AT&T, re:imagine/ATL and the Atlanta Police Foundation’s At-Promise Center have launched the Westside Storytelling Competition, an intensive creative industry program focused on highlighting aspiring young creators from Atlanta’s Historic Westside.

The Westside Storytelling Competition will capture the stories of Atlanta’s Westside by teaching participating youth film and digital entertainments skills, encouraging them to share their pride in the Westside and tell their unique stories.

Competition Offers Westside Youth Opportunity to Learn Entertainment Industry Skills 

Find Your Voice. Tell the Westside Stories. #BelieveAtlanta

Georgia’s booming film and digital entertainment industries currently employ over 30,000 people. Yet, according to a recent report by the Georgia Department of Labor, few opportunities exist for Georgia’s youth to learn these skills. The Westside Storytelling Competition will help equip the next generation of storytellers by training Westside youth to create content and by connecting them to a network of industry support.

“Westside youth are learning film and digital entertainment skills firsthand and, most importantly, exploring new pathways to success,” said Dave Wilkinson, president and CEO of the Atlanta Police Foundation. “The At-Promise initiative provides opportunities that help prevent and divert youth from engaging in criminal activity and drive students to achieve success. The Westside Storytelling Competition offers a creative way to empower and inspire the next generation to find their voices and connect with leaders in the entertainment industry.”

Youth participating in the creative industry program will be divided into three separate film crews and work collaboratively with their crew to create 2-minute mini-documentaries that will be entered into the Westside Storytelling Competition. On January 18, the three videos will be uploaded to the competition website for the world to view their creations and vote on their favorite Westside story.

“Georgia’s growth in the film and digital entertainment industries is unprecedented,” said Venessa Harrison, president of AT&T Georgia. “At AT&T, we know every child has the potential to achieve something great. We are proud to work with re:imagine/ATL and the At-Promise Center, preparing our youth – tomorrow’s leaders – with skills needed to compete in one of Georgia’s highest demand industries.”

Competition videos will be previewed at the Westside Future Fund Summit on January 18. The video that receives the most votes during January 18 to 28, 2019 time-period will win the competition.

The winning video will be announced at the February 1 Westside Future Fund Summit, and the winning film crew will be given the opportunity to attend a guided behind-the-scenes tour of DIRECTV NOW’s Super Saturday Night with re:imagine/ATL, the At-Promise Center and AT&T.

For additional information, please visit www.WestsideStorytellingCompetition.com.