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Westside Pacific Villages Continues Supporting Seniors During Pandemic

by Shelbrena Payne | Feb 9, 2021 | Feature, News

Los Angeles, CA. Westside Pacific Villages is a nonprofit organization in LA that helps older adults stay in their own homes. For many senior citizens, the pandemic has exacerbated the feeling of seclusion. The majority of senior citizens feel uncomfortable shopping at their local grocery stores, ordering online, or running errands. That is where the Westside Pacific Village volunteers step in. Instead of driving the senior citizens to the grocery store, Westside Pacific Villages organized pickups and deliveries to the resident’s homes as seen above.

While the pandemic has increased the amount of isolation that senior citizens experience on a day-to-day basis there has been an influx of volunteers who have stepped up to the plate to deliver food and assist residents while maintaining social distancing and adhering to all Los Angeles County regulations.

“We have fared very well, during the pandemic. When this all hit. We not only canceled the social activities, but rides to the grocery store, YMCA, and weekly hair appointments,” says Executive Director Carol Kitabayashi. Prior to the pandemic, Westside Pacific Village hosted, art workshops, exercise classes, and social events. Since March of 2020, the organization has been using virtual platforms to communicate. Weekly phone calls are being held to assist the senior citizens with this process so that they can communicate on a consistent basis with other members. The virtual volunteer lead activities include tea & chat, Thanksgiving holiday events, New Year’s Eve celebration, book club, and baking. With the virtual session’s kids, grown-ups and seniors have all been joining in on the fun.

WPV’s mission has always been focused on supporting the oldest residents in our community by enabling them to remain active and engaged in the homes and neighborhoods they love, combating another serious health risk and epidemic for seniors, social isolation, and loneliness. With the closure of many non-essential facilities and L.A. County’s Safer at Home Order, the vital social components of WPV such as transportation services, social activities/events, and in-person friend visits have been interrupted. As a result, WPV quickly adjusted by placing a heavier emphasis on: (1) increased phone communication through its existing Call a Neighbor CAN Program, and (2) running errands, another exiting program benefit, through contactless delivery services.

Westside Pacific Villages is a nonprofit organization that helps older adults stay in their own homes. Some have mistaken the organization for being a senior care facility, but Westside Pacific Villages is a community-based nonprofit, driven by dedicated volunteers who go directly to the senior citizen’s residence to assist them. Unlike many non-profits who are based solely in the communities that they serve. Kitabayashi explains, “Westside Pacific Villages is a part of a nationwide phenomenon with about three-hundred similar organizations.” The model is simple, volunteers go out into their local communities to provide basic assistance; anything from changing a lite bulb, driving to a doctor’s appointment, or delivering groceries. A community spanning from the East to West coast. This simple yet highly effective model continues to cultivate unity throughout the Los Angeles communities they serve.

Here’s a video about the program:

Rodney is a WPV volunteer and donor. He’s also helping to promote the 2021 WPV Calendar.

From Westside Pacific Villages:

As we age, we learn to differentiate and recognize the difference between being physically alone vs. being lonely. As we go through life, we can sometimes forget about the ones who came before us. The ones who paved the way. Westside Pacific Villages is a fantastic organization shining the light on and supporting forgotten communities throughout Los Angeles. The Westside Pacific Villages program is currently FREE of cost. The organization is looking for ways to broaden opportunities for all senior citizens in varying income brackets in the future. If you know anyone who is in need during this trying time or looking for ways to donate call: (310) 695-7030 or click HERE!

LA Comedic Actress is Finding the Funny in a Covid-Safe Search for Love

by Elisa Kayser | Feb 9, 2021 | Feature, General, News

A feature story: Los Angeles, CA. Some singles put romance on hold to avoid Covid-19, but Isabel Klein just went on 52 dates—a date a week for a year. “I dated through the pandemic and did NOT get COVID! Take that, Covid!” Klein exclaimed. “It was a simple screening process. Imagine a windowless interrogation room, naked lightbulb swinging overhead, and me screaming in a guy’s face ‘You got an N95? You sing your ABC while you wash your hands?’ But seriously, it’s all about communication.”

The LA-based comedic actress became an authority on dating while waiting for the entertainment industry to re-start.

Klein blogs about her journey on Date-A-Week.com. “A lot of cringe-worthy things happened, so I used it as fodder for TikTok videos, and they took off.” The 24-year-old plays multiple parts as she recreates dates at her handle, @frizzyhairizzy. One of her #dateaweekla TikToks has already been viewed over 2 million times.

Klein explained, “I went on 52 dates! Speed dating on an app, blind date setups, virtual cookie making, I’ve done it all. I got stiffed by a guy who ‘forgot his wallet’ and went on over a dozen of social distance walks. But I never found a sexy way to pick up my dog’s poop.”

