Plugged In Teens Win Film Festival Prize

"Hand It Down," a music video created by young musicians in Needham's Plugged In Teen Band Program was recently selected as a winner in the second annual If I Had A Trillion Dollars Film Festival.

Presented by the American Friends Service Committee and the National Priorities Project, the goal of the film festival is to engage youth from all over the United States in discussions about their local, state and federal governments. IHTD presents a forum for youth to think critically and express their opinions on a subject that they are rarely asked about.

This year's participants were encouraged to take a closer look at where the United States is spending our money. With a focus on the government's budget priorities, the youth were asked to create a short film that expresses what they would do if they could redirect government funds away from things like war and toward projects that would help their own communities. Specifically, participants were asked, "If you had a trillion dollars what would you do? What would you do if you had the power?"

After three workshops involving talented Plugged In students, the submission was complete.  An original composition, written, performed, filmed and edited by Plugged In students, called "Hand It Down" was submitted and recently was named an official IHTD Film Festival winner.

The winning video can be viewed on YouTube.

All of the youth involved in the creation of the video have been invited for a three-day IHTD event in Washington, D.C. that includes a special event presentation at Busboys and Poets, an IHTD workshop and a screening of the winning videos for members of Congress.

More information will be provided in the upcoming weeks at www.pluggedinband.org.