Make a short film to participate in the I, Immigrant: First Responders & Essential Workers in the Corona War – Online Film Festival. Show the world the sacrifices US Immigrant First Responders & Essential Workers on the front lines are making to save lives and keep the country running in the brutal battle against the Coronavirus. Essential Workers have not been able to work from home during the shutdown, but rather have continued to go to their normal jobs, bringing them into contact on a daily basis with COVID-19 patients or the general public or fellow workers in unsafe conditions.
We are calling on all US immigrants on the front lines of the Coronavirus War—in the fields of health care, emergency response, public transportation, package delivery, food production or grocery retail — to pick up a camera and share your experience with your fellow Americans. The competition will be held from now through 15 December 2020
I, Immigrant is a competition film series launched by CineEqual, a program dedicated to social justice cinema. After Season One: Essential Workers in the Coronavirus War, future seasons will put the spotlight on immigrants from other walks of life who have had a positive impact on their communities, or who have reason to hope they will achieve their aspirations.
Participation is open to amateur and expert filmmakers alike. The competition runs from now through September 10th 2021. All entries will be screened by CWB for appropriate content and posted on the I, Immigrant page and the websites of partner social justice organizations.
The award ceremony will be held at the Lumiere Music Hall Beverly Hills, CA, at 11AM on October 5th 2021
Eligibility to Participate
Participation in I, Immigrant is open to both amateur and professional filmmakers in the US except to persons officially responsible for administering, advising, and/or judging the competition. Participants 16 and younger require written parental consent to be considered.
Films in languages other than English may be submitted, provided they are subtitled in English.
General Theme:The heroism of US immigrant essential workers in the front lines of the Coronavirus War.
Genres: Documentary
Content Restrictions
Pornography (child or adult), hate speech, promotion of racial, ethnic, gender-based, and/or religious bigotry, libel, and inciting violence and social disturbance will not be accepted.
Duration: 60 Seconds – 40 minutes
Medium: Digital film shot on a cell phone, video or movie camera
Jury & Awards
A five-member jury composed of individuals committed to immigrants will evaluate the films and select the award winners. The films will be judged on how well they communicate the role of immigrant essential workers in the war against the Coronavirus in the US. The factors that will be taken into consideration include the context, the audio-visual quality, and the verbal content (if any) of the films.
Juries awards of $1,000, $600, and $400 will be given to the top three I, Immigrant films respectively.
Timeline:
Call for Entries public announcement: NOW
Opening date to accept submissions April 20th, 2021
Final deadline to submit films: September 10th 2021
Start date for online posting on CineEqual: as soon as the first film has been received.
Jury and Audience evaluations: September 28, 2021
Film Competition awards announcement and ceremony at Music Hall Theater, Los Angeles : October 5th, 2021
