Sixth Annual Media That Matters Film Festival collection

An image captures a feeling, a story shares a message, a movie becomes a movement. The sixth annual Media That Matters Film Festival offer 16 inspiring films by youth and independent filmmakers committed to changing the world, in 8 minutes or less. The collection includes:

Slip of the Tongue, 4:06 min, Youth Slam
Directed Karen Lum and produced by Youth Sounds Factory
Winner of the Jury Award
“What’s your ethnic make up?” A young man makes a pass at a beautiful stranger and gets an eye-opening schooling on race and gender.
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A Girl Like Me, 7:08 min, Youth Documentary
Directed by Kiri Davis and produced by Reel Works Teen Filmmaking
Winner of the Diversity Award
Color is more than skin deep for young African-American women struggling to define themselves.
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In Transit, 5:51 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Bent Jorgen Perlmutt, Nelson Walker III and Louis Abelman
Winner of the Global Health Award
War may be over in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but many Congolese women continue to battle for their reproductive health.
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Water Warriors, 6:17 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Liz Miller
Winner of the Environment Award
When water costs soar, residents of Highland Park, Michigan demand to know who will foot the bill.
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How Wal-Mart Came to Haslett, 3:16 min, Expose
Directed and produced by Meerkat Media Collective
Winner of the Changemaker Award
Michigan youth investigate the dubious circumstances under which a Wal-Mart appeared on a wetland in their small town.
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The Rules of the Game, 8:24 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Garance Burke and Monica Lam
Winner of the Community Discourse Award
A Native American tribe’s dreams of prosperity clash with small town values in Rohnert Park, California.
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Permission, 1:00 min, Public Service Announcement
Directed by Vance Malone and produced by Public Interest
Winner of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Rights Award
Whose permission would you need to get married to the person you love?
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Eyes on the Fair Use of the Prize, 2:11 min, Advocacy Short
Directed and produced by Jacob Caggiano
Winner of the Fair Use Award
Copyright abuse or Fair Use? Learn how much is at stake when vital films are pulled from public discourse.
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Book 'Em: Undereducated, Overincarcerated, 3:03 min, Youth Documentary
Produced by Youth Rights Media
Winner of the Criminal Justice Award
In New Haven, Connecticut the pipeline from school to prison is shorter than you might think.
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(Hate) Machine, 4:45 min, Satire
Directed and produced by Phil Caron
Winner of the Media Literacy Award
When media messages are constructed, sometimes truth hits the cutting room floor.
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In the Morning, 4:25 min, Dramatic Narrative
Directed by Danielle Lurie and produced by Katie Mustard
Winner of the Women’s Rights Award
When a young Turkish woman is raped, there is nothing honorable about revenge.
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Bread, 4:56 min, Documentary
Directed by Marcelo Bukin and produced by Rec Stop and Play/Global Humanitaria
Winner of the Global Justice Award
Guatemalan brothers Edwin and Edson crush rocks with their father so their family has enough to eat.
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Asparagus! (A Stalk-umentary), 5:57 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Kirsten Kelly and Anne de Mare
Winner of the Good Food Award
Journey to the “Asparagus Capital of the World” to discover why one little vegetable is so important.
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Recycle, 6:00 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Vasco Lusa Nunes and Ondi Timoner
Winner of the Sustainability Award
Poet Miguel Diaz transforms poverty into cultivation in the middle of a Los Angeles street.
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Night Visions, 7:07 min, Documentary
Directed and produced by Kathy Huang
Winner of the War and Peace Award Sponsored by Netflix
Individuals enlist in the U.S. military for different reasons, but they all return from war, changed.
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If you want to purchase a DVD of these short films, instead of downloading them, please go to the Media That Matters website.

Reviews

"Media That Matters continues to illuminate wrongdoing through the power of images and bring the potential for justice where there seemingly is none." – indieWIRE

"Being raised in Brooklyn means you know something about social issues. For me, Media That Matters is one of the festivals that keeps our focus on how to make our communities better and stronger and smarter." – Chris Rock

"Media That Matters is about people making the switch from apathy to action." – Sarah McLachlan

"This socially conscious film festival tackles big issues in short takes." – The New Yorker Magazine