KIDS FIRST! / IN THE LOOP Film Festival

RACE RELATIONS IN A DIVERSIFYING NATION

Expired September 27, 2021 3:45 AM
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11 films + livestream in package
BLACK LIVES MATTER (SONG)
This catchy tune encourages inclusivity amongst kids and teaches them to stand up against discrimination based on the color of one's skin.
BREATHE
One young man’s journey to find inner peace days after George Floyd’s televised murder. Be witness to this spoken word visual testimony about the power of the human spirit, and the unapologetic resilience of our youth.
LAST WORDS
On his way to school on a snowy day, Billy is rehearsing his speech on rampage shootings. "Help me” were his Last Words.
HUMAN RACE ISM
A teenager stationed on Mars with his family gets a lesson in racism
LOVE IS LOVE
Encouraging inclusion and acceptance, this catchy song shows children how colorful and different families can be.
THE TRUTH OF BEAUTY
This is a film about the diverse nature of beauty and learning to accept yourself.
CLOTHED MINDS
This documentary addresses how dress code policies negatively impacts black girls in DC public and charter schools.
NOISE
Demarco is hearing voices. He’s stalled at the crossroad of a major decision in his life. He’s forced to look himself in the face and be his own encouragement.
THE CATCHER
The Catcher is a cinematic youth to youth mirror showing how young people view homelessness and their peers.
75° WEST
Civilization has fallen after a prolonged pandemic. Two brothers wander through a post-pandemic world, trying to survive as they travel across the US countryside. They journey toward 75° West, surviving as best they can on what they can find as they try to avoid human dangers along the way.
JOE BUFFALO
Joe Buffalo is an Indigenous skateboard legend. He’s also a survivor of Canada’s notorious Indian Residential School system.
Discussion of Race Relations in Today's World
Race Relations Discussion
Recorded
This virtual screening is eligible for audience awards! Unlock it to cast your vote.

Panelists include a group of directors, writers, and film subjects from films in this group.

Demarco is hearing voices. He’s stalled at the crossroad of a major decision in his life. He’s forced to look himself in the face and be his own encouragement. Will he listen to the noise or turn down the volume and follow his own wise counsel?

 

Juror Comments: The short film Noise is something I could listen to every morning and evening to remind me of who I am and how to take care of myself. It is uplifting and a full on coaching call to believe in oneself, regardless of the “noise.”

 

After a noisy intro of put downs, disapprovals and downright awful self talk, the alter ego of the key character helps him to stop thinking about what others say. It proceeds to say this, “vision is the ability to see potential in what others overlook.”

 

The animation in the intro – a white noise, shake-up of color – sets up a chaotic visual to compliment the upset of the main character. The staging of this film is very creative, with cast members freezing on a staircase supporting the idea that one has to stop and get ahold of one’s thoughts to get a better vision of one self. It almost feels like the world stops so that the guardian angel can speak to his alter self, to uplift him and guide him on his way. This is a wonderful punch to the doubt and insecurity that many of us feel after we’ve let ourselves and others down.

 

The message is that sometimes the people around you don’t believe in themselves, so they put others down. Stop the noise and create your own vision for your own life, and let others’ noise go.

 

I give Noise 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Reviewed by Nancy K., KIDS FIRST! 

  • Year
    2019
  • Runtime
    4:16
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Director
    Annika Young
  • Screenwriter
    Annika Young, Aniyah Redd
  • Producer
    Carletta S. Hurt, Darius Lyles Christian Lyles, Joe Powers, Cynthia Smith
  • Cast
    Tyrell Watkins, Christian Mukete
  • Cinematographer
    Darius Lyles
  • Editor
    Christian Lyles
  • Sound Design
    Joe Powers
  • Music
    Cynthia Smith