INVITATION
Film Premiere of Fresh Connections
“Reel Youth is a not-for-profit, media empowerment project of MakeWay Charitable Society, supporting young people to develop leadership skills and produce films about their visions for positive change.” -reelyouth.ca
Mildred German
On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 8pm, participants and mentors of the FRESH CONNECTIONS Film Program will have a premiere showing of poetry videos and short film projects that “explore young people’s relationship to local land and water issues.”
The Fresh Connections Film Program was an ‘open-to-all-ages’ free online workshops offered by Reel Youth on September 13-26, 2021. The participants received mentorship on filmmaking on their visions for land and water management in B.C., free Adobe software, $100 to make short films, and online distribution in addition to the premiere show.
Reel Youth’s Facilitators and Artist Mentors, Mariam Barry and Stevie Nandez, and Film Festival Director & Program Manager, Zoe Miles, all provided a fun experience for participants to explore film production amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fresh Connections Film Program also engages the importance of raising awareness about environmental issues.
The Fresh Connections Film Program brought together people from across BC and also took place in numerous communities across BC, on the traditional and unceded territories of Coast Salish, Tla’amin (Sliammon), We Wai Kai, We Wai Kum, and Te’mexw Treaty Association (Cumberland & Parksville); Nłeʔkepmx Tmíxʷ (Nlaka’pamux), Okanagan, and Syilx tmixʷ (Okanagan) (West Kelowna); Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Coast Salish, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsawwassen), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), and Stz’uminus (Surrey); səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Stz’uminus, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueum) (Vancouver); and Dënéndeh, Takla, and Wet’suwet’en Yintikh (Smithers).
The Fresh Connections Film Program was made possible by the Real Estate Foundation of BC.
To RSVP, please visit the website, https://www.reelyouth.ca/freshconnections-premiere.html. Please note the Fresh Connections Premier event will be recorded for upload to Telus video on demand.
REEL YOUTH
“Reel Youth also has worked twice with the United Nations International School in Hanoi (UNIS Hanoi) exploring the intersection of film and community advocacy.” -reelyouth.ca
According to its website, Reel Youth is “a media empowerment project that delivers community development programming to youth and adults across Canada and internationally.”
With over 5,000 participants from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Vietnam, India, Morocco, USA, and Nepal, Reel Youth’s 2,000+ films have been produced and seen by millions of people.
Reel Youth not only engages young people in the production and distribution of films but also runs the Reel Youth Film Festival with its 2021 online installment happening October 29 to November 12, 2021. The Reel Youth Film Festival tours Canada and internationally and celebrates short films made by young emerging filmmakers.
“Our award winning programs support participants to create media about issues they care about as they gain tangible media production and leadership skills. Programs are as much about film making as building personal resilience in marginalized youth to overcome challenges, be successful, and inspire those around them.” -reelyouth.ca