Prairie Public to partner with FirstLink Film Festival + Competition

Event encourages young people to break the silence about suicide and mental health

FARGO, ND – The second annual FirstLink Film Festival and Competition, “Silence Speaks Aloud” is beginning this week. Prairie Public is the media sponsor of the event, which encourages young people to learn about the topics of suicide prevention and mental health through storytelling.

Submitted films will premiere in a public screening at the historic Fargo Theatre on Thursday, April 13, 2023, and receive scores for their use of script, performance, camera, sound, editing and theme. Select films will be awarded a cash prize of up to $1,000.

Tim Wollenzien, education services manager at Prairie Public, said this opportunity for young people to create video content around meaningful and personal stories speaks directly to Prairie Public’s mission to empower youth media makers. “We look forward to once again working with educators and students throughout the Prairie Public region.”

The competition is divided into two categories: High School, open to students in grades 9-12 in North Dakota and Minnesota, and College/Young Adult, for individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 and associated with a college, university or technical school in North Dakota or Minnesota.

Submissions will be accepted through April 10. More information about competition rules, theme descriptions and scoring guidelines, as well as the link to sub- mit, can be found at my- firstlink.org/2023-film- festival.

Prairie Public Broadcasting, headquartered in Fargo, is a non-profit member station of PBS and NPR that provides public television services throughout North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota, southern

Manitoba, and parts of Montana and South Dakota; public radio service to North Dakota; and educational and technological services to communities and individuals across its coverage area.