An Update From the IndieFlix Foundation
What are you most thankful for this year?
We are thankful for the good work and positive impact of the IndieFlix Foundation which raises funds to bring social impact programs to underserved schools. This year their big focus has been anxiety in schools. Here’s a little more about IndieFlix Foundation from founder Scilla Andreen.
I believe film is one of the most powerful mediums on the planet and we at the Foundation feel stories can have positive, life-changing impact when followed up with conversation. I’d like to share a little bit about what we do and what we support at IndieFlix Foundation. As we pulled the data to share with you I found myself in awe of how much has been accomplished this year; thanks to generous gifts, support, introductions, feedback and the hard work of many who assist in getting the word out. We are seeing and feeling the positive impact the projects we support are having in schools and communities across the country as well as abroad. They are reaching kids as young as 7 years old and seniors who are discovering for the first time that what they’ve felt their whole lives has a name; it’s called anxiety and it’s treatable.
Finding Kind a film about girl bullying has almost completed it’s 14th Founders Tour. Angst has booked school screenings spanning 20 countries and we just held test screenings of LIKE, a documentary about the impact of social media on our lives. Lastly, we’ve just created and launched the Creative Coping Toolkit (CCT), an interactive companion program designed to normalize and easily keep the conversation going about anxiety, social media challenges, digital addiction and mindfulness in schools and at home.
This year some of the projects we have supported have a combined reach of over 600K students and families as young as 7 years old. Thanks to you, we are changing lives for the better. These projects model conversations about mental health, bullying and empowerment. They teach coping tools, share resources and ultimately open hearts and minds to build a stronger social, emotional community.
Below is a brief update of some of the projects we have supported.
Thank you and happiest of holidays.
Scilla Andreen
Founder IndieFlix Foundation & the IndieFlix Foundation Board
Finding Kind Still Screening in Hundreds Of Schools
In October, Finding Kind a documentary about girl bullying embarked on it's 14th Founders Assembly Tour with filmmakers Lauren Paul and Molly Thompson. Since 2009, Finding Kind has had thousands of screenings around the world. This was the first project we supported and its mind-boggling to think here we are 8 years later and Finding Kind is still having an impact in schools around the world. It's a testament to Lauren and Molly and their dedication to help eradicate bullying through their foundation Kind Campaign.
Watch the Finding Kind Trailer
Angst (2017) One Year 1000 School Screenings
In just one year, Angst a documentary about raising awareness about anxiety has been booked in almost 1000 schools and communities in 20 countries. Recently, Angst was featured at the Mill Valley Film Festival to kick off their year-round educational programming in schools. We have received calls and emails sharing stories of how Angst has helped to improve the lives of some children and provided more understanding of teen suicide. We will be posting some of these stories on our website in the coming weeks as we clear it with the families to share.
Here's a snapshot of a recent survey of 2950 people across the country:
Gender 70.3% female, 28.3% male,1.4% other
53.4% students, 28.1% educators/counselors, 18.5% parents
80.6% believe anxiety is on the rise
96.8% think watching Angst could be helpful for teens
58.5% would be more open to talking about anxiety after watching Angst.
For full survey results please visit angstmovie.com
LIKE (2018) Are We Addicted To Social Media?
LIKE (47 min) takes an in depth look at the impact of social media on our lives and what we can do to create more balance. Through interviews of kids, parents, educators and experts including Facebook "Like" button co-creator, Leah Pearlman, LIKE delves into what's really going on in the world of social media. Psychologist and author, Dr. Joe Dilley says in response to LIKE,
"...I am shocked at how moved, upset, and compelled to act I feel as a result of having seen this documentary. That LIKE will inspire you is an understatement. Quite simply, it's the most important film I've ever seen."
Thank you Dr. Dilley, we love your quote. For the full review please visit
Screenagers launched in 2016 and the website states more than 5,000 schools, community groups, churches, synagogues, mosques, and companies have hosted screenings in communities all over the globe. Congratulations Dr. Delaney Ruston on creating such a groundbreaking film.
Watch the Screenagers Trailer
The Bully Factor Coming (2019)
The Bully Factor addresses how bystanders can fuel bullying. They also have the power to eradicate it. The Bully Factor explores cyber-bullying, bullying amongst friends, families, co-workers and the brain science behind it all. The film and series highlights new laws and programs already reducing bullying in schools and shows us how we can all make a difference. Appropriate for ages 10+
Release is slated for Fall 2019 and will be the newest addition to the arsenal of social, emotional impact films we support to create positive, solution-focused change in the world.
Read more about The Bully Factor
About us: IndieFlix Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that promotes and supports social impact films to create social change in the world. We maintain a roster of several film projects. Some are in the early stages of development or production, while others are completed and available for public screenings. Once the films are completed, we support the screening of them year-round in public settings for communities across the United States. In most cases, we work with K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and community-based organizations to screen these films for their students, parents, and other appropriate populations. And while some schools and organizations can afford to pay for the full cost of a screening (which includes use of IFF’s curriculum materials as well as facilitation support for Q&A sessions with attendees), many – especially those serving low-income communities – cannot. IndieFlix Foundation uses grant funding and individual donations to help subsidize the costs and make screenings free to these schools and organizations.
https://www.indieflixfoundation.org/
