About

Free Speech Film Festival

Designed to showcase today’s Free Speech Movement (and empower youth with its history) American INSIGHT invites filmmakers to join the global revolution by submitting films about Free Speech, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law to the FREE SPEECH FILM FESTIVALTM.

As they express themselves, or give a voice to the oppressed, American INSIGHT encourages filmmakers to consider what Free Speech, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law mean to them.

One FREE SPEECH AWARD-winning film is selected each year and showcased in perpetuity on www.AmericanINSIGHT.org.  In addition, the winning filmmaker is interviewed on camera, and their film is featured on the FREE SPEECH NEWSFEED, the FREE SPEECH BLOG, and all of American INSIGHT’s social media outlets throughout the year.

Five other films from around the globe that are submitted to the FREE SPEECH FILM FESTIVALTM through FilmFreeway  (the world’s premier film festival site) are chosen as “Official Selections,” and their trailers are also featured on American INSIGHT’s websites and social media outlets for a period of one year.

American INSIGHT’s FREE SPEECH FILM FESTIVALTM is unique in several respects:

  • From the final six “Official Selection” films, we select and promote one FREE SPEECH AWARD-winning film and give recognition and exposure to that film on our FREE SPEECH STORYLINE in perpetuity.
  • Five other “Official Selection” films receive publicity on our websites and social media outlets for a period of one year.
  • Filmmakers who submit their films to the FREE SPEECH FILM FESTIVAL are allowed to judge other films that have been submitted that year without paying a judge’s fee.
  • We award a cash prize of $1,000, invite the FREE SPEECH AWARD-winning filmmaker to Philadelphia, and video the Award Ceremony for inclusion in the FREE SPEECH ARCHIVES.
  • We focus exclusively on deepening the understanding of Free Speech, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law, with the goal of promoting and preserving those principles worldwide.
  • We promote all six FREE SPEECH AWARD-winning films (and their trailers) on all of American INSIGHT’s social media outlets for a period of one year.
  • We include high-visibility speakers to promote the personal and political importance Free Speech, and to enhance the reputation of the winning film and its filmmaker.
  • The Moderator of American INSIGHT’s annual FREE SPEECH AWARD Ceremony is former NBC News London Bureau Chief and CNN New York Bureau Chief, Karen Curry.

The FREE SPEECH AWARD Ceremony provides an opportunity for filmmakers to supplement their film with their own personal story.  Filmmakers share what Free Speech means to them with the global community.

The winning film is linked in perpetuity to American INSIGHT’s interactive educational FREE SPEECH STORYLINE, which traces the history of individuals who fought for their rights back to the signing of the Magna Carta in England in 1215.

The winner of American INSIGHT’s 2012 FREE SPEECH AWARD was “Free China: The Courage to Believe” directed by Michael Perlman and produced by Kean Wong.  This was the film’s first award.  The film has since won eight other festivals, and been screened by governments around the world, raising consciousness for human rights in China.

Catch up on the FREE SPEECH NEWSFEED, FREE SPEECH BLOG, FREE SPEECH STORYLINE, FREE SPEECH ARCHIVES and discover more FREE SPEECH AWARD-winning films today!

LEARN MORE: www.americaninsight.org

The FREE SPEECH FILM FESTIVALTM culminates in a multimedia FREE SPEECH AWARD CEREMONY that features well-known artists, scholars, writers, and civic leaders speaking about what Free Speech means to them, in addition to showcasing American INSIGHT’s final FREE SPEECH AWARD-winning film and its filmmakers.  Past speakers include:

Bob Craig, Jazz Host, WRTI, Philadelphia, introduced “Smooth Jazz,” while hosting a Sunday morning show on WMGK in Boston

Karen Curry, Former NBC News London Bureau Chief and CNN New York Bureau Chief

Gregory Harvey, Esq, Senior Counsel, Montgomery McCracken, Philadelphia, awarded the Judge Learned Hand Human Relations Award of the American Jewish Committee

Abby Huntsman, American television personality and co-host of The Cycle on MSNBC; political commentator for ABC News in Washington, D.C., and Good Morning America in New York City

Mary Anne Huntsman, a classical pianist who has performed throughout Europe, the United States, and Asia

David Kilgour, human rights defender, author, former lawyer and Canadian politician, remains continuously vocal on many human rights violations around the world

Richard Negrin, Deputy Mayor of Administration and Coordination and Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia

Joseph Ohayon, Producer/ Director of  “Crossroads: Labor Pains of a New Worldview, “ is a filmmaker, writer and speaker based in Israel and New York

Michael Perlman, Producer/ Executive Producer of “Free China: The Courage to Believe,” is an Amnesty International official Artist For Amnesty

Reggie Shuford, Executive Director, ACLU Philadelphia

Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO of New America; University Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University

Tanya Steinberg, President & CEO, International House Philadelphia; Treasurer, International Houses WorldWide

C.K. Williams, American poet, critic and translator who has won nearly every major poetry award

Kean Wong, Producer/ Executive Producer “Free China: The Courage to Believe,” human rights activist, TV host, founder of Parigon Partners, a strategy and marketing consulting firm

Samuel Zhou, Deputy Director, Global Internet Freedom Consortium

Discover more at: https://www.americaninsight.org/archives/

American INSIGHT is grateful to FilmFreeway for being a Sponsor of the 2020 FREE SPEECH FILM FESTIVALTM

Free Speech Award