Vea Williams and Lloyd McDaniel, a Jamaican couple in their late thirties, work on a farm in upstate New York while grappling with infertility. Both believe Vea is the cause of their struggles. Thanks to the farm owners whose daughter works at a clinic, they gain access to a fertility consultation in Manhattan. It’s an opportunity they otherwise couldn’t afford. The visit is a mix of relief and heartache: relief at receiving a diagnosis and the possibility of intervention, but also a blow to Lloyd’s pride when they learn his low sperm count is the root of their difficulties. The doctor’s reassurances open up the possibility of a different future than they had imagined when they arrived, leaving Vea and Lloyd to silently reflect on what lies ahead. Back on the farm, as the sun sets, Vea allows herself a brief moment of vulnerability and rest in the quiet orchard, finding a small, hard-won peace amid her emotional turmoil.

Director’s Vision

Last year, when I turned 35, I found myself grappling more seriously with questions about motherhood—questions that had always lingered in the background. At the same time, attacks on various forms of assisted reproductive care, a previously untouchable aspect of healthcare in the U.S., became widespread. This forced me to confront the particularly fraught situation that Black women like myself face. If we desire to become mothers, the avenues available to us are increasingly limited as we navigate the systemic racism embedded within healthcare.

My interest lies in stories concerned with the extraordinary aspects of ordinary Black life. With my thesis film, The Harvest, I explore the emotional and financial strain that infertility can have on a couple desperate to have a child that is biologically their own.

I aim for a restrained visual style, inspired by Yasujirō Ozu, where each frame is treated like a painting. I will use silence and natural sounds to enhance emotional subtlety, employing music sparingly. The settings—both the farm and NYC—are integral to the narrative, reflecting my protagonist’s personal transformation.

Film has the power to shine a light on a subject, telling the viewer, “This is important. Pay attention.” Through its specificity, The Harvest speaks to a broader audience of women (and those who love them) who struggle under the weight of pursuing motherhood. It says, “I see you.”

How can Israelis and Palestinians commit to peace amidst so much tragedy? If humanity doesn’t unite, what will? Creating a Better Peace will show how partnering on interconnected challenges and shared goals can create a culture of equality, prosperity and the conditions for peace. Creating a Better Peace looks at successful models of Israeli-Palestinian, cross border alliances bringing economic investment and social progress to a divided land. As they work to overcome the tensions and obstacles of October 7th, Creating a Better Peace asks how can the shared goals and objectives of Palestinians and Israelis be re-aligned? Can neighbors rebuild trust and work together? We’ll be following the different paths to peace through the people working for peaceful solutions that are making a real difference.  

BOSTON FILM FESTIVAL OVERVIEW AND MISSION

The nonprofit 501c3 Boston Film Festival is one of America’s longest-running events for film. Celebrating four decades on the circuit, the annual BFF program includes cutting edge indie films, studio releases, top documentaries, and shorts that entertain, educate and enlighten their audiences. A television platform showcases a series as part of the cinema presentation. Awards are given to laud stories that spotlight social issues as well as encourage environmental responsibility.

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE

The Boston Film Festival is ardent about filmmaking and dedicated to supporting filmmakers by providing a forum to showcase their artistic vision. The festival is committed to mentoring students who are provided an educational opportunity via hands-on involvement. A variety of charitable organizations and causes receive financial support from the Boston Film Festival as part of its fundraising program.

Bostonfilmfestival.org

Peace News Network is dedicated to highlighting stories of peacebuilders from around the world. Our stories focus on the people working to build peace from the bottom-up, and those working to find solutions that bring people together. We have produced hundreds of stories and videos from conflict zones since 2015, and will continue to provide a platform for global solutions-focused peace journalism.

“Soul Radio” tells the little-known story of a broadcast revolution that took place on the radio dial in the years after World War II, when pioneering African American announcers hit the airwaves. 
 
This feature-length documentary film chronicles the rise of Black radio at WERD in Atlanta, the nation’s first African American-owned station, and WDIA in Memphis, Tennessee, the first station with an all Black on-air staff. We meet early trailblazers like Jack L. Cooper, widely considered the father of Black radio, who got behind a microphone in the 1930s – a racially segregated time when popular programs like “Amos and Andy” promoted ugly stereotypes, and few, if any, Black voices were heard. 
 
Featuring soulful music, archival broadcasts, and the triumphant tales of charismatic disc jockeys “Chatty Hatty” Leeper, Vernon Winslow (“Dr. Daddy-O”) and “Jockey Jack” Gibson, “Soul Radio” explores the power of Black radio to heighten racial pride and bolster the struggle for Civil Rights in the 1960s and beyond. 
The +Club is a Financial Literacy and Life Skills multimedia platform targeted for underserved communities with a pilot program in Newark, New Jersey. The afterschool and companion on-line program offer a foundational educational experience for high school students in an engaging and edutainment manner to help prepare them for life in the modern economy. The initiative aims to foster good financial habits and behaviors, putting them on the long-term path to building wealth and, ultimately, financial independence.
 
