New Day Films

Reclaiming the meaning of independence and documentary film

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

NEW DAY FILMS comes to OVID

Long before influencers and the “creator-economy” existed, four feminist filmmakers frustrated with mainstream distribution channels founded New Day Films. Operating as a filmmaker-run collective since 1971, New Day now has 140 filmmaker member-owners and a collection of over 300 titles.

Honoring the Lives and Legacies of Bob Richter and Richard Cox

Thu, 15 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Friends of New Day Films and Filmmakers,

It is with deep sadness and heartfelt gratitude that we remember two of our beloved New Day Co-op members who passed away this past year: Robert “Bob” Richter and Richard “Tony” Cox. Each of these remarkable filmmakers brought a fierce dedication to justice, creativity, and community to both their work and their lives. Their contributions helped shape New Day’s mission and impact, and their films continue to inspire dialogue, change, and hope.

As we reflect on their enduring legacies, we invite you to join us in celebrating the stories they told and the lives they touched. Their voices remain with us in every classroom, community center, and living room where their films are screened, challenging us to imagine and create a more just world.

Meet New Day: Joanne Hershfield

Joanne Hershfield — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

For over 40 years, I’ve been dedicated to creating social issue documentaries that amplify voices often left unheard. My work has focused on telling stories of strong women and the organizations striving to create progressive change. From Mama C: Urban Warrior in the African Bush, which highlights the inspiring journey of Charlotte O’Neal, a former Black Panther turned activist, to Men Are Human, Women Are Buffalo, addressing violence against women in Thailand, my films aim to spotlight resilience and transformation. My latest project, Benevolence, a Journey From Prison to Home, continues this mission by sharing the stories of formerly incarcerated women rebuilding their lives.

New Releases from New Day Films - Spring 2025

Rick Goldsmith — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

At a time when our country is in the grip of assaults against foreign-born and people of color, and the decimation of DEI everywhere, New Day Films’ Spring 2025 collection of new additions highlight powerful counter-narratives: stories of rich contributions from immigrants, First Nation and LGBTQ+ people, both personal and activist. These films portray everyday people engaged in building up our society, making it more just and humane, and taking action to address the immense social and political challenges we face. The topics are diverse: aging, abortion rights, African agrarianism, trans marriage, climate change, and films that present fresh insight and positive portrayal of immigrants and immigration, in many ways the lifeblood of America and, up till now, of our democracy.

MEET NEW DAY: Trevor Zimmer

Trevor Zimmer — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

As a design strategist specializing in global health, I’ve always been driven by the need to connect big ideas with real people. My first film, Rollout, reflects this passion. Created while managing the COVAX program for COVID-19 vaccine readiness and delivery, Rollout offers an intimate look at a Kenyan community grappling with government pressure and widespread vaccine hesitancy. Through this story, we delve into the critical challenges of building trust in public health efforts.

MEET NEW DAY: Michelle Plascencia

Michelle Plascencia — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

I am an impact producer and cultural organizer based in Mexico City. My goal is to unite films and filmmakers with social change advocates to push stories and movements forward. I work alongside filmmakers and communities to strategize, design, and implement impact campaigns, utilizing audiovisual storytelling as a catalyst to spark conversation, action, and awareness. I believe that through intentional partnerships, art, and activism, we have the power to positively mobilize social change.

Looking Back to Look Forward

Josh Aaseng, T. Geronimo Johnson — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

With feet firmly planted in 2025, we’re taking a moment to reflect.

New Releases from New Day Films - Winter, 2024

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The new additions to New Day Films’ Winter 2024 collection highlight remarkable stories of resilience and creativity in response to some of today’s most pressing political and social challenges. These films feature protagonists who are directly impacted by issues such as war (combatants and veterans), water quality in vulnerable communities, immigration, climate change advocacy for clean energy, affordable housing, police violence, LGBTQ+ rights, and disability rights.

Like the other titles in the New Day Films catalog, our new additions illuminate, inspire and challenge.

We invite you to watch trailers and learn more about these films:

MEET NEW DAY: Joel Fendelman

Joel Fendelman — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Since joining New Day Films in 2018, I've been a socially conscious filmmaker passionate about uncovering the universal connections that bind us. I love exploring new worlds and the camera allows me to do so. After recently relocating to Texas, I wanted to explore and learn about the rural cowboy culture that was so different from my city upbringing. This curiosity led to my latest documentary, Auction, a portrait of cattle auctions and the fading cultural epicenter it represents in Gonzales, Texas.

