SPOTLIGHT

Last year, NEWorks CEO Nolan Williams, Jr. led our NEWorks Voices of America's performance in "The Gathering: A Collective Sonic Ring Shout" at the Kennedy Center. This concert was jointly produced by the National Black Theatre, the Apollo, the American Composers Orchestra and the Center. 

Now, a documentary on the making of this project, "The Gathering: A Journey To Grace," is airing nationwide on PBS beginning Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Click here to access the BroadwayWorld article. Click below to access the House Seats episode or check your local PBS listings for more information. 

NEWorks CEO Nolan Williams, Jr. has won the 2025 Cannes Film Awards Prize for "Best Director, Music Animation Video!" With 5,538 submissions from around the globe, this win is an amazing testament to Nolan's vision and the incredible work of the entire "Rise Up & Fight" production team. 

If you don't know, this is Nolan's second directorial prize for this project. He has also won "Best Director, Music Video" in the 2024 New York Film & Female Actress Awards.

Composed & directed by NEWorks CEO Nolan Williams, Jr., our award-winning civic anthem and film short, "RISE UP & FIGHT," features illustrations by Willie Cordy, Jr.; animation by Gabrielle Genesis; music production by Nolan Williams, Jr., Warren Jones, and Phil Lassiter; and vocal performances by Rayshun LaMarr, Benjamin H. Moore, John Riddle, Teriauna Duran, Nova Payton, and the NEWorks Voices of America. 

Click below to learn more about the 87 international film, music & media honors this work has earned!