Creativity can flourish even in the most uncertain times and events. 2020 was a year where the world was at a standstill and people all over the world were trying to hold onto hope. Those were challenging times, but that did not stop the Orphaned Starfish students’ determination and creativity. In collaboration with We Make Movies, a film-making initiative was created to give a voice and space to the OSF students to manifest their experiences and emotions by producing their own movies. Throughout these past couple of years, the Orphaned Starfish Foundation students have been at work learning about shooting, editing, and everything in between pre and post-production. All the hard work that these students have put into creating the different pieces has finally paid off as the winners of the OSF x WMM 2024 Film Making Competition will be recognized at the Miami Short Film Festival this September.

In the middle of all the unprecedented disruptions that were happening, a team of dedicated and passionate filmmaking professionals gave life to the We Make Movies Initiative and provided the OSF students with tools, guidance, and a platform where they were able to create and channel their creativity in a filmmaking environment. During the filmmaking process, OSF students were encouraged to develop skills to help them write, edit, and direct their short films which led to technical learning, and personal expression so that the public could connect with their stories. This beautiful initiative was the outlet that helped the students maintain their hopes and dreams during times of isolation. OSF had six countries participating in this initiative in which all excelled and gave their best. The countries participating are the USA (Kansas), Haiti, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Tanzania (Zanzibar), and Kenya.

The Miami Short Film Festival Recognition

The reward for all the effort and dedication is presenting the students’ films at the well-known Miami Short Film Festival. With this recognition, the OSF students will enjoy a celebration of their talent, hard work, and creativity. The Miami Short Film Festival serves as a platform that provides a space for these young filmmakers to share their work with professionals and as a stepping stone for their future in the film industry. The Orphaned Starfish Foundation alongside We Make Movies feels proud of the students and their perseverance while working on this project.

If you feel inspired by this and all the OSF initiatives we encourage you to learn more about OSF at www.osf.org.