HBCU Project Announces 2nd Annual Film Competition on HIV and Violence

In honor of World AIDS Day 2012, The Wright Group (TWG) is excited to announce the Her Story Film Competition (HSFC) presented by Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW): The HBCU Project and the Partnership to Reduce Intimate Partner Violence and HIV initiative.

To enter the HSFC Contest, HBCU students are encouraged to go to http://www.herstoryfilms.com for the entry form and instructions. Qualifying films will be under 10 minutes in length. Submissions must be received by Friday, February 15, 2013. Grand Prize: $1,000.00. Any student at least 18 years of age who is currently enrolled at an HBCU with good standing is invited to submit a short film. EVAW staff and a committee of HBCU students, alumni and public health educators will determine semi-finalists for a panel of judges to review.

Among those judges to review the semi-final submissions are actress Wendy Raquel Robinson, who is best known for her role as Tasha Mack on BET’s top-rated series “THE GAME” and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Amazing Grace Conservatory (www.AmazingGraceConservatory.org). Joining her will be community advocate Shane Jenkins, Director of HIV/AIDS Programs and Social Efforts for the Magic Johnson Foundation (http://magicjohnson.com/foundation/).

The primary goal of the student film competition is to address the void and lack of digital public health educational tools, that focus specifically on the HIV/AIDS and violence against women for African-American college students (18-24 years of age).

In addition the film contest will serve as a professional development opportunity for HBCU students to develop themselves as future independent artist who are aspiring to become actors, filmmakers and directors.

“We are grateful to our student leaders, partners, sponsors and judges for their time and dedication to this film contest.” said Amelia Cobb, Founder and Director of Ending Violence Against Women. “I am also very excited about creating this opportunity for HBCU students and ultimately providing a national platform where their creativity, culture, stories and talent can be used for public health education by their peers.”

The HSFC is sponsored with partial funding support from two initiatives under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health (OWH): The Women’s Health and Wellness Initiative for Minority Institutions; and Prevention Education and AIDS-Related Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence. These multi-year efforts help to focus attention on health disparities of women and long-term health impact of violence against women.

For more information on ways to sign the NO VAW Pledge as public support for ending violence against women on HBCU campuses nationwide, visit www.hbcuendingviolence.com.

ABOUT EVAW

THE HBCU PROJECT.Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW): The HBCU Project is a call to action for HBCU students, administration, alumni and community partners to develop and documented plan of action to prevent and end all forms of violence against women on college campuses.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1vwYE), Photo Credit: PRNewsFoto/The Wright Group