The biggest power of filmmaking is to help tell an important story, a story worth being told in a story that’s sharing an important message. When I first started the Student World Impact Film Festival, I never imagined that it would become the largest youth-led film festival in the whole world. I just wanted to create a space where people from different cultures could come together and showcase their artwork.
Today, over 12,100 filmmakers from 149 countries are finding their voice on topics such as environmental conservation, racial justice, human rights, and a variety of other social justice issues. And the films open up dialogue. You know, they invite conversation, whether it’s from Sri Lanka or Belarus or Japan. These topics serve to bridge the gap between people of different cultures all around the world.
Recently at the film festival, I created a brand new category just for Jewish films, and I think it’s important now more than ever to showcase Jewish artwork. There are so many issues that divide us, and this film festival brings people together. It brings a sense of hope that we’re all one people and that we can work together to solve our biggest problems.