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the serial dater is offering advice to singles:

Top Three Valentine’s Dating Tips:

Start with a FaceTime date. It’s safe and helps prevent romantic letdowns. Pre-screen with a ‘Covid talk’ to ensure prospective sweethearts are using best practices.
Make a commitment to date regularly. It takes the pressure off individual dates so you’re freer to be yourself. If a date’s a bust, even on Valentine’s Day, there’s always next week.
Put yourself out there! It is not an act of desperation; it’s a bold, empowering, and intentional search for love!

“Look, if I can do it, you can do it,” Klein said. “Before I committed to go on a date a week, I got so nervous would dry heave before walking out the door. Last year I finally made overcoming my fears a priority.” It’s a technique that’s also working for readers who are trying it for themselves. Many offer Testimonials on Date-A-Week.com.

Like other singles, Klein had to pivot during the pandemic but didn’t want to stop meeting new people. “It’s a hard time to be alone. There’s not much to do because of Covid and we all need human connection.” Klein has a list of safety tips on her blog. “I’m not taking any chances. Covid-19 is serious business. Also, I can’t lose my sense of smell and taste, because Frappuccinos and chocolate croissants are my life.”

Sundance Film Festival Awards Top Prizes To CODA, Summer of Soul, Flee, and Hive

by Isabel Klein | Feb 2, 2021 | Coming Up, Feature, News

Park City, UT — After six days and 73 feature films, the 2021 Sundance Film Festival’s Awards Ceremony took place tonight, hosted by actor and comedian Patton Oswalt, with jurors presenting 24 prizes for feature filmmaking and seven for Short Films. Honorees, named in total below, represent new achievements in global independent storytelling. Bold, intimate, and humanizing stories prevailed across categories, with Grand Jury Prizes awarded to CODA (U.S. Dramatic), Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (U.S. Documentary), Flee (World Cinema Documentary) and Hive(World Cinema Dramatic).

Seen above: Top row: CODA, Courtesy of Sundance Institute; Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised), photo by Mass Distraction Media; Flee, courtesy of Sundance Institute. Bottom row: Hive, photo by Alexander Bloom; Writing With Fire, courtesy of Sundance Institute; Ma Belle, My Beauty, courtesy of Sundance Institute.

“This has been a singular Festival for a singular moment,” said Sundance Institute CEOKeri Putnam. “We’ve been able to elevate independent art and celebrate a wonderful slate of films by gathering in new ways, ways that worked thanks to adventurous audiences everywhere, eager to connect and engage with the work and with one another. Watching people come together to connect and discuss exciting new work has been incredibly rewarding – and a resounding confirmation that great independent storytelling inspires rich conversation.”

“This was not a ‘virtual’ festival, it was a real festival and the power of these artists and their work was what made it so,” added Sundance Film Festival Director Tabitha Jackson, “It has been a privilege to help this work meet new audiences and enter the culture with such fanfare, especially now, when breaking through the noise is harder than ever.”

The awards ceremony marks a key point of the 2021 Festival, where 73 feature-length and 50 short films — selected from more than 14,000 submissions — were showcased online via the Festival’s custom-built online platform, as well as in 28 Satellite Screen locations across the United States. Award-winning films will screen for pass holders tomorrow, February 3.

The films were selected from 14,092 submissions including 3,500 feature-length films. Of the feature film submissions, 1,377 were from the U.S. and 2,132 were international. Director demographics are available in an editor’s note below.

This year’s jurors, invited in recognition of their accomplishments in the arts, technical craft and visionary storytelling, deliberated extensively before presenting awards from the stage; this year’s feature film jurors were Julie Dash, Cynthia Erivo, Hanya Yanagihara,Ashley Clark, Joshua Oppenheimer, Lana Wilson, Zeynep Atakan, Isaac Julien, Daniela Vega, Kim Longinotto, Mohamed Saïd Ouma, and Jean Tsien. Kate and Laura Mulleavy served as co-jurors for NEXT. Shorts jurors were Raúl Castillo, Tacita Dean and Inge de Leeuw. A newly-created award, the Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award for U.S. Documentary, has been created to memorialize the late editor and joins the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for U.S. Dramatic as a prize named for a beloved member of the Sundance artistic community. This year’s Audience Awards were presented by Sundance alumni Alison Brie, Shira Haas and Diego Luna.

Feature film award winners in previous years include: Minari, Boys State, Epicentro, Yalda, A Night for Forgiveness, Clemency, One Child Nation, Honeyland, The Souvenir, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, I don’t feel at home in this world anymore., Weiner, Whiplash, Fruitvale Station, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Twenty Feet from Stardom, Searching for Sugarman, The Square, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Cartel Land, The Wolf Pack, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Dope, Dear White People, The Cove and Man on Wire.

GRAND JURY PRIZES

The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, for Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)/ U.S.A. (Director: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Producers: David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel) — During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from the festival sat in a basement, unseen for over 50 years, keeping this incredible event in America’s history lost – until now.

The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to: Siân Heder, for CODA / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Siân Heder, Producers: Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger) — As a CODA – Child of Deaf Adults – Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents. Cast: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, and Marlee Matlin.

