Blog
Meet New Day: Melina Tupa
January 13, 2021
My film, The Search, explores Estela de Carlotto’s 37-year search for her long-lost grandchild after her daughter, Laura, was kidnapped and murdered during the Argentinean dictatorship that lasted from 1976 to 1983. In 1979, Carlotto became a member, and then President, of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, an organization that worked to find the 500 children that were either kidnapped or seized from women in detention during the military dictatorship.
Still Here, Still Strong: New Day Films Celebrates 50 Years of Great Filmmaking
January 13, 2021
Poised to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2021-2022, New Day Films is the oldest continuously functioning member-owned film cooperative in the world. Its existence is an extraordinary feat of economic democracy wedded to filmmaking excellence that remains devoted to human rights and distributing progressive social change-making media. The 50th year will be celebrated with a historic retrospective of 50 films that will be accessible on digital platforms and travel the country as soon as in-person events are possible again.
Meet New Day: George Bogdanich
December 8, 2020
I am a journalist, filmmaker, writer, former campaign consultant for several members of Congress, and former Illinois press secretary for presidential candidate Gary Hart. My focus has been on labor and politics, and I have written for a number of publications including the Chicago Sun Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Nation, the Progressive, the Illinois Times, and the Huffington Post. Most recently, I turned to film to elevate and publicize an important story that has received very little attention from news organizations.
Universal Human Rights Month
December 6, 2020
In December, we observe Universal Human Rights Month in honor of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an international document adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1948. New Day is proud to share several powerful films from our collection on the subject of human rights.
2020 Vision: Documentary Filmmaking in a Global Pandemic
November 27, 2020
The weirdest year of our lifetime has hit its twelfth month. It is a good time to reflect on pandemic-plagued, economy-busted, politically-polarized 2020. What did you lose? What did you gain? How did you accommodate the world’s bizarre conditions?When these questions were put to New Day filmmakers some surprising – even inspiring – answers emerged. While precautions prevailed over productivity and making movies slowed, creativity didn’t cease. People who devote their lives to telling stories for the betterment of society don’t let a pandemic stop them.
Transgender Awareness Month
October 29, 2020
In the month of November, we focus on transgender communities, trans survival, and trans liberation. This year’s Transgender Awareness Week is from November 14 through November 20, a time set aside specifically to highlight stories of trans and nonbinary people. New Day is proud to share several important and relevant films from our collection.
Why Decolonize Thanksgiving
October 29, 2020
I acknowledge that I reside in the homeland of the Muwekma Ohlone people who continue to live and thrive in the San Francisco Bay Area today. For most of my life, it never occurred to me to conduct a land acknowledgement during Thanksgiving. After all, the holiday was always about turkey, stuffing, family gatherings, and had a vague association with these people called “Pilgrims.” Like most Americans I had been indoctrinated into a whitewashed and largely false version of history.
Meet New Day - Jillian Karole and Ahmed Mansour
October 29, 2020
“We formed our production company, Philistia Films, to work together on innovative projects that bring awareness to stories that are often untold.” Ahmed, born and raised in a refugee camp in Gaza Strip, Palestine, is a documentary filmmaker who has worked as an organizer, translator, and guide for international journalists. His film work centers on issues affecting the Holy Land and the Palestinian diaspora. Jillian is a film producer focused on marketing and distributing socially-engaging documentaries.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
September 25, 2020
This October is the United States’ 75th observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities and likewise to learn about issues facing those with disabilities. The observance coincides with the 30th anniversary of the passage of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. New Day celebrates these important milestones by highlighting films made by disabled filmmakers.
Vote… as Though Your World Depends on It
September 21, 2020
This is the most important presidential election of our lifetimes!I’ve now heard that alarm 13 times in my lifetime. I don’t believe it’s ever rung more true. According to the current occupier of the White House, Don Trump, if his opponent wins the country will be taken over by “violent anarchists, agitators and criminals” who will threaten “the American way of life.” For challenger Joe Biden, this election is nothing short of “a battle for the soul of America.”