Flicks4Change Film Festival

Question 1: How did you get to where you are with Flicks4Change? What brought the idea of starting a nonprofit film festival for social change?

James answered, “I wanted to look at things happening in people’s lives that were transformational, and to me it was doing something of service that made me feel most alive." The films most certainly brought several social issues to life with the goal of uniting everyone through empathetic feelings regardless of their stand on controversial issues.

Question 2: Have you seen a positive impact resulting from these films?

“People have been so generous with their time and volunteering. If they have an area of expertise or service, they’re often donating it,” said James. Which, is something we saw first hand with all of the generous sponsors that helped bring Flicks4Change to the DC area including In A Perfect World, The Mother Earth Project, Halcyon house, and many more.

Question 3: What are your personal goals for this nonprofit?

“I would like the thing I’m most passionate about to also be the thing that can sustain me partially.”

As for the organization itself James stated that the most important thing was “To be able to keep our volunteer staff and employee around part time staff. They're doing incredible work and making tremendous sacrifice. Secondly is to turn flicks4change into a community that’s year round not just at our events."

Question 4: What brought you back to the DC area?

Getting deeper into his journey with how he ended up where he is, James explained, “I was born and raised here 22 years in Washington DC, went to school at University of Virginia and then my professional life took me on to Denver and then onto LA when I decided pursuing acting. But home is home."

At the end of the film presentations the audience had a chance to talk to all of the nonprofit representatives that were in attendance during the discussion panel.

Flicks4Change was co-hosted by Halcyon, who also presented the opening remarks of the night. Partners for the event included Care, Arlington Academy of Hope, Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, Mother Earth Project, goodweave, In a Perfect World, The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Charity: Water, and Creative Visions.