The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to: Jonas Poher Rasmussen, for Flee / Denmark, France, Sweden, Norway (Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Producers: Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen) — Amin arrived as an unaccompanied minor in Denmark from Afghanistan. Today, he is a successful academic and is getting married to his long-time boyfriend. A secret he has been hiding for 20 years threatens to ruin the life he has built.

The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to: Blerta Basholli, for Hive / Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania (Director and Screenwriter: Blerta Basholli, Producers: Yll Uka, Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka) — Fahrije’s husband has been missing since the war in Kosovo. She sets up her own small business to provide for her kids, but as she fights against a patriarchal society that does not support her, she faces a crucial decision: to wait for his return, or to continue to persevere. Cast: Yllka Gashi, Çun Lajçi, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha, Adriana Matoshi, Kaona Sylejmani.

AUDIENCE AWARDS

The Audience Award: U.S. Documentary, Presented by Acura was presented to: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson for Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) / U.S.A. (Director: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Producers: David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel) — During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from the festival sat in a basement, unseen for over 50 years, keeping this incredible event in America’s history lost – until now.

The Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic, Presented by Acura was presented to: Siân Heder, for CODA / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Siân Heder, Producers: Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger) — As a CODA – Child of Deaf Adults – Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents. Cast: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, and Marlee Matlin.

The Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented to: Blerta Basholli, for Hive / Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania (Director and Screenwriter: Blerta Basholli, Producers: Yll Uka, Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka) — Fahrije’s husband has been missing since the war in Kosovo. She sets up her own small business to provide for her kids, but as she fights against a patriarchal society that does not support her, she faces a crucial decision: to wait for his return, or to continue to persevere. Cast: Yllka Gashi, Çun Lajçi, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha, Adriana Matoshi, Kaona Sylejmani.

The Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented to: Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, for Writing With Fire / India (Directors and Producers: Rintu Thomas, Sushmit Ghosh) — In a cluttered news landscape dominated by men, emerges India’s only newspaper run by Dalit women. Armed with smartphones, Chief Reporter Meera and her journalists break traditions on the frontlines of India’s biggest issues and within the confines of their own homes, redefining what it means to be powerful.

The Audience Award: NEXT, Presented by Adobe was presented to: Marion Hill, for Ma Belle, My Beauty / U.S.A., France (Director and Screenwriter: Marion Hill, Producers: Ben Matheny, Kelsey Scult, Marion Hill) — A surprise reunion in southern France reignites passions and jealousies between two women who were formerly polyamorous lovers. Cast: Idella Johnson, Hannah Pepper, Lucien Guignard, Sivan Noam Shimon.

DIRECTING, SCREENWRITING & EDITING AWARDS

The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to: Natalia Almada, for Users / U.S.A., Mexico (Director: Natalia Almada, Producers: Elizabeth Lodge Stepp, Josh Penn) — A mother wonders, will my children love their perfect machines more than they love me, their imperfect mother? She switches on a smart-crib lulling her crying baby to sleep. This perfect mother is everywhere. She watches over us, takes care of us. We listen to her. We trust her.

The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to: Siân Heder, for CODA / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Siân Heder, Producers: Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger) — As a CODA – Child of Deaf Adults – Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents. Cast: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, and Marlee Matlin.

The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented to: Hogir Hirori, for Sabaya / Sweden (Director and Screenwriter: Hogir Hirori, Producers: Antonio Russo Merenda, Hogir Hirori) — With just a mobile phone and a gun, Mahmud, Ziyad and their group risk their lives trying to save Yazidi women and girls being held by ISIS as Sabaya (abducted sex slaves) in the most dangerous camp in the Middle East, Al-Hol in Syria.

The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented to: Blerta Basholli, for Hive / Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania (Director and Screenwriter: Blerta Basholli, Producers: Yll Uka, Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka) — Fahrije’s husband has been missing since the war in Kosovo. She sets up her own small business to provide for her kids, but as she fights against a patriarchal society that does not support her, she faces a crucial decision: to wait for his return, or to continue to persevere. Cast: Yllka Gashi, Çun Lajçi, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha, Adriana Matoshi, Kaona Sylejmani.

The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to: Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch, for On the Count of Three / U.S.A. (Director: Jerrod Carmichael, Screenwriters: Ari Katcher, Ryan Welch, Producers: David Carrico, Adam Paulsen, Tom Werner, Jake Densen, Ari Katcher, Jimmy Price) — Two guns. Two best friends. And a pact to end their lives when the day is done. Cast: Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, J.B. Smoove, Lavell Crawford, Henry Winkler.

The Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to: editors Kristina Motwani and Rebecca Adorno, for Homeroom / U.S.A. (Director: Peter Nicks, Producers: Peter Nicks, Sean Havey) — Following the class of 2020 at Oakland High School in a year marked by seismic change, exploring the emotional world of teenagers coming of age against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world.

SPECIAL JURY AWARDS

A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast was presented to: the cast of CODA, for CODA / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Siân Heder, Producers: Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger) — As a CODA – Child of Deaf Adults – Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents. Cast: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, and Marlee Matlin.

