Opal Tometi and Michael B. Jordan to be Co-Ambassadors for Social Justice Now Film Festival; Created by Jeff and Nicole Friday
LOS ANGELES – August 26, 2020 – The Film Life Foundation, the nonprofit organization founded by American Black Film Festival Creators Jeff and Nicole Friday, today announced the inaugural Social Justice Now Film Festival, which will run from October 21 to 25, 2020. The annual festival will include virtual screenings, community conversations, and impact events that confront the social and economic issues facing Black and Brown communities.
Michael B. Jordan and Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Opal Tometi will serve as Co-Ambassadors for the Social Justice Now Film Festival. Coalition Partners for the event, supporting and helping to build the first-of-its-kind festival, include Endeavor Content, One Community, and Outlier Society. Sony Pictures is the event’s Founding Sponsor.
The mission of the Social Justice Now Film Festival is “watch, reflect, and take action,” and this year’s program will include narrative documentary features, short films and new media projects with correlating discussions on topics such as police brutality, criminal justice reform, income disparity, healthcare reform and voter reform led by the preeminent voices in their respective spaces. The festival will include online petitions, educational resources, and other interactive components with an emphasis on activating around the November 2020 Election.
“This first-of-its-kind festival will merge art and activism to drive today’s necessary conversations forward toward lasting social and political change,” said Social Justice Now Festival Co-Founders Jeff and Nicole Friday. “On behalf of our partners, we look forward to using our collective abilities to provide a platform committed to amplifying the voices of the marginalized, and educating attendees on the most pressing issues impacting these communities.”
For more than two decades, Social Justice Now Film Festival Co-Founders Jeff and Nicole Friday have worked to create opportunities for people of color in the film industry, most notably through the American Black Film Festival. They have played a vital role in strengthening the Black film community and advancing the careers of many relatively unknown emerging artists.
“I am honored to serve as an inaugural ambassador for the Social Justice Now Festival,” said Michael B. Jordan. “It was both a professional and personal achievement to have had the opportunity to portray the great Bryan Stevenson in ‘Just Mercy’ and with the help of festivals like this we will continue to bring those stories to life. Now more than ever it is important that we shine a light on those who have been marginalized by our society and I look forward to joining Jeff and Nicole as we continue the fight for social justice reform.”
“It’s an honor to serve as an Ambassador for the inaugural Social Justice Now Film Festival,” said Opal Tometi. As a media maker and a human rights advocate, I know that there’s no denying the importance of truth-telling and the power of film to facilitate that. Given the significance of these times I trust that the Social Justice Now Film Festival will provide the catalytic insight and creative inspiration we need. ”
“Film has the ability to unite, educate, and inspire action, and we are proud to support Jeff and Nicole in building a wholly unique platform for social change,” said Chris Rice and Graham Taylor, Co-Presidents of Endeavor Content.
The festival will accept submissions in the categories of: narratives, documentaries and new media projects that align with the themes of social justice and explore issues of racial justice, implicit bias, Black identity and human rights. Submission opens on August 27 via the festival website (www.filmlifefoundation.org/sjnff) or (www.filmfreeway.com). The deadline for entries is September 12.