MEET NEW DAY: Juan Manuel Pagán Teitelbaum

JuanMa Pagán Teitelbaum — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

As a Jewish, Puerto Rican filmmaker raised in the Caribbean, I am driven by a profound passion for justice and a deep connection with nature. My latest project,Stewards of the Land, immerses viewers in the lives of three landless ecological farmers in Puerto Rico, navigating the challenges of producing local, healthy food in the face of economic struggles and frequent hurricanes.

MEET NEW DAY: Luisa de la Ville

Luisa De La Ville — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

As a Venezuelan-born, New York-based producer with a rich 25-year history in both fiction and documentary production, my latest endeavor, Children of Las Brisas, stands as a testament to the power of storytelling amid adversity. This compelling documentary follows the lives of three young musicians—Edixon, Dissandra, and Wuilly— as they navigate the challenges of pursuing their passion within the tumultuous landscape of Venezuela's political and economic collapse.

New Releases from New Day Films - Fall 2024

Rick Goldsmith — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The new additions in New Day Films’ fall collection – available for educational licensing through our website – are extraordinary for the actions taken by the protagonists therein.

MEET NEW DAY: Anike Tourse

Anike Tourse — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I am the writer and director of America’s Family, an award-winning narrative film exploring the heart-wrenching story of the Diaz family, torn apart by ICE on Thanksgiving Day. This film challenges the criminalization of immigrants by authentically portraying the complexities faced by American families navigating immigration injustice, disability, racism, and more.

MEET NEW DAY: Jake Siam Solomon

Jake Siam Solomon — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I’m a Chicago-based documentary filmmaker with Thai and Midwestern roots. I'm drawn to stories that show the power of hope and the human spirit in the face of adversity, with a focus on amplifying underrepresented voices and communities. Creating The Last Thing Lost was a wild ride. It was my first documentary, filmed in Cambodia in 2020

MEET NEW DAY: Adamu Chan

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Offering a poignant portrayal of resilience and hope within San Quentin State Prison, What These Walls Won't Hold provides an insider's perspective into life behind bars. Originating from the Bay Area, my filmmaking journey began while incarcerated within these walls. This documentary weaves a narrative of camaraderie, shedding light on the intimate connections formed amidst the challenges of incarceration.

New Releases from New Day - 2024 Summer Edition

Rick Goldsmith — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The summer season brings seven new additions to our collection, available for educational licensing through our website. The unifying theme is “Changing the world from the bottom up.” An immigrant family torn apart by the U.S. government; fighting adversity through martial arts; using public education to build bridges across divides; employing personal experience to affect criminal-justice reform; finding new ways to protest an unjust war.

Marching Towards Dignity for All

T. Geronimo Johnson, Josh Aaseng — Tue, 14 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Barbecues, beer coolers, and 3-day weekends. Memorial Day festivities announce summer’s imminent arrival. Various cities have claimed responsibility for the inception of the celebration. Gettysburg (PA), Charlottesvillle (S.C.), and Jackson (MS), all hosted observances to honor fallen soldiers well before 1868, the year the official proclamation was championed by General John Logan. The precedent may be in dispute, but everyone agrees on the purpose: Memorial Day honors the million-plus American soldiers who have died in war. Some volunteered, some were conscripted, all made the ultimate sacrifice. This month’s list includes films that remind us of combat’s many casualties.

MEET NEW DAY: Julie Mallozzi

Julie Mallozzi — Tue, 07 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I am a filmmaker with a multi-faceted identity formed from family roots in China and Italy, time spent living and working in Latin America, a Dutch husband, and a lifelong respect for Indigenous cultures. These influences have fueled my interest in the transformative potential of traditional cultural practices in the contemporary world. I always seek to make a positive impact through my films; I am increasingly engaged with pushing the cinematic form, as well.

Take 50% Off DVDs

Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

At New Day Films we understand that having permanence in your media collection is something you value. We're offering a 50% off coupon code “MAYDVD50” for all DVD purchases on our site this month (May 1-31).

7 Films About Our Home, Planet Earth

Josh Aaseng, T. Geronimo Johnson — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On Monday, April 8, 2024 the moon shielded a swath of North America from the sun’s light. During the four minutes of totality in the middle of the afternoon, the natural world instinctively began its nighttime routine: crickets chirped, chickens entered the coop, and some felt the cosmic call to mate.