A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Actor was presented to: Clifton Collins Jr., for Jockey / U.S.A. (Director: Clint Bentley, Screenwriters: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Producers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Nancy Schafer) — An aging jockey is determined to win one last championship, but his dream is complicated when a young rookie shows up claiming to be his son. Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Molly Parker, Moises Arias.

A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award: Emerging Filmmaker was presented to: Parker Hill and Isabel Bethencourt, for Cusp / U.S.A. (Directors: Parker Hill, Isabel Bethencourt, Producers: Zachary Luke Kislevitz, Parker Hill, Isabel Bethencourt) — In a Texas military town, three teenage girls confront the dark corners of adolescence at the end of a fever dream summer.

A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award: Nonfiction Experimentation was presented to: Theo Anthony, for All Light, Everywhere / U.S.A. (Director: Theo Anthony, Producers: Riel Roch-Decter, Sebastian Pardo, Jonna McKone) — An exploration of the shared histories of cameras, weapons, policing and justice. As surveillance technologies become a fixture in everyday life, the film interrogates the complexity of an objective point of view, probing the biases inherent in both human perception and the lens.

A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Vérité Filmmaking was presented to: Camilla Nielsson, for President / Denmark, U.S.A., Norway (Director: Camilla Nielsson, Producers: Signe Byrge Sørensen, Joslyn Barnes) — Zimbabwe is at a crossroads. The leader of the opposition MDC party, Nelson Chamisa, challenges the old guard ZANU-PF led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, known as “The Crocodile.” The election tests both the ruling party and the opposition – how do they interpret principles of democracy in discourse and in practice?

A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Impact for Change was presented to: Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, for Writing With Fire / India (Directors and Producers: Rintu Thomas, Sushmit Ghosh) — In a cluttered news landscape dominated by men, emerges India’s only newspaper run by Dalit women. Armed with smartphones, Chief Reporter Meera and her journalists break traditions on the frontlines of India’s biggest issues and within the confines of their own homes, redefining what it means to be powerful.

A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Acting was presented to: Jesmark Scicluna, for Luzzu / Malta (Director and Screenwriter: Alex Camilleri, Producers: Rebecca Anastasi, Ramin Bahrani, Alex Camilleri, Oliver Mallia) — Jesmark, a struggling fisherman on the island of Malta, is forced to turn his back on generations of tradition and risk everything by entering the world of black market fishing to provide for his girlfriend and newborn baby. Cast: Jesmark Scicluna, Michela Farrugia, David Scicluna.

A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Creative Vision was presented to: Baz Poonpiriya, for One for the Road / China, Hong Kong, Thailand (Director: Baz Poonpiriya, Screenwriters: Baz Poonpiriya, Nottapon Boonprakob, Puangsoi Aksornsawang, Producer: Wong Kar Wai) — Boss is a consummate ladies’ man, a free spirit and a bar owner in NYC. One day, he gets a surprise call from Aood, an estranged friend who has returned home to Thailand. Dying of cancer, Aood enlists Boss’ help to complete a bucket list – but both are hiding something. Cast: Tor Thanapob, Ice Natara, Violette Wautier, Aokbab Chutimon, Ploi Horwang, Noon Siraphun. World Premiere

NEXT INNOVATOR PRIZE PRESENTED BY ADOBE

The NEXT Innovator Prize presented by Adobe was presented to: Dash Shaw, for Cryptozoo / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Dash Shaw, Producers: Kyle Martin, Jane Samborski, Bill Way, Tyler Davidson) — As cryptozookeepers struggle to capture a Baku (a legendary dream-eating hybrid creature) they begin to wonder if they should display these rare beasts in the confines of a cryptozoo, or if these mythical creatures should remain hidden and unknown. Cast: Lake Bell, Michael Cera, Angeliki Papoulia, Zoe Kazan, Peter Stormare, Grace Zabriskie.

SHORT FILM AWARDS PRESENTED BY SOUTHWEST AIRLINES®

Jury prizes for short filmmaking were awarded at the same ceremony. The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Lizard / United Kingdom (Director: Akinola Davies, Jr., Screenwriter: The Davies Brothers). The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was awarded to The Touch of the Master’s Hand / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Gregory Barnes. The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was awarded to Bambirak / U.S.A., Germany (Director and Screenwriter: Zamarin Wahdat). The Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction was awarded to Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma / U.S.A., Germany, France, Italy (Directors and Screenwriters: Topaz Jones, rubberband.). The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was awarded to Souvenir Souvenir / France (Director and Screenwriter: Bastien Dubois). A Short Film Special Jury Award for Acting was presented to Wiggle Room / U.S.A. (Directors and Screenwriters: Sam Guest, Julia Baylis). A Short Film Special Jury Award for Screenwriting was awarded to The Criminals / France, Romania, Turkey (Director and Screenwriter: Serhat Karaaslan).

EARLIER SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

The 2021 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, presented to an outstanding feature film about science or technology, was presented to Sons of Monarchs. The filmmakers received a $20,000 cash award from Sundance Institute with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

The Sundance Institute | Amazon Studios Producers Award for Nonfiction went to Nicole Salazar, for Philly D.A.

