Get to know our Rising Stars 🌟

Meet our Rising Stars, check out how we’re honoring our ancestors, and more. [View Online]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Forward]( Hi there, We made it to the end of 2022! This month, we’re excited to introduce you to three brilliant Participants who have recently been recognized by the creative industry for their impressive achievements at a young age. We sat down with Rosalina, Rory, and Amanda to get to know them better. This holiday season, we want to invite you to participate in our #DESCENDANTChallenge on social media to honor and remember our ancestors. And if you’re looking for a great film to watch with your family, check out [LOWNDES COUNTY AND THE ROAD TO BLACK POWER]( available now on [Prime Video]( and [Apple TV](. Through our stories and campaigns, this year we waved our flag for some of the world’s most pressing issues, including refugee rights, environmental justice, and institutional responsibility, among others.Thank you for watching, and most of all, thank you for being a Participant in the fight for justice. Wishing you and yours a peaceful New Year, – Your fellow Participants [Rising Stars - IMAGE]( Q+A with Amanda, Rory, Rosalina: Rising Stars Our own Amanda Hillsberg Arya and Rory Thost were both recently named [Insider's Rising Stars]( of the entertainment business: young standouts who are creating powerful storytelling for today’s audiences. Meanwhile, Rosalina Jowers was awarded [ADCOLOR’s Rising Star]( an up-and-comer under the age of 30 whose “brilliance, determination and shining personality makes them stand out as a leader.” Huge congrats to all three! (Interview continued on [our website]( Q. Can you tell us your job title and what it actually means? ROSALINA: My role is the Director of Communications & Film Marketing. I support the strategy development and execution of our film and impact campaigning. In collaboration with our partners, our team identifies opportunities to creatively amplify the artistry of our filmmakers and the advocacy efforts of our partners. RORY + AMANDA: We’re Directors of Documentary Film, overseeing creative development and new projects for the documentary feature slate. A typical day can include reviewing new material, watching each version of our films as they progress to completion, taking pitches, participating in film forums and looking over our slate of films with the rest of our incredibly talented doc team. We’re a small group and we work together to support our films all the way from development to release. Q. Participant’s films always seem to ‘see around the corner’ on the world’s most pressing issues. How do you see these stories contributing to positive change? ROSALINA: Progress has come from the tireless efforts of people - from Chairman Fred Hampton to Vice President Al Gore - fighting to tell the truth about our history, present and future. These stories have shifted the narrative around whose voice matters and what justice looks like, creating opportunities to rewrite the future for generations to come. RORY + AMANDA: When evaluating projects, we’re often looking to explore stories beyond the news cycle, systemic problems to be brought to light. This allows for a meaningful longevity within the relevance of the project. While we try to “see around the corner”, we also examine issues that have been in plain sight for quite some time. Documentary is a medium that deals with real-world problems and the potential to blend film and journalism, lending these films to impact. We trust our filmmakers to build meaningful stories that make audiences see their world in a different way. The film becomes a tool to make an audience think - what can I do now? That essential question is the first step towards real-world impact. [READ MORE]( [Descendant Challenge Image]( It's Time To Honor Our Ancestors Join our #DESCENDANTChallenge on social media This holiday season, we're giving people a chance to honor their ancestors by sharing photos, stories, recipes, songs, or places that hold special meaning to their family. Check the [Participant Instagram]( through the end of the year for prompts, inspiring stories, and a few surprise cameos from influential community members. We hope you’ll join in and take this opportunity to bring your family closer together. In partnership with the Black genealogy organization Kinkofa, we’re also excited to launch the new “Rememory” platform which allows folks to preserve oral histories by providing interview prompts that people can use to record their own family stories. You’ll be surprised at what you learn if you just start asking questions. [CHECK IT OUT]( [Headlines + Highlights] [Climate activists – Image]( Lightning Round! Fast Art & Impact From December - You’ve probably read about [climate activists throwing food]( at famous paintings. Whether these publicity stunts are having the intended effect [remains controversial]( but museums are paying the price for [rising insurance costs](. - At last month’s [COP27 United Nations Climate Change Conference]( artists used their creativity to move heads of state into action. Some of the artworks included an interactive “heaven and hell” exhibit, and tiny vials filled with human tears and algae. - Artist/Activist Nan Goldin’s retrospective on love, intimacy, addiction and loss, [“This Will Not End Well”]( opened last month in Stockholm and continues through 2025 in different European cities. Like this email? [Forward to a friend]( or share on [Facebook]( or [Twitter](. Feedback? Reply and let us know what you think. Participants wanted. You are not a viewer. These are your stories. You are a Participant. [GET INVOLVED]( Participant is the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, Participant's content combines the power of a good story well told with opportunities for real-world impact and awareness around the most pressing global issues of our time. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [Instagram]( [ABOUT US]( // [PRIVACY POLICY]( // [TERMS OF SERVICE]( // [UNSUBSCRIBE]( © Copyright 2022 Participant, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by: Participant 3520 Wesley St Culver City, CA, 90232,