NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 4, 2021) — The 52nd Nashville Film Festival kicked off this week with a flurry of presentations and premieres, including a documentary short created by the festival's Livin' Reel Project. Launched in 2004, the project encourages artistic expression and collaboration by connecting local artists with at-risk youth to create original pieces of art.
This year, the Livin' Reel Project is proud to present "Breaking Free," a 7-minute short film with a companion music video. Produced by Dianna Maher, who also co-directed the film with Sarah Holbrook, "Breaking Free" is anchored by an original song rooted in hip-hop, soul, and pop. The titular song was co-written by O.N.E The Duo — the first mother-daughter duo since The Judds featuring the Wu-Tang Clan's in-house vocalist, Tekitha, and her daughter, Prana — along with the girls of Youth Villages, Shannon LaBrie, Sinclair, Sarah Holbrook, Pauline Andres, and Carly Moffa.
"Moraine Music Group has been involved with the Nashville Film Festival’s Livin' Reel Project for the last four years," says Moraine Music Group president Dianna Maher, "and everyone at our company looks forward to working with these amazing young women in group homes at Youth Villages. After meeting Tekitha and Prana, I knew their passion for uplifting others and their unique talents would be the perfect addition to our creative team! Helping the girls share their feelings through song is a very emotional and inspiring experience for everyone involved."
Tekitha agrees, adding, "It is paramount to Prana and I to be involved with organizations that support young people, so we were thrilled to be given an opportunity to participate with Youth Villages. The experience of getting to know the girls and watching their eyes light up as they witnessed their words come to life through song moved me to tears. It is important to remind children that they are valuable and precious — that there is a well of beauty and might within them, but it is our responsibility to assist them in navigating around the obstacles that prevent them from sourcing it. We hope to build a long-lasting and ongoing relationship with Youth Villages for the foreseeable future. It was an honor and a privilege."
To learn how you can support vulnerable youth in your area, including teenagers who have aged out of the foster care system, visit youthvillages.org for information on the community-based LifeSet program.
About the Nashville Film Festival
The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is a globally recognized nonprofit organization and cultural event presenting the best in world cinema, American independent films and documentaries by veteran masters, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers. With Academy Award® qualifying status, the Nashville Film Festival celebrates innovation, music and the many voices of the human spirit through the art of film. Originally founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival is one of the first film festivals in the United States and will host its 52nd festival from September 30-October 6, 2021. For more information, visit www.nashfilm.org.
This year, the Livin' Reel Project is proud to present "Breaking Free," a 7-minute short film with a companion music video. Produced by Dianna Maher, who also co-directed the film with Sarah Holbrook, "Breaking Free" is anchored by an original song rooted in hip-hop, soul, and pop. The titular song was co-written by O.N.E The Duo — the first mother-daughter duo since The Judds featuring the Wu-Tang Clan's in-house vocalist, Tekitha, and her daughter, Prana — along with the girls of Youth Villages, Shannon LaBrie, Sinclair, Sarah Holbrook, Pauline Andres, and Carly Moffa.
"Moraine Music Group has been involved with the Nashville Film Festival’s Livin' Reel Project for the last four years," says Moraine Music Group president Dianna Maher, "and everyone at our company looks forward to working with these amazing young women in group homes at Youth Villages. After meeting Tekitha and Prana, I knew their passion for uplifting others and their unique talents would be the perfect addition to our creative team! Helping the girls share their feelings through song is a very emotional and inspiring experience for everyone involved."
Tekitha agrees, adding, "It is paramount to Prana and I to be involved with organizations that support young people, so we were thrilled to be given an opportunity to participate with Youth Villages. The experience of getting to know the girls and watching their eyes light up as they witnessed their words come to life through song moved me to tears. It is important to remind children that they are valuable and precious — that there is a well of beauty and might within them, but it is our responsibility to assist them in navigating around the obstacles that prevent them from sourcing it. We hope to build a long-lasting and ongoing relationship with Youth Villages for the foreseeable future. It was an honor and a privilege."
To learn how you can support vulnerable youth in your area, including teenagers who have aged out of the foster care system, visit youthvillages.org for information on the community-based LifeSet program.
About the Nashville Film Festival
The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is a globally recognized nonprofit organization and cultural event presenting the best in world cinema, American independent films and documentaries by veteran masters, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers. With Academy Award® qualifying status, the Nashville Film Festival celebrates innovation, music and the many voices of the human spirit through the art of film. Originally founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival is one of the first film festivals in the United States and will host its 52nd festival from September 30-October 6, 2021. For more information, visit www.nashfilm.org.
About Youth Villages
Youth Villages of Middle Tennessee offers a full continuum of programs to provide mental health support to children and young people who have experienced trauma throughout Middle Tennessee. This year, we will serve more than 7,000 children, young people, and their families through offices in Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, and Nashville.
As a national leader in children's mental and behavioral health, Youth Villages will bring help and hope to more than 30,000 children, families, and young people across the United States this year. The organization offers a continuum of evidence- and research-based programs, including its two national models: Intercept, which offers intensive in-home services, and LifeSet, which gives former foster youth a good start on a successful adulthood. Youth Villages has been recognized by the U.S. News & World Report and was identified by The White House as one of the nation’s most promising results-oriented nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.youthvillages.org.
About O.N.E The Duo
O.N.E The Duo is a Nashville-based mother-daughter duo featuring singer-songwriters Prana Supreme Diggs and Tekitha. The pair has deep roots in music royalty: Prana’s father is RZA (founder, producer, and de-facto leader of Wu-Tang Clan) while Tekitha is known for her work as the featured female vocalist of Wu-Tang Clan. Together, they create a unique sound influenced by Americana, hip-hop, country, Motown, R&B, and rock & roll. It's a diverse musical hybrid that reaches far beyond Tekita's roots in rap and hip-hop, with the group recently signing with Visionary Media Group, writing songs with Rebecca Lynn Howard and Elisha Hoffman, and showcasing its original material at the 2021 Americana Music Festival.