Reel Justice, a film conference on media activism will kick-off its national tour in Jackson, MS at Tougaloo College from Friday, March 27, 2009 at 6PM through Saturday, March 28, 2009.

Sponsored by Working Films and the Andrus Family Fund the conference focuses on models for community reconciliation as a response to violence, and in particular police brutality, racially motivated violence and violence against women.

Jackson activists Nsombi Lambright of the ACLU, Derrick Johnson of the NAACP and Chokwe Lumumba of the National Conference of Black Lawyers will join, filmmakers, and Hip Hop artists such Byron Hurt and M1 of Dead Prez to screen films with students and community members discussing strategies for healing and justice.

The next stop on the Reel Justice Tour is Lehman College in the Bronx, NY. For more information, and to register, go to workingfilms.org/reeljustice.

This event is free and open to the public!

Each summer we bring in people who possess the initiative to take on new and innovative assignments through our George Stoney Fellowship. We are currently accepting applications! The fellowship is a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in using film and media as tools to create activist awareness of the most important issues we face today. You can read more about the namesake, George Stoney, and the qualifications for the fellowship here.

Read what last years Stoney Fellow, Nekoro Gomes, had to say about his experiences:

As a George Stoney fellow with Working Films during the summer of 2008, I was honored with the opportunity to organize a media outreach summit for the documentary film, Greensboro: Closer to the Truth. My work brought together activists and educators from across the country. It was truly a blessing to hear activists who had been on the front lines of the civil rights movement speak of their experiences. The second half of my fellowship involved working to tell the story of the uniquely unparalleled work that is done by Working Films. In trying to tell the story of Working Films, I gained confidence in my ability to visualize a project and see it through to its completion.

During my time at Working Films, I learned the importance of opening yourself up to others and valuing the diversity of where other people come from. As a fellow, you will get the opportunity to work with a passionate and knowledgeable group of media strategists who truly believe in the idea that content + intent = change. In addition, Wilmington, North Carolina is not just a great site for Working Films because of its vibrant artistic and filmmaking community; it’s a great place to see a natural world that’s all-too-forgotten in the hustle-and-bustle where too many young storytellers think they need to be. Working Films will put you in position to hear and see many different stories, the one you choose to tell however is up to you.

The deadline for applications is March 30th, so submit yours today for the chance to be a change maker this summer.

The second stop for The Good Pitch in North America will be at SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival June 18-22nd, near Washington, D.C. The Good Pitch at SILVERDOCS is now open for submissions. The deadline is Monday, March 16, 2009.

The Good Pitch is a unique opportunity for filmmakers to pitch social-issue documentary projects and associated campaign strategies to an audience of NGOs, foundations, campaigners, advertising agencies, brands and media. Last summer we co-hosted the inaugural Good Pitch at the BRITDOC Film Festival, and had a spectacular time.

The Good Pitch at SILVERDOCS welcomes submissions from directors and producers of any nationality with an ambition to work in partnership to harness the power of documentary to create positive change. Your campaign can take any form, whether seeking to promote public engagement and/or policy change, or engaging with the issues raised in new and interesting ways.

The third Good Pitch in North America will be at IFP’s Independent Film Week, so check back for updates and more opportunities.

Read about Robert’s experience with co-hosting the Good Pitch last summer, and apply to participate in the upcoming one at SILVERDOCS!