Who says young people aren’t socially aware? Nowadays, technology has opened the eyes of the next generation, exposing them to the good and the bad that the “real world” has to offer them. And yet, even though they may lack the life experience of their elders, the youth of the day still have some opinions on the state of our world and the issues we face. This program highlights the films covering these topics, from tech addiction to immigration to gender identity and discrimination. We hope this film helps shed some light on these issues and just how passionate students are at addressing them.

About the film:A film that explores the relationship between man and technology...told from the perspective of a phone.Variously described as an Animation, an Experimental Film, a Narrative, a Documentary or a Film-Poem depending on who you speak to, this hand-drawn animated film is based on the poem 'Seven Billion' written by the film director that won 2 National poetry awards: The Young Australian Writer’s National Award for Poetry, selected out of a field of 30,000 and the Karen W Treanor Poetry Award (Youth).iRony has been selected to 7 Academy Award Qualifying Festivals. About the Director:Radheya Jegatheva is an Oscar qualified and AACTA nominated filmmaker based in Perth, Australia, and born in Johor, Malaysia to parents of South Korean, Japanese, Indian, and Malaysian ancestry. He is a Bachelor of Commerce and Arts graduate from Curtin University (2021) in Western Australia. Radheya's films have been selected to 26 Academy Award Qualifying Festivals. His 2019 film, The Quiet was Oscar qualified, and his 2017 film iRony was nominated for an Australian Academy of Cinema &amp; TV Arts (AACTA) Award. Radheya's films, which collectively have more than 1,000 official selections and 400 awards worldwide, have been played in all the world's 7 continents including Antarctica at the Davis Research Station.

iRony

A film that explores the relationship between man and technology...told from the perspective of a phone.

About the film:Min-hyeok came to Korea from Iran at the age of 7 with his father. One day he receives a departer order and he has no choice but to leave Korea. But if he returns to Iran after converting to Catholicism, his life would be in danger. Min-hyeok spends a day borrowing suits from his friends to prepare for an important refugee trial the next day.

Superstar

Min-hyeok came to Korea from Iran at the age of 7 with his father. One day he receives a departer order and he has no choice but to leave Korea. But if he returns to Iran after converting to Catholicism, his life would be in danger. Min-hyeok spends a day borrowing suits from his friends to prepare for an important refugee trial the next day.

About the film:A philosophy defined by 6th grade student Konner Turner of the Downriver Detroit Student Film Consortium.

Ubuntu

A philosophy defined by 6th grade student Konner Turner of the Downriver Detroit Student Film Consortium.

About the film:The Momentum of the Butterfly: Women Just Wanna Go &amp; Fly takes an international approach to examining gender discrimination and violence, exploring rising rates of violence against women in Mexico, Bangladesh, and the United States. Interviews explore causes for and ways to reverse this systemic oppression. Collective Bio:This film was collectively written, directed, produced, and edited by high school students in the EVC’s Fall 2020 Youth Documentary Workshop.

The Momentum of the Butterfly

A documentary that takes an international approach to examining gender discrimination and violence, exploring rising rates of violence against women in Mexico, Bangladesh, and the United States.

About the film:A man reflects on his identity while preparing for a first date. About the Director:Jack Hillebrecht is a 20-year-old sophomore at Boston University studying Film and Television, who has been making films for over nine years for YouTube.

Dreamgirl

A man reflects on his identity while preparing for a first date.

About the film:In this documentary, teenagers, and adults, share personal stories of gender discrimination and how it has affected their mental health. With a focus on the queer community, activists working to end discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression discuss their methods for changing minds, behaviors, and social structures. This film also looks at how social media plays a part in spreading stereotypes about gender roles, as well as how it can be used as a tool for social change. Collective Bio:This film was collectively written, directed, produced, and edited by high school students in the EVC’s Fall 2020 Youth Documentary Workshop.

What's Gender Got To Do With It?

In this documentary, teenagers and adults, share personal stories of gender discrimination and how it has affected their mental health.

About the film:One often labels present as the most disappointing phase of life. With every passing moment, where the present fades away and turns into the history of existence, we begin to compare the present with the sweet memories of the past and the ambitious glory of the future. In this short, we are introduced to Kundan and Jatin, two 17-year old boys based in Mathura. Both of them are chosen to be the subjects of a documentary, where they are interviewed separately. Both of them come from a lower-middle-class economic background. While being in the conversation with the interviewer, they talk about their family, hobbies, dearest choices (sports, books, movies, etc), school, and friends. While both of them are exposed to some questions, there comes the final one, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” And 10 years later, we see Kundan and Jatin in their late 20s, living very different lives. Both of them are exposed to the questions related to their current lives, leisure activities, passion, love, regret, and ambitions. While concluding the interview, the interviewer asks both of them the same set of questions which are as follows: 1. What are the things you miss now from when you were 17?2. Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?3. Some of the advice you would give to your 17-year-old self? 'The Chronicles of Happiness' is an account of ambitions, relationships, regrets, society, and contentment depicted in a coming-of-age narrative that stays with you and compels you to contemplate. About the Director:Shubham Gaur is a filmmaker, writer, and actor who has been contributing to the independent performing arts for the last couple of years. An MCRC alumnus and a Master's student at Leeds School of Arts (UK), Shubham Gaur has authored a novel 'Seat No. 51', scripted several radio and TV shows, and has been associated with Pierrot's Troupe as a writer and actor. 'The Chronicles of Happiness' is Gaur's first short film.

The Chronicles of Happiness

Kundan and Jatin are two 17-year old boys based in Mathura, India, both coming from lower-middle-class backgrounds. While being interviewed for a documentary, they are asked where they see themselves in 10 years. Ten years later, what becomes of them?

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The Shenandoah Youth Festival is ultimately a place for validation: where young people are motivated to explore unconventional paths, take advantage of visionary passions, and have their cinematic voices heard.

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.