doksevski and editor Michal Reich and stars Arif Jakup as Ahmet, Agush Agushev as his brother Naim, and Dora Akan Zlatanova as Aya.

The Shine Global Resilience Awards were created to honor films that highlight the strength, dignity, and power of children in the face of adversity. This year marks the second year Shine Global has partnered with Nantucket Film Festival to present a screenwriting award after presenting the 2024 award to Los Frikis, written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz. Additional past winners of Shine Global Resilience Awards include the feature documentaries Daughters (2024, Directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae), Name Me Lawand (2023, Directed by Edward Lovelace), and Lift (2022, Directed by David Petersen), the short documentary Ayenda (2023, directed by Marie Margolius) and the live action short Unibrow (2024, directed by Nedda Sarshar) in partnership with Heartland Film’s Indy Shorts International Film Festival, Okthanksbye (2023, Nicole Van Kilsdok) with ReelAbilities Film Festival, and the animated children’s films Savages (2024 directed by Claude Barras) and Dounia – The Great White North (2024, directed by Marya Zarif and André Kadi) in partnership with the New York International Children’s Film Festival.

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, and an Academy Award®-nomination for Anuja. 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.

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.