FilmAid USA Gulf Coast
Last year for the first time in the organization's history, FilmAid undertook a relief effort in the United States on behalf of families displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. FilmAid's involvement with the disaster's evacuees began in December of 2005 when it joined forces with Turner Classic Movies to present two screenings of the film MAKE IT FUNKY! to Baton Rouge, a community which doubled in size following the hurricanes, and to the Groom Road FEMA Trailer community, the largest of the FEMA trailer parks for New Orleans evacuees. The outdoor screenings of the film, a documentary which honors the vibrant musical history of New Orleans, were preceded by a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, vintage cartoons, and performances by local evacuee musicians, some of whom were featured in the movie.
Last April, FilmAid collaborated with Listen Up! and other local and national organizations such as AnimAction, and Louisiana State University to start a project for Katrina's young evacuees, in which they were able to express their thoughts and feelings about the disaster through animation. Many participants in the program went on to partake in the Red Stick International Animation Festival which featured animated short films of youth from New Orleans and Baton Rouge who were all affected in some way by the hurricane. Students who participated in the festival had the opportunity to hear speakers from Walt Disney and Pixar Studios. FilmAid also plans to show the animated shorts at the Kahuma camp in Kenya for Sudanese and other refugee youths, who share the experience of the displacement.
No Place Like Home: A Youth Video Exchange Project
(Late April in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) read more…
"It's a way to approach a serious topic in a fun kind of way. People need closure and need to lighten up. We've been heavy laden for months at a time - we need some of this to lighten us up."
~ Stephanie Griffin, Scotlandville school teacher and New Orleans evacuee"We haven't told our story since last year. This is the first time the kids were laughing about everything. Their feelings weren't the same as last year."
~ Participating teacher