LIGHTS! CAMERA! KINDNESS! ENVISION KINDNESS IS ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR 2nd ANNUAL STUDENT FILM CONTEST

Envision Kindness, the Connecticut nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and spreading kindness and compassion, is accepting submissions for their 2nd Annual Student Film Contest from November 8 through December 9, 2016. Open to middle school, high school and college students throughout the state, the contest challenges students to conceive and produce an original, lighthearted, short film less than 3-minutes long that uses kindness as the central theme.

“The contest gives students an opportunity to be creative and participate in a social and emotional learning project that allows them to express what kindness means to them. At the same time, it promotes the development of pro-social cultures in their schools and communities,” said Envision Kindness co-founder David Fryburg, M.D.

Pro-social cultures encourage positive social interactions, while actively preventing negative interactions, like bullying. Research has shown that kindness is contagious and exposure to positive and kind acts and kindness-centric content makes people more likely to be less stressed, healthier and happier.

Teachers, advisors, club, team, and youth group leaders interested in submitting films on behalf of their organizations in either the middle school, high school or college categories are invited to visit the contest website at www.envkindness.us.launchpad6.com; for contest rules and more information . Winning filmmakers in each category will be awarded prizes of up to $500 to benefit their submitting school, group, or organization. All organized university, middle school, high school and youth programs in Connecticut are invited to enter.

The general public will first vote on all film submissions online. Films receiving the most votes will become finalists and be judged by a panel of film and journalism professionals and celebrities from around the state. Additional prizes will be awarded to the Runner up ($250) and Honorable Mention ($100) films in each age category. All finalists and winners will be invited to a celebratory concert in the Spring of 2017 featuring a well-known musical talent (to be announced).

According to feedback received by Envision Kindness, last year’s film contest was transformational. Reports of students acting nicer to each other, a rise in school spirit, and even spontaneous volunteering resulted. "It was a moving experience to see an entire student body work as one team to promote kindness (in 2015). There was a ripple effect through the community that continues to be felt from the contest,” said Alison Moger, Assistant Principal, Waterford High School.

Fryburg added, “In today’s environment of extreme busyness where we are constantly plugged into a device, bombarded by negative news cycles and have to schedule the time to exhale, we tend to overlook so many of the good things happening in this world. By offering young people an opportunity to capture shining moments of good on film, and share them with our communities, Envision Kindness hopes to slowly shift the world toward a kinder place, one frame at a time.”

Submissions to the 2nd Annual Envision Kindness Student Film Contest are being accepted now through December 9, 2016. To find out more about submitting a film, visit www.envisionkindness.org.

Envision Kindness is grateful for support from generous donors and from the Petit Family Foundation for making the Student Film Contest and other programs possible.

About Envision Kindness

Envision Kindness is a nonprofit organization based in East Lyme, CT with a simple mission: to promote and inspire acts of kindness, compassion, and empathy. Many Envision Kindness programs focus on youth engagement because young people can be powerful catalysts for change in our communities. Founded by David Fryburg, M.D. and his eldest son Jesse Fryburg, Envision Kindness pictures the world a better place through kindness. For more information, please visit www.envisionkindness.org. #pictureabetterworld.