The Sundance Institute | Amazon Studios Producers Award for Fiction went to Natalie Qasabian, for Run.

The Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Editing Nonfiction went to Juli Vizza, and the Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Editing Fiction went to Terilyn Shropshire.

The Sundance Institute | NHK Award went to Meryman Joobeur, for her film Motherhood.

The Sundance Film Festival®
The Sundance Film Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most groundbreaking films of the past three decades, including Clemency, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Zola, On The Record, Boys State, The Farewell, Honeyland, One Child Nation, The Souvenir, The Infiltrators, Sorry to Bother You, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Hereditary, Call Me By Your Name, Get Out, The Big Sick, Mudbound, Fruitvale Station, Whiplash, Brooklyn, Precious, The Cove, Little Miss Sunshine, An Inconvenient Truth, Napoleon Dynamite, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Reservoir Dogs and sex, lies, and videotape. The Festival is a program of the non-profit Sundance Institute. 2021 Festival sponsors to date include: Presenting Sponsors – Acura, SundanceTV, Chase Sapphire, Adobe; Leadership Sponsors – Amazon Studios, AT&T, DoorDash, Dropbox, Netflix, Omnicom Group, Southwest Airlines® , WarnerMedia; Sustaining Sponsors – AMC, Audible, Canada Goose, Canon U.S.A., Inc., Dell Technologies, Documentary Plus, GEICO, IMDbPro, Stella Artois®, Unity Technologies, University of Utah Health, White Claw Hard Seltzer, Zoom; Media Sponsors – The Atlantic, IndieWire, Los Angeles Times, NPR, The New York Times, Variety, Vulture, The Wall Street Journal. Sundance Institute recognizes critical support from the State of Utah as Festival Host State. The support of these organizations helps offset the Festival’s costs and sustain the Institute’s year-round programs for independent artists. sundance.org/festival

Sundance Institute
As a champion and curator of independent stories for the stage and screen, the nonprofit Sundance Institute provides and preserves the space for artists in film, theatre, film composing, and digital media to create and thrive. Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, the Institute’s signature Labs, granting, and mentorship programs which are dedicated to developing new work and take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally, are supported largely through contributed revenue. Sundance Co//ab, a digital community platform, brings artists together to learn from each other and Sundance Advisors and connect in a creative space, developing and sharing works in progress. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences and artists to ignite new ideas, discover original voices, and build a community dedicated to independent storytelling. Sundance Institute has supported such projects as Clemency, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Zola, On The Record, Boys State, The Farewell, Honeyland, One Child Nation, The Souvenir, The Infiltrators, Sorry to Bother You, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Hereditary, Call Me By Your Name, Get Out, The Big Sick, Mudbound, Fruitvale Station, City So Real, Top of the Lake, Between the World & Me, Wild Goose Dreams and Fun Home. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

2021 Sundance Film Festival is in Full-Swing Online

by Isabel Klein | Jan 30, 2021 | Feature, General, News

Park City, Utah. The Sundance Film Festival looks different this year; it’s virtual. There are 71 Features, 50 shorts, 4 indie series, 14 New Frontier Projects debuting on digital platform & satellite screens nationwide. One highly anticipated film that has gotten excellent reviews is Coda (Pictured above). The film was directed by Sian Heder and stars Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, and Marlee Matlin. It’s about a girl who is the only hearing person in her deaf family.

The Sundance Festival is taking place digitally on a Sundance-built online platform and in-person on Satellite Screens across the country (public health permitting) from January 28-February 3, 2021. Additionally, Festival attendees can gather in virtual waiting rooms, participate in live Q&As, and congregate in new, inspired online environments to interact in a range of ways both new and familiar.

Here’s a video about the first day of the festival:

Above, is a scene from “President” by Camilla Nielsson. COURTESY OF SUNDANCE INSTITUTE.

“Of course, the pandemic year demanded adaptation,” said Keri Putnam, Sundance Institute’s Executive Director. “On a deeper level, we also recognize the urgency of supporting independent storytellers at a time of great upheaval in the film and media fields. We’re proud this edition of the Festival is fiercely independent and will reach people everywhere, celebrating both the theatrical experience at our Satellite Screens and streaming on our platform.”

“This Festival is a singular response to a singular year – both in design and curation – and we are excited about the new dimensions of possibility it will reveal. But at its core is something that speaks to our most enduring values,” said Tabitha Jackson, Director of the Sundance Film Festival. “For thousands of years humans have gathered to tell stories and make meaning. In this pandemic year, we gather to celebrate a constellation of artists with unique perspectives that express this current moment and who together are saying, ‘We exist. This is who we are. And this is what we see.’”

“The work in this year’s program is groundbreaking, imaginative, and formally daring,” said Kim Yutani, the Festival’s Director of Programming. “With over half the program made by first-time directors, a sense of discovery remains true to us at Sundance. This year’s Festival presents irrefutable evidence that despite the challenges, the independent voice is as strong as ever.”

