Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Montgomery County is launching a new film festival, GOTR FilmFest, to increase awareness about the program and raise money to help ensure every girl who wants to participate can participate in Girls on the Run.
The event will take place from 6:30-8:30pm on Thursday, February 29, at the Suburban Hospital Auditorium (8600 Old Georgetown Road) in Bethesda.
Per the press release: GOTR FilmFest 2024 is a night of independent short films, speakers, and fun all celebrating women. It will also provide the opportunity for the community to learn more about Girls on the Run and its impact, and support the organization’s Scholarship Fund. Girls on the Run offers programs designed to inspire girls of all abilities to recognize and embrace their inner strength and make meaningful connections with others. Trained coaches use physical activity and dynamic discussions to build social, emotional and physical skills while encouraging healthy habits for life more than today’s unpredictable world, the strategies learned at Girls on the Run are more important than
ever.
The GOTR FilmFest 2024 will feature three films provided through the SIMA Academy, an award-winning collection of globally sourced short documentaries that inspire a more just and sustainable world.
The films include:
Run Rep Run: A day in the life of a first-time, millennial, Latina politician in a small New England city. This documentary shows how change starts at the grassroots and grows with hard work.
What would it take for you to make a difference in your town?
India’s Wushu Warrior: Fareeha is a 14-year-old Muslim schoolgirl who dreams of becoming a champion fighter. But her family decides she can’t go, deeming it inappropriate for a girl to fight
in public. Fareeha negotiates these complex issues at home, and wins them over. She emerges the winner in her category and has a clear message: “Girls should get the same freedom boys
do. We can do everything they can.
Girls Like Us: In Tanzania, women are expected to stay home, cook, clean, and take care of the children while their husbands are away at work. Like a typical teenager, Winnie needed an
outlet for her curious mind and in 2013, she joinned Apps & Girls, an organization that teaches young girls how to code their own websites.
Girls on the Run of Montgomery County serves more than 4,000 girls each year with more than 1,000 receiving financial assistance, and 200 pairs of shoes are provided to underserved girls each year.
“Events like GOTR FilmFest keeps Girls on the Run affordable and keeps Girls on the Run within Montgomery County, said Elizabeth Richards, President of the GOTR of Montgomery County Advisory Council, a group of young professionals who support the mission of Girls on the Run. “We are committed to removing financial barriers so every girl who wants to participate in Girls on the Run can. The money raised from the GOTR FilmFest funds scholarships so girls can enroll in the program, provides running shoes for participating girls who need them, and ensures coaches receive first aid/CPR training.”
Girls on the Run has fun, evidence-based programs that inspire all girls to build their confidence, kindness and decision making skills. Dynamic lessons instill valuable life skills including the important connection between physical and emotional health. This is all done while the girls train for a 5K race held at the end of each season. An independent study found that 97 percent of participants learned essential life skills at Girls on the Run-including managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others, or making intentional decisions-that they continue to use at home, at school, and with their friends.
“Being a teacher for over a decade, I see that students, particularly girls, need a sense of community, lessons to improve their self-esteem, and the power of positive thinking. That’s what Girls on the Run offers our girls. The impact is evident, as many use the same language and strategies with their peers and teachers,” said Shern Hall, GOTR of Montgomery County coach and member of the GOTR of Montgomery County Advisory Council.
WHEN: Thursday, February 29, 2024
SHOW TIME: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Suburban Hospital Auditorium, 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814 (Free Parking
Available)
TICKETS: $25 – $45
PURCHASE TICKETS: https://bit.ly/Filmfest2024
For more information on SIMA Academy visit: https://simaacademy.com/
For more information about Girls on the Run of Montgomery County visit: https://www.girlsontherunofmoco.org/
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