Working Films and our partners at NAKASEC (The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium), The National Domestic Workers Alliance, The UndocuBlack Network, and United We Dream are looking for short films to support immigrants’ rights organizing and end racist attacks on immigrant communities. Together, we are curating a compilation of films that will be screened in community events in the most critical places, led by those on the frontlines of this issue.

At a moment when many people have been moved by the family separations happening at the border, a fuller story of immigration needs to be told to address the harms perpetuated by immigration enforcement practices and policies that extend beyond the current crisis at the border. Beyond building empathy and expanding understanding of immigration systems, we are seeking films that showcase collective power and vision for the future, while demonstrating the multiple ways people can give their time, energy, and resources to support organizing led by immigrant communities.

Filmmakers are invited to submit short documentaries, excerpts of feature length documentaries, and multi-platform projects. Screening rights fees will be paid to selected films. We will also provide free impact consultation to selected filmmakers and offer peer-to-peer networking and support opportunities. An emphasis will be placed on films that feature personal stories, as well as media made by people who are directly impacted by the policies and related issues at hand. We will consider a work-in-progress if it is at a strong stage, is reasonably audience-ready, and is short. Please do not apply if your film is not available for public use.

If your film can be described in one or more of the following ways listed below, please apply. Specifically we are looking for films that use powerful stories that…

– Are Intersectional. We want to make connections between immigrant’s rights work and other historical and current liberation movements. We also want to make connections between present day attacks on immigrant communities and other oppressive policies and attitudes that impact communities of color or other marginalized groups.
– Uplift stories of immigration that do not receive considerable attention by mainstream media (i.e. Stories from those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), family based sponsorship stories, stories from individuals in detention or their loved ones, intercountry adoptees who are living without citizenship, etc.).
– Feature youth and that will speak to youth audiences.
– Feature AAPI and Black immigrants. We hope to expand the popular definition of immigrant communities and show the varied experiences of different immigrant communities.
– Show the harm that ICE and border patrol are  inflicting on immigrant communities at the border and within the interior of the US.
– Show the importance of public and civic engagement and activism, and examples of how to get meaningfully involved.
– Show white people stepping up in meaningful and non-oppressive ways to support organizing, direct action, and advocacy led by immigrant communities.
– Demonstrate the resilience, strength, and legacy of community building within immigrant communities.
– Make clear the collective power of the immigrants’ rights movement.
– Demonstrate solutions and a vision for the future.

Submissions are no longer being accepted at this time.