LA JOLLA, CA – Matt Starr, of I-CONN Video Production, has won the prestigious Distinction Humanitarian Award from The Accolade Global Film Competition and The IndieFEST Film Awards. The awards were given for Starr’s heart-felt, inspiring documentary, The JJ Project, which tells the story of how local Mount Vernon boy JJ House chased his dream to direct a musical while inspiring a community to help him get there. The JJ Project explores themes of following your dreams, overcoming disabilities, showing how the arts can enlighten communities, and creating a sustainable future for the arts through mentoring youngsters on the business side of the theatre. Leading actors for the film include JJ House, Bruce Jacklin, Mary Harris, Thor Fox, Luna Moreland, Janis Stone, and many other members of MTVarts.
“As we share this film with audiences around the country, the first thing that people say to me is ‘Wow, what a wonderful community you have,’” said Matt Starr, producer and director of The JJ Project. “What continues to amaze me is the continued inspiration that this story provides. When you watch it with a new audience, there is something new that jumps out at you.”
The goal of the Humanitarian Award is to honor filmmakers who are bringing awareness to issues of Ecological, Political, Social Justice, Health and Wellness, Animals, Wildlife, Conservation and Spiritual importance. The winners are handpicked by the judges and staff from hundreds of entries throughout the year.
In winning a Humanitarian award from Accolade, Starr and The JJ Project join the ranks of other high-profile winners of this important award such as Emmy Award winner Alfre Woodard and her documentary Soft Vengeance, Emmy winner Vic Sarin for The Boy From Geita, Letters from Generation Rx, narrated by Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton and many more.
“It takes great talent to tackle the world’s most pressing issues with film and do a great job,” said Rick Prickett, chair of The Accolade Global Film Competition and The IndieFEST Film Awards. “It takes an even greater heart.”
“We are still awaiting decisions from other film festivals around the world to see where we go from here,” Starr added. “Hopefully, we are close to distribution, which will have the impact for which we hoped. This is an important and urgent story.”
For more information about the film’s festival status and updates, visit thejjproject.org or follow along on Facebook @mtvarts.thejjproject.
From Left to Right: Bruce Jacklin, Matt Starr, and JJ House – photo submitted
