Kerri Gawryn's documentary A Lovely Day takes NAHCC's Film Award at 44th Nashville Film Festival
Director of Photography Walter Lech and Director/Producer Kerri Gawryn at the Nashville Film Festival Red Carpet with NAHCC members. Wed. April 24th, 2013
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Nashville, Tennessee.- A Lovely Day, a film by Kerri Gawryn that documents nine youth from Oakland High School immersed in a six month Hip Hop music therapy workshop, has won the 2013 NAHCC Best Hispanic Interest Film Award at the 44th Nashville Film Festival.
Through her film, Oakland-based documentary director and producer Kerri Gawryn, chronicles the youth as they set out to make music that not only expresses their thoughts, but also builds a stronger community through widespread change and hope. The resiliency upheld by these teens' voices shows that they cannot be dismissed, that they are in fact some of our most important educators in a critical time of change.
The film also features social worker Tomas Alvarez, the founder of Beats Rhymes and Life, who pioneered a hip hop therapy program that utilized the process of creating rap music to promote behavioral health among teens. Alvarez says he created his first program during his first year in graduate school. Eight kids joined for 10 weeks, and they had 100 percent retention.
A Lovely Day's selection as the recipient of the 2013 award presented by the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was announced yesterday (April 24th) during The Nashville Film Festival Awards Ceremony at the Green House located in the heart of the Green Hills neighborhood in Nashville.
"It's such an honor for A Lovely Day to be recognized by the NAHCC, and to receive the Best Hispanic Interest Film Award at the 44th Nashville Film Festival. The Nashville Film Festival screenings have been the first outside of Oakland, California and it's especially meaningful to know that the film's participants, and their stories, can transcend ethnic and physical boundaries to connect with audiences here in Nashville" said documentary film director Kerri Gawryn.
Through her film, Oakland-based documentary director and producer Kerri Gawryn, chronicles the youth as they set out to make music that not only expresses their thoughts, but also builds a stronger community through widespread change and hope. The resiliency upheld by these teens' voices shows that they cannot be dismissed, that they are in fact some of our most important educators in a critical time of change.
The film also features social worker Tomas Alvarez, the founder of Beats Rhymes and Life, who pioneered a hip hop therapy program that utilized the process of creating rap music to promote behavioral health among teens. Alvarez says he created his first program during his first year in graduate school. Eight kids joined for 10 weeks, and they had 100 percent retention.
A Lovely Day's selection as the recipient of the 2013 award presented by the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was announced yesterday (April 24th) during The Nashville Film Festival Awards Ceremony at the Green House located in the heart of the Green Hills neighborhood in Nashville.
"It's such an honor for A Lovely Day to be recognized by the NAHCC, and to receive the Best Hispanic Interest Film Award at the 44th Nashville Film Festival. The Nashville Film Festival screenings have been the first outside of Oakland, California and it's especially meaningful to know that the film's participants, and their stories, can transcend ethnic and physical boundaries to connect with audiences here in Nashville" said documentary film director Kerri Gawryn.
Kerri Gawryn and Walter Lech after the first screening of her film A Lovely Day at the Nashville Film Festival - Tue. April 23, 2013
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Ted Crockett, Nashville Film Festival Exec.Dir. with Kerri Gawryn and Eva Angelina, NAHCC's YP Co-Chair Wed. April 24, 2013
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"A Lovely Day, opened our eyes to the importance of being creative in finding a collaborative approach to understand and solve the issues and challenges facing our youth across and beyond racial and socioeconomic lines. A truly 'fourth wall' experience that reminded us we were all there at one point of our life-journey, as we relate to the dreams and aspirations of all participants in the film" said Yuri Cunza, President and CEO of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and member of the Nashville Film Festival Board of Directors.
The 2013 Best Hispanic Interest Film Award includes an artistic prize specially created by Puerto Rico native, visual artist and music composer, Gil Veda.
Click HERE for a full list of the award winners at the Nashville Film Festival
The 2013 Best Hispanic Interest Film Award includes an artistic prize specially created by Puerto Rico native, visual artist and music composer, Gil Veda.
Click HERE for a full list of the award winners at the Nashville Film Festival
