Marie Acemah founded See Stories, a nonprofit organization, to empower Alaska youth to tell their stories through filmmaking. Acemah’s vision is to give students the power to share their experiences.
Acemah believes storytelling is essential for young people to feel heard and valued. “I realized that’s what makes a young person tick, is the power over their own story,” Acemah said.
The organization’s mission is to provide a platform for young people to express themselves. See Stories achieves this by offering workshops, classes, and resources for students and teachers.
See Stories has partnered with around 30 schools and hundreds of students. The organization provides media training for Title I teachers and students across Alaska.
Moreover, See Stories has developed a new curriculum that teaches students how to identify and tell stories that matter to them. The curriculum incorporates technical skills such as interviewing, camera operation, and editing.
The curriculum is designed to be flexible and adaptable to different learning environments. The teachers can easily integrate the program into their existing curriculum.
Meanwhile, See Stories alumni are making waves in the filmmaking world. Recently, two Wrangell teens showcased their documentaries at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival.
The festival provided a platform for the students to share their work with a wider audience. This experience helped build their confidence and motivated them to continue pursuing their passion for filmmaking.
In addition, another pair of students from Angoon will have their work featured at the Hawaii International Film Festival. Their documentaries share different perspectives on the U.S. Navy’s 1882 bombardment of Angoon.
The documentaries provide unique insight into Angoon’s history and culture. By sharing their stories, the students are helping to preserve their community’s heritage.
Furthermore, Acemah acknowledges that the work can be challenging. However, she is committed to empowering young filmmakers.
The organization offers regular workshops and classes for teachers. By partnering with educators, See Stories aims to empower more students to share their stories.
Marie Acemah’s vision has inspired a new generation of young filmmakers, including Jackson Pearson and Silje Morse, who are making their mark in the film industry.
News story originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
