Three of our rising senior Media Technology Stars were honored earlier this month in New York City at the annual Speak Truth to Power video competition presented by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. The contest featured six student films from middle school, high school, and college students, and encouraged content that featured key human rights issues through creative storytelling.
The videos were judged by a panel of film industry experts, actors, and educators, and featured topics ranging from abortion access to youth incarceration. The Speak Truth to Power competition was created in partnership with the American Federation of Teachers and the Tribeca Festival with finalists from student submissions across the country.
Ann Richards School Class of 2025 students Qiu Li T., Ellison M., and Roswell G. received the 2024 Grand Prize for their piece, “Don’t Mess With Texas: An Abortion Story,” highlighting the fallout of sweeping abortion bans in Texas as it relates to women’s healthcare in emergencies. The video features interviews with a local politician and OB/GYN, as well as Amanda Zurawski, a Texas woman who faced a life-threatening medical crisis after being denied access to an abortion.
Earlier this year, their documentary was awarded the Nobelity Project Social Impact Award, made it to the University Interscholastic League’s 2024 State Film Festival, and received the Best Student Documentary Short at Screen ATX: Austin’s International Film Festival.
Roswell and Ellison in NYC (not pictured: Qiu Li)
Roswell and Ellison in NYC (not pictured: Qiu Li)
Qiu Li, Ellison, and Roswell with Media Technology teacher Roger Soden at UIL State