The Ubuntu Climate Initiative is the call from our ancestors to return balance to our environment. For we are listening to the ancient ones and wisdom keepers. We are sensing into the present and leaning to the future by inviting new cultural creative story-tellers who already know and envision this beautiful collective. We can and will rewrite the story that calls us forth to a new way of being. Our greatest act of love and contribution is to steward Mother Earth's regeneration, heal our communities, re-story our current consumer-based, ego centered world-view to the story that understands and celebrates interdependence, cooperation and interspecies harmony. We reclaim our Afro-descendent and Pan-indigenous practices and knowledge to help this vision seed and grow. For we are an ancient mycelial network of leadership, talent knowledge and community. We have been here for a long time. We are ready!

The contest: "I am,because we are", is a storytelling contest for entry level filmmakers to showcase exceptional stories within their communities that reunite people and planet in communal ways while remembering the past to move forward. This is a national call for entry level creatives to showcase work that builds resiliency in local economies along with cultural responses to unsustainable economic growth, production, and consumption that drives climate change in communities.

Pick up your small or large device and press record! There are stories all around you waiting to be told.

Winners will be announced during an awards show hosted by Open Signal Portland Community Media to be held in person and streamed live online once winners are selected.

* Awards show date subject to change*

Awards & Prizes

Cash Prizes awarded for First, Second and Third in each category

First Place: $10,000

Second Place: $5,000

Third Place: $2,500

Five Honorable Mentions: $500

Rules & Terms

All participants are required to review the rules and guidelines before entering the competition. By entering, "I am, because we are", you acknowledge that you have read and understood the following rules of entry, including eligibility and submission requirements. You also give Open Signal Portland Community Media permission to broadcast accepted submissions on their local cable channels in Portland, Oregon. All participants and contestants retain rights to their video but upon entry to Ubuntu, " I Am Because We Are." entrant grants The Ubuntu Climate Initiative the right to display, or distribute the entry on their Social Media Platforms. The Ubuntu Climate Initiative will attribute any derivative work to the contestant.

All contestants agree that they, their heirs and estates shall release, indemnify, and hold harmless The Ubuntu Climate Initiative and Open Signal Portland Community Media as well as all their employees, agents, representatives successors, etc. from all losses, claims, theft, demands, liabilities, causes of actions, or expenses, known or unknown, arising out of you participation in this contest.

Do not include other videos or music in your video without permission. Submitting an entry, all entrants warrant that they have obtained consent from persons who appear or voice is heard in the submissions.

Finalists will be notified by email or phone on or about March 15,2024 and shall be required to complete a publicity release and such other documents as may be required by the Ubuntu Climate Initiative and Open Signal Portland Community Media to protect its right to air and use the winning entries.

Award recipients will be responsible for taxes on prize money.

Submissions that do not comply with the following rules and guidelines will be disqualified

1. Entries that are currently in any form of commercial distribution are not eligible for entry. All entires must be in non-commercial distribution to be considered entry level/amateur.

2. Content must not exceed 10 minutes in duration.

3. Content must be produced within the last three years.

4. One submission per individual, production team, and/or producer.

5. Submissions only accepted on FilmFreeway.

6. All entries must be submitted no later than March 15, 2024 at 11:59pm (PST)

7. Content must be original work of the individual, team or have legal rights for use.

8. Submission may only be entered into one category. (Will be disqualified if multiple categories are chosen.)

9. Must reside in the United States to enter

10. Accepted file types for submission: .mov, .mpg, .mp4 at 1920 x 1080 resolution

11. Links accepted via Youtube, Vimeo or other permalinked video hosting web service.

12. Must be over the age of 18.

DISQUALIFICATION

Entries will be disqualified if:

1. Judges are unable to access private link, or for any other technical reason. Judges will attempt to view on at least 2 machines before disqualifying. Please double check your entries!

2. An entry clearly violates a specific requirement of the category in which it is entered.

3. Entry was used for Commercial gain.

4. Misuse of copyrighted material. If questioned you will be asked to supply proof that you have the right to use material.

5. Submission not in proper format

6. Submission exceeds maximum duration

2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • antwan williams

    I loved this entire experience. It felt so welcoming, and I am so happy to have been a part of this community.

    April 2024
    Helpful
  • Mela Miles

    What a great festival! It was a great learning experience. Sharing stories expands our horizon. The indigenous stories, all of the stories ...the time travel. The principle of UBUNTU and the Sankofa bird,,,, Look back, reflect, fetch what you need and move forward, this festival hit the marks!! Well Done!!

    April 2024
    Helpful