The full 2021 slate of works, including 71 feature-length films, representing 29 countries and 38 first-time feature filmmakers. 14 films and projects announced today were supported by Sundance Institute in development, through direct granting or residency Labs. 66 of the Festival’s feature films, or 93% of the lineup announced today, will be world premieres. These films were selected from 14,092 submissions including 3,500 feature-length films. Of the feature film submissions, 1,377 were from the U.S. and 2,132 were international. Director demographics are available in an editor’s note below.

No Us Without You LA Offers Help to Undocumented Restaurant Staffers

by Shelbrena Payne | Dec 26, 2020 | Feature, General, News

Los Angeles, CA. 2020 has been an unprecedented year with the loss of over 315,000 lives, the closing of thousands of local businesses, which has left thousands of families food-deprived. Organizations like No Us Without You LA continues to be a pioneer in the Los Angeles community, providing meals for undocumented Back Of House Staff and their families living in the Los Angeles area.

No Us Without You LA is a public charity. While the stimulus packages and government assistance programs have been provided for those in need, families of undocumented works are not privy to these subsidies.

Nonprofit leaders say that access to breakfast, lunch, and dinner should not be an American privilege but a human right. They believe that as a community, we must not forget about the workers and their families who sacrifice and work hard to put food on our tables. “Your kind gesture this holiday season will provide an entire family one week’s worth of meals. If you are looking to give a week’s worth of meals, or simply donate visit No Us Without You LA,” leaders explain.

Here’s a video about the organization:

A brief history of No US Without You LA:

We are Va’La Hospitality

Va’La Hospitality is a bar consultancy group founded by Damian Diaz and Othón Nolasco in 2017 from a desire to give back to their industry. Rather than agonize over how undocumented workers affected by COVID-19 would feed their families, the two partners acted. And in just 24 hours they founded No Us Without You, a 501c3 Non-Profit Public Charity providing food security to the most disenfranchised hospitality workers affected by the pandemic. No Us Without You has transformed Va’La Hospitality’s Boyle Heights office into a food distribution hub. Donations have enabled the two partners to provide dry goods and fresh produce to undocumented back-of-house staff such as dishwashers, bussers, line cooks, and porters. Launched in mid-March with a goal of feeding 30 families a week, No Us Without You is now feeding over 1,300 families per week. Diaz and Nolasco plan on offering food relief indefinitely as they have embraced their new roles as Nonprofit Co-Founders. They are proud to be Humans Feeding Humans.

Three Ways to Spread Holiday Cheer with Union Station in Pasadena

by Elisa Klein | Dec 16, 2020 | Feature, General, News

Pasadena, CA. ‘Tis the season to spread cheer to vulnerable children and families during the holidays. Union Station Homeless Services is now collecting gifts for 400 children, ages ranging from newborn to 18 years. The theme this year is “something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read”– toys for all ages, fun patterned face masks, playful socks and new books. If you’d like to be a holiday hero and bring a smile to vulnerable children and families this year, read on to learn more.

Here are three ways to help:

1. Host a toy drive or donate a gift. Donations can be dropped off at our Admin Center at 825 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, CA, Monday-Friday between 9:30am-4:00pm until December 16, 2020 or ordered for delivery from our Amazon Wish Lists:

2. Contribute a tax-deductible donation to Union Station Homeless Services. Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of families experiencing homelessness during the harsh winter months.

Keep Your Neighbors Safe and Warm. Donate Today.

3. Spread holiday cheer by spreading the word. Please share about our holiday toy drive with your friends and family on social media by using the graphic. Remember to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and tag our page in your posts!

From: Union Station Homeless Services

We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is committed to helping homeless individuals and families rebuild their lives.

Union Station Homeless Services is part of a premier group of human services agencies in Los Angeles County that are leading the way to ending homelessness in our community. We are the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. Since 1973, Union Station has helped rebuild the lives of thousands of people who were once homeless and without hope.

The vision expressed four decades ago by the community volunteers who founded this agency still rings true today — every person deserves a life of dignity and a safe place to call home.

With over 45 years of experience, we proudly offer a full continuum of nine programs throughout the San Gabriel Valley. Our core services include outreach, bridge housing, permanent housing, and employment. In addition, we offer basic needs such as meals and showers, and well as care coordination, benefits enrollment, and referrals to medical and mental health services.

We know that housing ends homelessness. Over the years, we have learned some valuable lessons:

Homelessness has many faces
Union Station has effective solutions

Project Ropa Continues to Offer Hope to Homeless

by Shelbrena Payne | Dec 1, 2020 | Feature, General, News

Los Angeles, CA. Project Ropa is a nonprofit foundation based in Los Angeles serving the homeless community. The nonprofit works to restore dignity by bringing clean clothing and hygiene kits directly to people experiencing homelessness. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority, there are a total of 63,706 people homeless and 46,090 still in need of shelter. Over the past year, there has been a 12.7% increase in homelessness in LA County alone. Community members who are experiencing homelessness do not have easy access to bathrooms let alone showers.

