A few weeks ago I put out a simple challenge. Find a small business in your city and tell their story.
What came back genuinely blew me away.
Real people. Real businesses. Real stories told by filmmakers who actually gave a damn. Bakeries, barbers, taco trucks, pottery villages, honey farms, record stores. All of it.
This is exactly what I hoped for when building this community. Not just a place for creators to grow, but a place where we use what we do best to actually make the world a little better.
And honestly? You all went further than I could've even imagined. 143 Businesses helped through our craft.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
CAMERA FILMMAKING
@vincentbenedik / 🇮🇩 Jakarta, Indonesia
@valentindibernardo / 🇫🇷 Reunion Island, France
@fromangus/ 🇬🇧 London, UK
Jordy / 🤳🏽 @_callmejordy / 🇮🇩 Bali, Indonesia
Jordy is a travel filmmaker that captured the local beauty of Bali, Indonesia. He highlighted the Sungai Watch, river warriors dedicated to the cleaning up plastic from the waters of Bali. This is such a different take on travel storytelling that I can appreciate so much for the sheer honesty and truth behind it. The different kinds of shots you implemented in this like the time-lapse river clean up were so clean and really helped push this story forward. I'm excited to see more from you!
Dérly Barajas / 🤳🏽 @derlyave / 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, CA, USA
CAB (aka Dérly & ULI ) features Paleteria El Paraiso, an ice cream shop that has been open since ‘79. This story highlights culture and hardwork, and honestly hit a soft spot for me. The short film title “The Push” symbolizes pushing the paleta carts, but also the grind to keep pushing through even when times are tough. Love the interview style and your creative decisions throughout. Such an amazing video that I encourage everyone to watch. And check out Paleteria El Parais located on Florence and Holmes in South Central Los Angeles.
MOBILE FILMMAKING
Jose Oh / 🤳🏽 @joseoh_ / 🇧🇷 São Paulo, Brazil
Kigiko / 🇧🇷 Arapiraca, Brasil
@jou.cut / 🇻🇪 Caracas, Venezuela
ALL FILMS
Jose Oh is a creator with roots in Korea and Brazil who highlighted his mom's Korean restaurant, Yun Food. This submission actually made me cry a bit, not going to lie to you. I think the way Jose told this story really brings you into their family's journey alongside them. From the cut out animations to the archived photos, I like that you got creative with telling a story so personal and heartwarming. This was a beautiful way to honor your mom's legacy and support in your life.
@Raulfgodoy / 🇲🇽 Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Zuni Isbor / 🤳🏽 @izjadine_ / 🇮🇪 Limerick, Ireland
Zuni Isbor is a Youtuber whose creativity blew me away with her submission! This is such a different, out-of-the-box take on this prompt and it was executed so well through the multiple angles and breaking the fourth wall. She highlighted Papa Obinna's, a bodega-style store Limerick, Ireland.
@capturedbysalam / 🇮🇹 Parma, Italy
@asherjonesfilms / 🇦🇺 Canberra, Australia
@ayothefilmmaker_ / 🇳🇬 Port Harcourt, Nigeria
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Jason Lau
Los Angeles, CA
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Yanni Bombardi
Brussels, Belgium
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Sam Rodriguez / @thevoyagervisions
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Disruption Productions
Ipswich, United Kingdom
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Washington DC, USA
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Tyler Aghas
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ADEOYE EMMANUEL / @mr_egal20
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Rohan Makhecha
Los Angeles, USA
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Jay Colon / @byjaycolon
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Carty
Berlin, Germany
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Kigiko
Arapiraca, Brasil
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Hodonu Mawuton
Lagos, Nigeria
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Ayodele Abraham / ayothefilmmaker
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Bluffton, SC, USA
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Daniel Ocampo / @daniocampo.orf
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Gwanda street vendors community
Gwanda, Zimbabwe
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Izzy (Isabel) Maust
Pinon Hills, USA
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Mark Lloyd Santiago / @marklloyd
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The Olive Grove Market - Gaborone, Botswana
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Manny Sampayan
Walnut Creek, CA / USA
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Gabe Saysombath
Fort Smith, USA
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Stockton, USA
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Olasubomi Awodipe
Huntsville, USA
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Muhammad Husen / @m.husen.iy
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Wonder Diya / @wonder_diya
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Kingsley Chioma Nwalozie
Hanoi, Vietnam
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Stephen Bynum / @isostephen
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Kitley Jewell/@kitley