We want YOU to join our movement for economic and racial justice and spread the word about the I AM 2018 campaign. Bring YOUR story, YOUR experience and YOUR unique perspective to this historic dialogue.

The I AM 2018 campaign commemorates the 50th anniversary of a watershed moment in the fight for labor and civil rights.

In 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to join striking African American sanitation workers who demanded fair wages and safe working conditions. After two sanitation workers were crushed to death on the job, 1,300 of their union brothers went on strike to demand dignity and respect. Alongside community allies and members of the clergy, the sanitation workers marched in the streets for weeks, carrying placards that asserted their humanity: “I AM A MAN.” Less than 24 hours after delivering his iconic “Mountaintop Speech” to strikers and supporters at COGIC’s Mason Temple, he was gunned down on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel.

Videos should inspire a call to action to continue the fight for justice for all working people. There is a preference towards personal stories that illuminate how the legacy of Dr. King and the striking sanitation workers is still relevant today.

Winning videos will be judged by prominent industry professionals, including Hans Charles, cinematographer of Ava DuVernay’s Oscar nominated documentary, 13th; Dorian Parks, co-founder of Geeks of Color and award winning filmmakers Madeleine Hunt Erlich and Shahin Izadi.

The IAM 2018 campaign is sponsored by The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and The Church of God in Christ (COGIC). On April 2-4, 2018, AFSCME, the Church of God in Christ, alongside civil, human and workers’ rights leaders and activists will gather in Memphis for a series of events honoring Dr. King’s legacy, and the courage and sacrifice of the sanitation workers.

Awards & Prizes

The winning videos will be used as part of the I AM 2018 campaign's major online ad campaign initiative, reaching thousands of viewers across the country leading up to the April 2-4 events in Memphis. The winner will have the option to receive a $1,000 grant OR a trip to Memphis in April to participate in the I AM 2018 activities, with transportation and lodging expenses paid. The winning video(s) will also play at the Mason Temple in Memphis, TN on April 3rd as part of the Mountaintop Conference.

In the case of a group submission, the winning team will have the option of either: (a) receiving a $1,000 grant (shared among the group); OR (b) one representative from the winning team may attend the I AM 2018 activities, with transportation and lodging expenses paid for that one representative.

Rules & Terms

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT, PLEASE INCLUDE THE NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY IN YOUR APPLICATION.

All entrants must be 18 years or older. The filmmaker represents and warrants that they own, control or have obtained all rights (including, without limitation, all copyrights) in and to any and all submitted content. The filmmaker retains all of his, her, or their existing rights in the submitted content, but hereby grants to AFSCME, without charge, a perpetual, unlimited, worldwide license to and distribute such submitted content. Submissions are free. All videos must be submitted no later than 11:59pm EST on March 9, 2018 on the FilmFreeway website according to the submission guidelines on the FilmFreeway site.

Terms and Conditions:

By submitting a video, the filmmaker verifies that they have read and understood these rules and to the best of their knowledge, all statements in the film are true. AFSCME reserves the right to disqualify any submission. All accepted submissions may be screened and posted at AFSCME's discretion. The filmmaker hereby indemnifies, defends, releases, discharges, and holds harmless AFSCME, its affiliated organizations, connected organizations, subordinate bodies, partners, officers, employees, agents, members, assignees and licensees (collectively, the "Released Parties"), from any and all liability or claims arising out of or in any way resulting from their submission or in any aspect or phase thereof. In addition, the filmmaker agrees to indemnify AFSCME and each of the Released Parties and to hold each of them harmless from any and all liability, claim, action, damage, expense, and loss of any kind (including outside attorney's fees) caused by or arising out of AFSCME's use of the submission. Without in any way limiting the foregoing, in no event shall the filmmaker have any right to seek injunctive or other equitable relief against any of the Released Parties.

Upon submission, the filmmaker grants to AFSCME, without charge, the rights necessary to use their submission (including, without limitation, in advertisements, promotions and publicity), in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, for any purpose, throughout the universe in perpetuity. The filmmaker also grants AFSCME the right to utilize images and/or biographical information of the filmmakers for promotional purposes and agrees to provide any additional images and/or biographical information as requested by AFSCME. By submitting, the filmmaker expressly acknowledges and agrees that they shall be bound by the terms of this agreement. AFSCME shall have the unrestricted right to edit submissions in any manner or form. Foreign language films must include English subtitles.

There is no limit on entries submitted per person. Group submissions are accepted, but if a group submission wins then transport and lodging expenses will be paid only for one representative from the group. By participating, you agree to be fully and unconditionally bound by these rules, and you represent and warrant that you meet the eligibility requirements and give AFSCME the rights to use your video in all promotional material.