About: Witness a conversation about identity crisis and how the pressure to succeed plagues athletes when removed from the sport. Watch as former NFL Colts cornerback, D’joun Smith, as he tells his story for the first time in group therapy.

Director Jamar Jones

I’m JaMar Jones- and yes the “M” is capital. I’m a West Baltimore native- and in middle school, I used to cut school with my cousins and we pawned our game systems to buy a VHS camcorder. We would break into abandoned houses nearby and film scenes we thought were funny. Not long after that my cousin passed away and that part of my life was gray for a long time. I decided to invest my energy into music.

I was a DJ and music producer for a long time. After working in the radio industry I quickly learned that this is an impending dead-end for what I want with my art and career. I was approached by a rep for Red Bull North America who needed help on the campus of an HBCU looking for students of color to participate in a program. I listened to the guy talk for a min then he invited me to Towson, a PWI not too far from my school Morgan State University. He offered me the opportunity to make a documentary. At the moment I didn't know what a doc was or the first place to begin creating one. However, I accepted the challenge. Because of that clear decision being made, I believe that God was like, “Ok bet”.

Shortly after I declared this was something I was going to put energy into. The rep from Red Bull gave me $1,300 worth of editing software for free. It gets better. A friend from college was moving and decided to give me his Mac Pro Tower for free. One more thing. My mother who has never spent more than she needed to for anything and has made it abundantly clear that “we ain't got it” wrote me a check for $700 to buy a professional DV camera. I was reminded of my love for filmmaking and from that moment I knew I was called to do this.

About: In this captivating and visually stunning documentary, we embark on an inspiring journey alongside Richard Wilks –a multimedia sculptor– as he undergoes a remarkable transformation. Beginning as a 2D graphic designer, he dares to venture into uncharted territory, where his artistic evolution takes the form of colossal 3D sculptures meticulously crafted from repurposed materials.

This artist's odyssey transcends the boundaries of conventional creativity. It's a profound exploration, not only of his craft but of his very essence. Through his work, we witness the raw power of self-expression as he channels his deepest thoughts and emotions into every piece. The act of creation becomes a therapeutic release, a catharsis that allows him to confront his inner demons and celebrate his triumphs.

Yet, beyond the personal, this journey becomes a universal tale of the unbridled freedom to create art that resonates with the world. As he delves into his craft, we see how his sculptures evolve to embody his most profound views and passions. Each piece becomes a poignant reflection of the artist's convictions, a visual narrative that speaks to the hearts of all who encounter his work.

Through moments of frustration and elation, setbacks, and breakthroughs, this documentary immerses us in the life of an artist who dares to follow his creative instincts, forging a path to artistry that is as therapeutic as it is transformative. It's a testament to the enduring power of human expression and the boundless potential of art to inspire and heal.

Director Simone Staff

As long as she can remember, Simone has been exposed to all kinds of wilderness. From sailing or surfing in the vast Pacific to frolicking through the deserts of California, running up rolling hills in New Zealand, and exploring reefs in the Coral Triangle, she has loved adventure within the outdoor medium. And—she has done all of these exploratory missions with camera in hand, via still photography and videography, documenting special and fleeting moments that are always occurring around her.

Simone strives to always push herself to work harder, travel further, and constantly create new ways of capturing an image that portrays her close relationship with the planet, its wildlife, and how the human species interacts with it. Simone strives to show the Earth and its many forms of people through unique perspectives and stunning imagery. Through her travels around the globe, she has met incredible and inspirational people, allowing her to capture the way they live. Simone continues to shoot, document, and travel to try and make a difference on our only planet in the fashion and action sports worlds.

About: Southside, the tobacco growing epicenter of Virginia since the Antebellum South. Cash Crop tells the story of life-long Lunenburg County farmer Cecil Shell, and his work to hold on to the tradition of agriculture, which his family has been cultivating on the same land for generations, all while working within a now present time that's changing the use of land to solar facilities, and leading his community to a place of preserving history while embracing the future.

Director- Lorenzo William Dickerson

Lorenzo Dickerson is a documentary filmmaker from Charlottesville, Virginia who focuses his work on telling stories of African American history and culture.

His 2022 film "Raised/Razed" earned an Emmy Award for Best Documentary - historical, as well as 2 Telly Awards. His films are used as teaching tools in K-12 and university classrooms across the country, have played in numerous film festivals, and broadcast nationwide on PBS.

