Please join us for our Community Voices Documentary Film Screening on Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in Folino Theater, Marion Knott Studios. A Q&A with the filmmakers and a reception to follow. Seating is first come.

Community Voices is a social issue documentary film program that links Chapman University documentary film students with Orange-County based organizations. Each semester, groups of students produce short character-driven portrait films that highlight causes the partner organizations aim to serve. The films are then used in the outreach and fundraising campaigns of these organizations, and are distributed via PBS broadcast, online streaming, educational distributors, and festival release. Community Voices films have won numerous festival awards and accolades, and have been seen by tens of thousands of television viewers in Southern California. Please join us as we celebrate these students and partner organizations. The screening will be followed by a panel with the filmmakers and a reception featuring delicious, FREE food.

This year’s documentaries and partner organizations include the following:

BLACK SHEEP by Rachel Lattin, Tom Aijan, Emily Biehl, and Tori Edgar
Organization: Our Father’s Table
After the loss of his wife, Jerry Clark found himself in a downward spiral; now he has to battle physical, emotional, and spiritual trials that come from over a decade of homelessness.

CURIOUS KALEO by Judie Muhrez, Shana Kheradyar, Dylan McGale, and Tara Salvesen
Organization: Giving Children Hope 
Years after surviving all medical expectations, fifteen-year-old Kaleo utilizes fantasy and art to understand his reality and attempt a life of normalcy.

DEMPSEY THE DIABETIC SUPERHERO by Greyson Horst, Rocky Pajarito, Kendall Goldberg, and Caroline Roffe
Organization: American Diabetes Association, Orange County
Meet Dempsey Foxson — a spunky, 10-year-old competitive gymnast who refuses to let her Type 1 Diabetes affect her dreams.

EVERYTHING WAS HAPPINESS (Todo Fue Felicidad) by Murphy Studebaker, Leon Dominguez-Lukic, Jenna Vaccaro, and Hailey Millar
Organization: Padres Unidos
A family struggles to temper grief with hope following the incarceration of their eldest son.

HAVEN by Melina Coto, Blair Pennington, Perry Wasserman, and Anna Wozniewicz
Organization: Horse Nation
Elizabeth struggles to gain the trust of Titan, an abused horse who expects pain from every human touch.

HIDDEN LIFE by Ethan Stupp, Aaron Kohn, Brianna Brinzo, Hannah Mattner, and Kat Satter
Organization: Ocean Institute
An exploration of the controversy behind the “rigs to reefs” program, which allows decommissioned oil rigs to stay in the ocean and become artificial reefs.

With many thanks to The Dhont Family Foundation for their generous support of the Community Voices initiative.