There is a wealth of material related to financial literacy available from multiple, reputable sources. The inherent problem is much of the material is not engaging to today’s students, nor is it targeted to specific communities. +Club solves this problem by offering the following differentiated elements:​
Financial literacy skills are made accessible in a relatable/meaningful manner to help improve financial well being. The +Club complements in-person sessions with a multimedia platform offering enduring video programming, an engaging/robust website, and a planned collaborating mentoring network. Attention is focused on proper messengers to deliver the extraordinary content.
 
​Relatable role models share their personal stories as real-life examples to aspire to and be inspired by. This curated content- +Club Moment- will empower self-initiative by offering aspirational discussions on promoting life possibilities while complementing these narratives with practical advice.
 
On our website, please view our +Club Moment videos featuring truly extraordinary professionals revealing their thoughtful wisdom and life’s journeys including achievements, challenges and regrets.​

Food not only connects us, it also plays a pivotal role in some of humanity’s greatest challenges: from climate change and biodiversity loss, to health and healing, to social justice and inclusion.

In The Food Principle, we explore this idea together with our viewers, transporting them into adventures side-by side visionaries fighting at the front lines of conservation & community. Our expert guides in this quest range from indigenous farmers to world-renowned chefs, from coastal fishermen to crop scientists, from food waste entrepreneurs to social impact restaurateurs, and many more. 

The global backdrop for this vivid gustatory expedition is equally wide-ranging: from tropical rainforests to urban jungles, seed labs to secret gardens, and from lofty mountains to the high seas. Throughout, we hope to inspire wonder, empathy and action, and to learn how each of us can make a difference, whether at home in our communities or halfway around the world. Together, let’s plant a better planet!

The Food Principle Season 1 airs on PBS stations and streams for free on PBS online as well as on PBS Food’s YouTube Channel. Production for Season 2 begins in May 2024.

Was the iconic song “Blue Moon written by famed duo Rodgers and Hart, or was it penned by a young, unknown aspiring songwriter? The podcast, Who Wrote Blue Moon? will seek to solve this mystery.

The question has haunted Liz Roman Gallese, a former journalist, who, for years has been searching for the lost legacy of her father, Edward W. Roman. All her life, the story had been told in the family that her father, Ed, wrote “Blue Moon,” sent it off to a song broker, then years later heard it on the radio. . .and sued two of the most prominent songwriters in the world. 

Who Wrote Blue Moon? will look into what is known and unknown about “Blue Moon” and the remarkable quest of a daughter searching through the history of Troy, New York, for the young man who would later become her father. 

Six podcast episodes of approximately 30 minutes each. 

For more information please visit: https://bluemoonsong.org

“The Monk” is a documentary film which follows the journey of a transgender man charting an unprecedented path in the Catholic Church.

Because of the sensitive nature of the story, further information is only being distributed on an individual basis. Please email publicshorefilms@gmail.com if you would like to learn more.

TV Show 

Threaded reveals the powerful stories behind ancestral clothing, jewelry, and textiles, along with the mythology that inspired them. This allows us to reconnect with our roots and gain a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of humanity.  This unique 30 minute docu-series guides viewers on a worldwide exploration of diverse cultures through the lens of their traditional attire. Historically, clothing has been more than just a practical necessity, it’s been a language that gives insight to a society’s traditions, values, and environment. Local guides will take us on a journey of discovery, by engaging with local artists, leaders, and storytellers. Through examining their designs, materials, and myths, we reveal the extraordinary role of clothing in their culture and gain a deeper connection to the people who wear them, their history, and their way of life.

Pilot 

Beautifully filmed in Northern India, the first episode follows the Naga Konyak, who are known as “headhunters”. This practice of collecting their enemy’s skulls was officially banned by the Indian government in 1960. However, human skulls and the mythology surrounding them, dominate in their traditions, beliefs and art. Through the use of drone footage, interviews, historical records, animation, and local music, we learn about the Konyak while focusing on their views of power, fertility and wealth. 

Our Story

This idea beautifully emerged from the collaboration of its creators, Gabriela Barnat and Natalia Benesz, whose individual passions and experiences have enabled them to present our world through this unique lens. As a journalist, Gabriela’s focus has been on fashion across diverse cultures. Natalia has been in movie and TV production for more than a decade. Both have spent their lives traveling in order to understand and engage with remote and indigenous people around the world. Together … they bring you Hidden Fashion World.

For more details please check our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/threaded.series/


Your support not only helps us share the untold stories of indigenous communities and ethnic groups but also makes a direct impact, with 10% of your donation going to support local causes.

We are grateful for the generous support of our sponsors:

National Endowments for the Arts
Massachusetts Cultural Council
Lowel Cultural Council
Cabot Family Charitable Trust
Liberty Mutual Foundation
City of Boston Arts and Culture