This was going to be our first time together, in-person, in years. FilmAid was established in 1999, during the days of the Kosovo war as a way to help the crush of refugees seeking relief. Since then it has grown, and changed, continuously. And that’s what tonight felt like, a celebration of that magic that we sometimes forget is itself a journey to get where we are at this moment. Tonight was our rite of passage. FilmAid was not just 22, matured and established, but it was now an organization of global influence. 

As people approached the check-in table you could see eyes scanning for familiar faces, then with a visible glow, you see the smile of friends reunited. With the entrance crowded by handshakes and hugs we moved deeper into the venue with just a quick stop for our photo at the FilmAid & Internews backdrop. Of course, one photo quickly becomes multiple as friends crowd the booth to beam together. After some time enjoying conversations over hors d'oeuvres and light cocktails, our night, and our purpose for being present, had begun. 
 
FilmAid Founder Caroline Baron is a force majeure and the engine behind FilmAid’s 22 year history. As the night began she took us down a brief history of the journey leading to tonight, and paid respects to valued supporters who have passed in the recent months. 

She introduced us to FilmAid’s new Director, our new leader who exudes FilmAid’s mission. Gita Saedi Kiely masterfully wove together the journey described by Caroline with a vision for tomorrow. “We are now a global organization with projects happening in communities worldwide, with partnership and support from industry leaders like The Oscars (AMPAS) and Variety, and as part of Internews we have engagement in hundreds of communities across the globe.” She leans in closer to the microphone, “and this is just the beginning.” 
 
Indeed, FilmAid is now touching lives from Indigenous groups in Colombia who are creating short films that capture the experience of COVID 19 confinement and their use of traditional medicines, to The Republic of Georgia where FilmAid is hosting a documentary filmmaking camp. From Tanzania to Estonia, FilmAid is poised for explosive growth. 

The night continued with live and pre-recorded words of acceptance, gratitude, vision and support. Tim Blake Nelson opened the night, and our hearts, with homage to the value of the work that we do. Nhial Gatriek Deng, a 2020 graduate of the FilmAid training program, shared a pre-recorded video filled with excitement at having gone from FilmAid student to awardee. Mark Ruffalo shared an inspirational pre-recording dedicated to Ian Urbina friendship and accomplishments while Ian exuded humble gratitude as he accepted the Christopher Dickey Award for his groundbreaking work on The Outlaw Ocean Project. Emotions filled our hearts as we listened to Kati Marton clearly discuss the vision for her late husband’s Richard C. Holbrooke Humanitarian Award before handing the microphone over to Mariam Wardak. Mariam, receiving the award on behalf of the awardee, Sahraa Karimi, who was unable to attend in person, shared a poignant story of life as a woman under Taliban ruled Afghanistan, and how Sahraa was a steadfast defender of women and cinema until her last moments boarding an evacuation flight this August. Finally, the stage cleared of awards and awardees. 

In front of the podium now stood our final presenter, Jeanne Bourgault, Internews President and CEO. She shared the gratitude that all of us at Internews have for joining forces with FilmAid and thanked our host committee, corporate sponsors, and media partner. She was succinct, “with tenacity we have gotten here, and with tenacity we will go even further.”  

Maybe it was not seeing each other in person for so long, or perhaps it was the air of the semi-outdoor venue on a crisp Autumn night. Maybe it was the perfect mix of stories, humor, comradery and inspiration. Whatever the intersection of serendipitous details, some planned and some the result of a colluding universe, the 2021 FilmAid Annual Benefit was a tremendous success by every measure. 

Thank you for joining us for the FilmAid Annual Power of Film Benefit. We are grateful for your unwavering commitment and for being part of a dedicated community of supporters including you, our host committee, corporate sponsors, and media partner.