Reframe & Refresh: New Perspectives on Asian and Muslim Identity in America

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Join us Thursday, April 25th at 2pm ET for this engaging conversation on "New Perspectives on Asian and Muslim Identity in America” with Sofian Khan, producer of An Act of Worship, Julie Mallozzi, director of Monkey Dance and Once Removed as well as Lailanie Gadia, Asian American Documentary Network (A-Doc) Operations Director. The conversation will be moderated by Larissa Lam, director of Far East Deep South. We'll learn from the panelists about how their work examines different facets of Asian American and Muslim American identity. We'll also discuss the dangers of seeing groups as monoliths and the importance of recognizing diversity within groups. Auto-captions will be available.

REFRAME & REFRESH is a series for the education and filmmaking community to have refreshing conversations that reframe our perspectives.

New Releases from New Day - 2024 Spring Edition

Rick Goldsmith — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Spring is here! The growing season brings 7 new additions to our New Day Films collection, available for educational licensing through our website.

MEET NEW DAY: Liane Brandon

Liane Brandon — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I'm Liane Brandon, a founding member of New Day Films. I’m also a filmmaker, photographer, and professor emerita at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. Before diving into academia, my eclectic journey included stints as a waitress, file clerk, stunt person, and ski instructor. I'm proud to be one of the earliest contributors to the Women's Movement with my groundbreaking films, and in 2022, my work reached new heights as Betty Tells Her Story was inducted into the prestigious National Film Registry.

Reframe & Refresh: The Power of Advocacy in Film

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Join us for this engaging conversation on "The Power of Advocacy in Film”. We'll learn from the filmmakers behind "California’s Forgotten Children" and "Upstream, Downriver," about how their films have been used as tools for advocacy and change.

MEET NEW DAY: Brad Heck

Brad Heck — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I’m Brad and I am a filmmaker, cinematographer, and educator. I live in Southern Vermont with my filmmaking and life partner, Willow, and my pup, Ruben. I began my filmmaking career as a cinematographer, working chiefly on narrative and commercial productions and have transitioned over the last decade to directing and producing documentary films. I taught film at Marlboro College and was the Director of the MFA in Film Program at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Currently I teach film production at Central Connecticut State University.

7 Short Films on Women's History & Black History

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Wayback when, there was a stand up comic who started on the vaudeville circuit before eventually making it to the top of the world, rubbing shoulders with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. (Drake has a song charting such a fantastic ascension: “Started from the bottom, now we’re here.”) The comic in question was Rodney Dangerfield. Even after achieving fame, his tagline was, “I can’t get no respect.” By the end of his career, he was quite famous and, we can assume, comfortably wealthy. Yet he continued to roll with that punchline, and the crowds continued to eat it up.

MEET NEW DAY: Sofian Khan

Sofian Khan — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I'm Sofian Khan, the founder of Capital K Pictures, dedicated to creating impactful nonfiction films with a social justice mission and a member of New Day since 2017. A proud Pakistani-American, my work often delves into the immigrant experience. One of my significant projects is An Act of Worship, a polyphonic portrait spanning the last 30 years of Muslim life in America. Through the lens of American Muslims, the film challenges prevailing narratives, offering a unique perspective on pivotal moments in U.S. history and exploring the profound impact of anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies on a generation that came of age post-9/11.

Reframe & Refresh: Hidden Legacies in Black History

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Now in its third year, New Day Films will kick off its 2024 series of Reframe and Refresh virtual discussions on February 22nd at 2:00pm EST with a panel on “Hidden Legacies in Black History.” The conversation will spotlight the struggles of Black, gay youth during the Harlem Renaissance as depicted in the Sundance Film Festival winning drama Brother to Brother starring Anthony Mackie (Captain America), and activism in the Black community centered on roller skating subculture, as featured in the John Legend executive produced documentary, United Skates. Speakers will include Rodney Evans, Spirit Award-nominated director of Brother to Brother, Dr. Denise Frazier, MLK Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dyana Winkler, Emmy-nominated director ofUnited Skates and Tiffany Fisher-Love, the film’s impact producer. The conversation will be moderated by writer and filmmaker, Anike Tourse (Girlfriends, America’s Family).

Attendees can register free online at http://Reframe222.Eventbrite.com. Auto-captions will be available.

You will receive the link to join the discussion in your email after registration.

MEET NEW DAY: Adrian Prawica

Adrian Prawica — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

I am a Chicago-based documentary filmmaker. My interest in films started with my passion for the 8mm & 16mm home film reels I collected as a youth. Most of my historical works explore the American experience through different lenses. While I have done documentary works in other contemporary genres such as motorsports, I am passionate about Chicago and American history, and how it is viewed from different perspectives.

