REPLAY: Film, Free Press & People Power: A Call to Defend Democracy
On January 21, filmmakers, organizers, and independent media leaders gathered at the Idaho State Capitol for a powerful conversation about democracy, storytelling, and the fight for a free press.
This presentation features Adrienne Evans of United Vision For Idaho, Steph Lokelani Cullen of OMGFemaleFilmmakers, LLC and Program Director, Wayne Birt of Radio Boise KRBX 89.9 / 93.5 FM.
Together, they explore:
How media consolidation has reshaped who controls our stories
Why rural and community voices are so often erased or misrepresented
The erosion of press freedom and what it means for democracy
Film not just as entertainment, but as a mirror, a memory, and a catalyst
How ordinary people — not institutions — are writing the story of this moment
This conversation is also a call to action:
You don’t need permission, expensive equipment, or a platform to participate. A phone, a story, and a willingness to show up are enough. This project invites people across the country to submit short video stories that reflect how their communities are responding, organizing, and caring for one another — with the goal of returning those stories back to the communities themselves for local screenings and collective reflection.
At a time when media is increasingly centralized and narratives are filtered through a handful of powerful interests, this presentation reminds us that our stories belong to us — and democracy depends on our willingness to tell them.
Film is how we see ourselves.
Community media is how we stay connected.
And people power is how change happens.