Lorenzo is a member of the board at Charlottesville’s Paramount Theater, VPM’s Community Advisory Board, Preservation Piedmont, and the St. John Rosenwald School. He is a 2022 Community Fellow at the Equity Center at the Univesity of Virginia and received the 2018 Community Leadership Award from the Greater Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce.

About: An intimate look at the journey of professional athlete Cal Calamia, a transgender marathon runner who's advocating for inclusion in the running world.

This short documentary delves into Cal's journey, from their upbringing in a conservative suburb to their decision to come out as transmasculine and begin hormone therapy. It explores Cal's profound struggles with mental health and how they ultimately found the support necessary to survive and eventually go on to dominate the nonbinary category in major marathons, as well as become an advocate for transgender rights .

This film is part of the #WellBeings "Out of the Dark" docuseries showcasing the inspiring personal stories of influential youth activists in the mental health space. Each episode takes an in depth look at the struggles each overcame, the impact of their work, and their continued mental health journeys. Learn more at https://wellbeings.org/outofthedark

Director Biography - Tom Mason, Sarah Klein

Redglass Pictures has excelled in creating cinematic short-form documentaries and site-specific media installations for nearly two decades lead by Sarah Klein and Tom Mason.At Redglass, we hold a deep reverence for the art of storytelling and firmly believe in its profound and lasting influence on individuals and communities. Our experience has taught us a fundamental truth: films do not need to be long to make a significant impact.Throughout our careers, we have been unwavering in our commitment to distilling significant stories and ideas into poignant short-form films and media experiences that resonate profoundly with our audiences.Sarah Klein (she/they)Redglass co-founder Sarah Klein is an award-winning producer and director. Her early credits include the HBO documentary, Hard as Nails and the Arte film, The Good Mother. Redglass Pictures was formed in 2006 and since then, Klein has co-directed and produced many notable projects, including History of Memory for HP, and a series of short films for Ken Burns’ Cancer:

The Emperor of Maladies, which won a DuPont Award. Among the many hats she wears at Redglass, Klein leads creative development and production. She has had the honor of interviewing: The Obamas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Kerry, Michael Chabon, Warren Buffett, and JJ Abrams, to name a few.

Tom Mason (he, him)

Tom Mason is the co-founder of Redglass, and in addition to co-directing and producing films with Klein, also serves as the principal of photography and post production. Mason’s cinematic approach to shorts comes from his deep roots in film and still photography, which he studied at Syracuse University. After receiving an Alexia Grant, Mason spent a year documenting the world of Russian adoption agencies. Some the projects he has co-directed at Redglass include George Saunders: On Story and Ken Burns: On Story with the Atlantic, and How To Win An Election for The New York Times.

About: Amid growing political tensions and rising incidents of violence between America's far right and far left, groups like the Socialist Rifle Association have taken shape. These groups are carving out new spaces in American gun culture, aiming to serve communities - particularly BIPOC and queer/trans folx - that have not historically felt welcome in the traditionally right-dominated firearms community.

Directed by Will Allen-DuPraw

Will Allen-DuPraw is a photojournalist and documentarian based in the DC area. He recently finished his Master’s degree in New Media Photojournalism at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design in May, 2023. During his undergrad years at Brown University, he created his own major, called Visual Storytelling. After a 2-year stint in Santa Cruz, California, he moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where he built a career in commercial video production. While he still enjoys commercial work, he has since moved back to his hometown of Takoma Park, MD, and is committed to the path of visual journalism and documentary photo/video projects.

About: Legendary visual artist Nancy Burson sparked a technological revolution by using computer morphing techniques to blend art and science, but claims she didn’t do it alone. The complex truth behind Nancy's beliefs and how they shaped her career evokes questions about the nature of creation and of reality itself.

Director Anthony Werhun

Anthony Werhun is a seasoned filmmaker who has dedicated his career to shedding light on the untold struggles and captivating stories of humanity. His work, which spans across the globe, is fueled by his belief in the power of film to reveal aspects of life that often go unnoticed. Before joining NFL Films and later Cornerstone Pictures, Anthony directed two award-winning documentary shorts. At Cornerstone, he has directed hundreds of commercials and documentary projects. His most notable works include Comcast’s “Voices of The Civil Rights Movement” and the feature documentary “James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen”.Anthony's work has been recognized by the Emmy Awards, the Telly Awards, and the James Beard Media Awards, among others. His passion lies in using visual storytelling to bring difficult and significant stories to the forefront.