Feel Good Friday - Black Filmmakers Foundation (BFF)

If you're a movie or pop culture fan, you know that Black Panther was released yesterday and A Wrinkle in Time is coming out next month. Both films are directed by African American filmmakers, it's Black History Month so today's Feel Good Friday organization is the Black Filmmakers Foundation.

As described on their Facebook page, the Black Filmmakers Foundation (BFF) is a "non-profit media arts organization founded in 1978" as a "product of the social and artistic consciousness that developed in the late sixties and early 1970s."

Founded by Warrington Hudlin, producer of the 1990 Kid and Play movie, House Party, the mission of BFF is to design and administer programs that address the institutional disenfranchisement of black filmmakers and black audiences.

Initiatives include producing film festivals, programming film retrospectives, hosting a monthly screening series of Black independent cinema, convening an annual BFF summit and producing a speaker series. Whew!

Want more? Listen to last week's 16 minute interview with founder Warrington Hudlin discussing the "Evolution of Black American Cinema" and if you're a black filmmaker, become a member of Cast and Crew of Color, "The online professional network for people of color who work in motion pictures, television and the Internet".

All of us can support the work of BFF by liking their Facebook page and by going to the movies!

Feel Good Friday - International Ocean Film Festival

Happy Feel Good Friday! Today I'm going to talk about the International Ocean Film Festival. Why? Because it's happening right now.

The International Ocean Film Festival (IOFF) is a nonprofit organization, "dedicated to using film as a medium to increase public awareness of the environmental, social, and cultural importance of marine ecosystems and foster a spirit of ocean stewardship." They've been doing this for the last 14 years by producing an annual film festival full of ocean-themed films that they hope "inspires people to appreciate and care for the ocean by revealing its wonders through independent films."

The event is taking place in San Francisco now and runs through Sunday. You can watch the trailer for the festival here. If you live in the area, you can check out the schedule of films. They're also hosting four panel discussions which are open to the public and free to attend: Women in the Ocean, Sanctuary for Sharks, Plastic Pollution Solutions and How Technology Will Save the Ocean. 

IOFF also produces a Free Student Education Program which "presents film screenings for students and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, marine scientists, and industry experts." They will screen 11 films from the festival and a selection of the student competition films. Their vision is that more students are exposed to both environmental issues and documentary film.

You can support this vision with a donation or by volunteering your time. If you don't live in the area, you can still follow their work by visiting their Vimeo channel, liking their Facebook page and following them on Twitter @oceanfilmfest

Feel Good Friday - The Oscars

In anticipation of the 87th Academy Awards on Sunday, today's Feel Good Friday takes a trip to Hollywood!

When you think of the Oscars, you may think red carpet, beautiful dresses and speeches or the fact that you haven't seen all of the nominated films. After today, I hope you'll also think of the educational programs the Academy provides.

As stated on their website, "The Academy supports other film-related organizations and institutions, provides opportunities for high school students - and movie fans of all ages - to further their understanding and appreciation of movies and the moviemaking process, and works to encourage interaction between public filmmakers of all types."

One of the offerings is a Media Literacy Program which, twice a year, sends 800 high school juniors from the Los Angeles Unified School District to visit the Academy, analyze film clips and meet filmmakers in order to "become aware of media messages encountered daily, improve analytical skills to evaluate those messages, and encourage provocative and thoughtful interaction with the media."

The Academy also produces a series of free teachers guides to "explore the art and science of motion pictures" and "to teach valuable lessons in critical thinking and creative writing and to develop literacy skills."  They sponsor visiting artists in order to create opportunities for direct contact between students and working film professionals.

There is also the Academy Film Scholars program that grants $25,000 to two individuals each year to research and write about various aspects of film - often  historical, cultural or scientific. And just when you thought they couldn't do any more, the Academy also supports film-related non-profits, individuals and film festivals through educational, internship and film festival grants!

So as you watch the Oscars on Sunday (or not), keep in mind there is a lot more to feel good about in addition to beautiful people making beautiful movies! Now get out your list of nominees and follow all the action on Twitter @TheAcademy!