Hello Empact Community đź‘‹
Behold—Empact’s second newsletter! We’re back with a lot of new and exciting updates. Let’s dive into highlights from recent campaigns, our official partnerships with film festivals, and ways for you to get involved (referral bonuses).
The current state of film distribution is stacked against independent filmmakers. Their work, which often tackles pressing and underrepresented issues, struggles to reach the audience it deserves due to capitalist gatekeepers. I mean, check out this reddit thread.
In today's world, it’s easy to fall into the habit of watching whatever pops up on Netflix or other major streaming platforms. But here’s the deal—36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime is one of those eye-opening indie gems that isn’t going to pop up in your “recommended for you” list.
What it’s about: For 36 SECONDS, director Tarek Albaba documents the aftermath of a tragedy where three young Muslim American students at UNC were killed in their own home. While the media horrifically paints this as a simple “parking dispute,” this documentary uncovers the truth as the family fights for justice, forfeiting their time to grieve to turn from heartbreak into activism. (See interview with Anderson Cooper)
Why this matters: Hate crimes are an issue that have been widely dismissed when inflicted upon the BIPOC community, causing them to endure much more violence before receiving proper recognition and help. This unfair occurrence is the result of implicit bias and stigma embedded in the global psyche due to the actions of a few extremists.
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🤝 So we need your help: Invite your friends to our virtual screening TONIGHT, Wed 8/28 at 8pm EDT / 5pm PDT followed by a rare Q&A with the victim’s friends. Help 36 SECONDS rise above the noise. This is your chance to make sure the important stuff gets seen, shared, and talked about.
“Free to watch a special virtual screening of an important movie with me tonight? https://kinema.com/events/36-seconds-portrait-of-a-hate-crime-5rrvik”
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36 SECONDS (Watch on Kinema) has received widespread recognition and accolades including: the DOC NYC Film Festival's Subject Matter Award; the CAAMfest Documentary Audience Award; the Swedish Academy Award for Best Documentary; while receiving honors as an official selection at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival; and awards at the Dubai International Cine Carnival, Arab Film Festival, and Worldfest - Houston International Film Festival.
Even if you can’t watch, please consider supporting their campaign.