New Releases from New Day - 2024 Winter Edition

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

We are excited to share with you the newest additions to our New Day Films collection, now available for educational licensing. The narratives interweave international perspectives with personal points-of-view, focusing on complex social issues facing our increasingly multicultural contemporary society. Protagonists range from young teenagers, to working activists, to the ancestors of the filmmakers, through the uncovered documentation of their stories.

National Youth Day: The Invention of Childhood

Josh Aaseng, T. Geronimo Johnson — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

With January 12th being National Youth Day, children are our theme. But, let’s not kickoff the New Year with harrowing statistics. Instead, we want to talk about music. We suspect that our readers are familiar with Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye, or Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. To that list, we might add Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.

Human Stories Behind Middle East Headlines

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

For months, we have all read headlines from the Middle East that make us feel hopeless and horrified.

New Day Best Selling New Releases of 2023

Larissa Lam — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The end of the year brings “Best of” lists and we wanted to share ours with you. Our top selling films of 2023 contain many of last year’s stalwarts (see our Top 10 of 2022 list). Trust Me, which won the prestigious Walter Cronkite Award in June, is our #1 most popular film again. This year, we want to give special recognition to our “Freshman” and “Sophomore” films, which were added to New Day’s collection within the past 2 years.

Embracing Gratitude: A 2023 Year-End Reflection

T. Geronimo Johnson, Josh Aaseng — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

As the year draws to a close, one might feel overwhelmed by bad news. It can be easy to forget that every new day brings with it new opportunities. To quote Matt Johnson of the old British Band The-The: If you can’t change the world, change yourself, and if you can’t change yourself, change your world. (From the song “Lonely Planet”. Worth a re-listen.)

Reframe & Refresh: Examining Labor Movements, Then and Now

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Join us online this Wednesday, December 6 at 2:00pm ET for a conversation on “Examining Labor Movements, Then and Now” as part of our ongoing Reframe & Refresh series. We'll delve into the historical context for worker's rights, as seen in Haymarket, and gain a fresh perspective on modern day labor movements, as seen in When We Fight.

MEET NEW DAY: Yael Bridge and Yoni Golijov

Yoni Golijov, Yael Bridge — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

My name is Yael Bridge and I am an Emmy-nominated filmmaker. My feature documentary, The Big Scary “S” Word, traces the history and resurgence of socialism in the US and premiered at Hot Docs 2020 and on Hulu in 2022.

I’m Yoni Golijov and I am an Oscar-nominated producer. My recent films include All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, a film about Nan Goldin directed by Laura Poitras, which won the Golden Lion for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival.

Meet New Day: Glenn Morey

Glenn Morey — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

I’ve been a filmmaker for more than 40 years, mostly in creative partnership with my wife, Julie. In 2013, we began work on a large-scale, multi-platform, documentary project—Side by Side: Out of a South Korean Orphanage and Into the World. Since 2018, Side by Side has been released as an immersive oral history website, an award-winning short doc, a 10-episode video series, a 12-screen art installation; and it’s been adapted as a New York Times Op Doc, and an Audible Original, both titled, Given Away. With the unprecedented scope of 100 stories filmed in 7 countries and 6 languages, we continue to iterate Side by Side, developing new audiences.

6 Films that Illustrate the Power of Human Creativity

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

This October marks the 30th anniversary of National Arts & Humanities Month. The initiative has four goals: Focusing, Encouraging, Allowing, and Raising. Focusing involves increasing support at the national, state, and local level. Encouraging involves increasing the participation of organizations and individuals. Allowing involves creating opportunities for federal, local and state leaders to declare their support for the arts. Raising involves increasing public awareness.

Reframe & Refresh: "Exploring Global Connections Through Korean Adoptees & Teaching in China" - Oct 25, 2023

Larissa Lam — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Join us for this engaging conversation on “Exploring Global Connections Through Korean Adoptees & Teaching in China” with Charles Abelmann, director of English Hustle, Glenn Morey, director of Side by Side: Out of a South Korean Orphanage and Into the World , and Dr. Joseph Ho, Associate Professor of History at Albion College. The conversation will be moderated by Deann Borshay Liem (Geographies of Kinship).

New Releases from New Day - 2023 Fall Edition

Larissa Lam — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

We are thrilled to catch you up with the newest additions to our New Day Films collection now available for educational licensing through our website. This is a stellar group of films that spotlight historic, personal, regional, and global perspectives on many important social issues. Among this group of feature and short films are Tribeca, Sundance and Emmy winners. There’s even a film starring a Marvel superhero!