Media That Matters Eighth Annual Film Festival

We no longer have to rely on major corporations for things to be seen -- we have Media that Matters to distribute new material and new voices and new points of view."
-Tim Robbins, Actor

The Media That Matters Film Festival is the premiere showcase for short films on the most important topics of the day. Local and global, online and in communities around the world, Media That Matters engages diverse audiences and inspires them to take action.

From gay rights to global warming, the jury-selected collection represents the work of a diverse group of independent filmmakers, many of whom are under 21. The films are equally diverse in style and content, with documentaries, music videos, animations, experimental work and everything else in between. What all the films have in common is that they spark debate and action in 8 minutes or less.

Every June, Media That Matters presents a new collection of sixteen shorts. The festival launches in New York City with a World Premiere at the IFC Center and an Awards Ceremony at HBO where every filmmaker is honored and many receive cash awards sponsored by major foundations and corporations. Previous presenters include Tim Robbins, Al Franken, David Cross, Woody Harrelson, Barbara Kopple and Peter Yarrow. The festival launch also includes the Media in Action Workshop, a unique convening of filmmakers, educators, activists, nonprofits and youth, hosted by the International Center for Tolerance Education in Dumbo, Brooklyn.

The June launch events are just the beginning of a jam-packed year of Media That Matters. The films stream online in their entirety, broadcast nationally and are distributed on DVD to educators and activists. Media That Matters reaches thousands through community screenings around the country. From classrooms to board rooms, movie theatres to home theatres, hundreds of events take place throughout the year. Arts Engine staff produce and attend many screenings, while many more are organized by individuals committed to change. We provide everything you need to host your own event, and we invite you to contact us for support in bringing Media That Matters to your neck of the woods.

An image captures a feeling,
A story shares a message,
A movie becomes a movement.