Like many organizations, Project Ropa has seen a massive decline in monetary donations as a result of the global pandemic. While the monetary donations have declined by 75%, there has been a 300% increase in clothing donations.

Overhead has not declined but rather increased for the organization during this time. Project Ropa’s storage units are at full capacity, so the organization had to acquire a third unit for the influx of supplies.

Project Ropa has more than doubled weekly donations. Prior to the pandemic, the organization directly provided hygiene kits and clothing to 200 people directly on a weekly basis. Today after teaming up with local nonprofits they are serving over 5,000 people a month. Caitlin Adler Founder and Executive Director says, “We expect that number to continue to grow. We have figured out a way to increase capacity with less money.”

As a result of Covid-19, the demand and quantity for hygiene kits has substantially increased. With social distancing mandates in place getting essential personal protective equipment together has had its fair share of challenges. Due to hygiene regulations and sanitation recommendations, clothing is quarantined for 7-days prior to distribution. With major pivots implemented (i.e. quarantine of shoes and clothes, halted entry into mobile hygiene vans, and meeting sanitation standards etc.). Volunteers are no longer able to assist in the vans and volunteer opportunities have been cut in half.

With the elevated health risks associated with the virus, Project Ropas partnership with Saint Francis Center has been a saving grace for thousands of people.

During this time there are no holiday events planned.

Volunteers are encouraged to engage in Project Ropa’s virtual volunteer opportunities. Where individuals go out into the community to collect a list of items. Merchandise can be dropped off at the facility and or pick-up can be coordinated at a nearby location.

From Project Ropa:

It is in times like these that your donations are needed the most. Find out more at Project Ropa. Monetary donations can be made on Donor Box here and to our Venmo account @ProjectRopa.

Mission

Project Ropa helps restore dignity, rekindle optimism, and empower lives by providing clean clothing, hygiene kits and job opportunities to people experiencing homelessness.

Our Mailing Address

4712 Admiralty Way #1226
Marina del Rey, CA 90292

Our Warehouse Address

12681 W Jefferson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066

Donation Drop-off Information

We accept clothing donation drop-offs at our warehouse by appointment only.
Email us: [email protected]

About Us

Project Ropa was founded in 2016 by Caitlin Adler to address the challenges that homeless people face in obtaining and keeping clean clothes. Though homelessness is accompanied by many deprivations — from food, to shelter, to safety — one of its greatest indignities comes from the absence of hygiene services.

When you’re homeless, it doesn’t take long to look that way, and the world and your options in it shrink. Access to hygiene services is a human right yet for many people experiencing homelessness there are often significant barriers to proper hygiene. Most homeless people literally have only the clothes on their backs. Access to clean clothing is essential to the overall well-being of a person and can be the key to opening doors to employment and housing.

We believe everyone deserves to be treated with respect. How you look affects how you feel about yourself and how others treat you. Now, because of the health threats posed by the coronavirus, the need to overcome those challenges has become ever greater. People who are experiencing homelessness often wind up wearing dirty and wet clothes for long stretches of time, making them vulnerable to the spread of transmissible diseases, including Covid-19.

No one should have to wear dirty clothes or clothes that are ill-fitting. It is more important than ever that our homeless neighbors have access to new and gently used donated clothing in a safe, humane and dignified setting.

That’s where we come in.

Project Ropa provides a curated selection of new and gently used high-quality men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and accessories, along with personal hygiene products — all donated by local manufacturers, retailers and nonprofit partners — which we bring to locations throughout the city each week in a retrofitted van that acts as a mobile walk-in closet. At the same time, the people we serve can take a shower offered by another service provider with whom we work in tandem.

The need to provide clean clothes to our homeless neighbors has never been more urgent. Read this article to learn more about what makes our service different. For additional information about why it is so important to provide people experiencing homelessness with access to clean clothes in a safe, humane and respectful way read this article.

We believe in second chances for people who want to turn their lives around. Our vision is to help break the cycle of homelessness by restoring dignity and creating living-wage job opportunities for people with barriers to employment.

Black-ish Star Teams Up with L.A. Food Bank to Deliver Thanksgiving Meals

by Julia Rajkovic | Dec 1, 2020 | Feature, General, News

Los Angeles, CA. Anthony Anderson, star of the hit tv show Black-ish and ambassador for Mercedes-Benz teams up with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to deliver 40,000 meals to families in the L.A. area. Mercedes-Benz started a Curbside Caring initiative at the start of the pandemic to offer money, food, and medical supplies to those in need. As an ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, Anderson helps contribute to its mission through acts of charity. Growing up in Compton, Anderson witnessed many people struggle with hunger in his community. Today, Anderson does everything he can to try and fight hunger in Los Angeles.

The pandemic has worsened food insecurity across the nation, forcing people to skip meals including Thanksgiving dinner. With donations from the L.A. Food Bank and the help of Anderson and Mercedes-Benz, 40,000 people in the L.A. area enjoyed Thanksgiving meals this year. Families were shocked to be handed full turkeys, a gesture that clearly made their day.

A woman overwhelmed with joy after receiving a turkey for Thanksgiving

From Los Angeles Regional Food Bank:

MISSION STATEMENT:

To mobilize resources to fight hunger in our community.

Los Angeles Mission Gears up for a Busier than Usual Holiday Season

by Isabel Klein | Nov 23, 2020 | Feature, General, News

Los Angeles, CA. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, Los Angeles Mission is working hard to make sure every homeless individual in LA can have a hot meal this year. On November 20th, the nonprofit distributed 1,500 food boxes to citizens in Watts as seen above.

The Los Angeles Mission provides nearly 1,500 hot meals every day at its 303 East 5th Street location.

Staffers believe it will be an extra busy holiday season this year. Statistics on homelessness are up:

53,195 people in Los Angeles County are experiencing homelessness

22% increase in people aged 62 and older who are experiencing homelessness

Three out of four people experiencing homelessness remain unsheltered

6% of people experiencing homelessness are currently fleeing violence

9,322 people over the past year are experiencing homelessness for the first time

Los Angeles Mission provides the services listed below

From Los Angeles Mission:

Emergency Services

We provide both residential and emergency services to the community, including meals, showers, clothing, academic courses, employment workshops, job search assistance and referral services.

Contact us at (213) 629-1227 ext. 347 for information.

Residential Life Recovery Program

The recovery oriented systems of care programs provide a host of services designed to be client driven such as individual, family and conjoint counseling; Life Skill courses such as anger management, domestic violence, parenting and smoking cessation; discipleship and academic classes such as GED preparation, computer literacy, ESL, and tutoring; employment readiness workshops, job search assistance; group sessions; socialization; vocational training; transitional housing; psychiatric referrals and other relevant services to assist students in becoming contributing members of society.

Contact us at [email protected] for men and [email protected] for women.

Mommy and Me

Mommy and Me is a unique Anne Douglas Center program catering to the needs of struggling moms who are experiencing homelessness or living in other shelters and missions in the area. On Saturday mornings, women and their children can receive a hot breakfast while “shopping” for clothing in the Mission’s donated-clothing room. Mommy and Me offers a wonderful opportunity to help, encourage, and connect with these hurting women and children while providing them with food, clothes — and hope.

Urban Training Institute

Life Skills classes such as Anger Management, Domestic Violence, Smoking Cessation and Parenting are taught by certified instructors and are open to the public.

Please contact Ana Ceravolo at (213) 627-1227 ext. 387.

Food Baskets

Los Angeles Mission has a long history of providing emergency food baskets to those in need. However, in the last six years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of requests for emergency food. Each week, we prepare about 40-50 baskets, filled with items donated from local markets including Albertsons. Each basket includes nutritious ingredients for preparing a balanced meal.

For more information about our Emergency Food Basket Program, call the Anne Douglas Center at (213) 614-0743.

Outreach Services

Our Outreach Services provide ongoing support for those who have graduated from Mission programs. This keeps our graduates connected to a community where they feel accepted and nurtured in order to encourage and maintain the progress they have achieved. Outreach Services provide housing, referral services and assistance with addressing the various roadblocks and obstacles that often accompany re-entry into society.

For more information contact Antwone Sanford at (213) 629-1227 ext 347.

American Red Cross Partners with Country Music Star to Encourage Blood Donations

by Julia Rajkovic | Nov 23, 2020 | Coming Up, General, News

Los Angeles, CA. The American Red Cross stresses the importance and growing need for blood donations as COVID-19 cases skyrocket across the nation. By partnering with country music star Martina McBride and service company Suburban Propane, the Red Cross hopes to persuade potential donors, and particularly COVID-19 survivors to give blood. McBride reaches out to fans in a video encouraging them to donate blood to the Red Cross in order to help save lives this holiday season. Additionally, for those who donate blood, plasma, or platelet from November 15th to December 16th, Suburban Propane is offering a lucky winner a socially distanced outdoor living experience.

While all blood donations help, COVID-19 survivors are the most important donors because the antibodies in their blood are used by doctors to treat current coronavirus patients. The Red Cross tests every blood donation for COVID-19 antibodies and notifies donors of the result. Using antibodies found in the bloodstream to treat patients with coronavirus is a treatment called convalescent plasma which has been very successful. Red Cross shares a story of a 37-year-old woman who was hospitalized with COVID-19 and whose life was ultimately saved from plasma treatment. Patients respond to treatments in many different ways, and for some, convalescent plasma is the only treatment that helps them recover.

Donor gives blood to American Red Cross at the start of the pandemic (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

To ensure donor safety, the Red Cross administers temperature checks, social distancing, and face coverings for both donors and staff members at their blood drives. Donors are required to make an appointment beforehand and wear their facial covering the entirety of the appointment. They also must be at least 17 years old, weigh over 110 pounds, and be in good health. Appointments can be made on the Red Cross app, website, or over the phone at 1-800-RED CROSS.

From the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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