Leading up to our 2024 national election, NEWorks launched FREEDOM ADVANCES*, a non-partisan civic initiative designed to encourage full voter participation. The campaign included celebrity bumpers; a suite of 30- to 60-second public service announcements, the award-winning, call-to-action anthem & music video, "Rise Up & Fight," and Rise Up Song Challenge videos created by local artists nationwide to mobilize voters to make their voices heard at the polls.
Celebrities featured in the campaign included: Masta Ace, Debbie Allen, Regina Belle, Chris Broussard, Andre de Shields, Ricky Dillard, Carla Hall, Hill Harper, Norm Lewis, Clayton Prince, and Regina Taylor.
Nolan Williams, Jr's award-winning civic anthem, "Rise Up & Fight," is written from the perspective of three civil rights volunteers murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in 1964 during "Freedom Summer." The song imagines Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner returning to Mississippi today--expecting a world of change--only to discover that human rights issues are still plaguing our nation. They issue an urgent call to action!
“Rise Up & Fight” has won eighteen international film prizes, twenty-one additional film honors, six Davey Awards, and an Anthem Award!
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This anthem features the words of historical voting rights icons spoken by celebrities Billie Jean King, Billy Porter, Christopher Jackson, and Ryan Jamaal Swain (F/X Network's POSE). It also highlights diverse American citizens gathered at iconic places across the country—from New York’s Times Square to Milwaukee’s Art Museum, and from the “Rocky” Steps in Philadelphia to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles—all affirming their right to vote!
This award-winning video was first released in 2020 and has garnered well over two million global hits.
· Award of Excellence – Music Video, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – Animation, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – African American Theme, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – Music Video, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Animation, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Original Song, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – African American Theme, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Liberation/Social Justice/Protest, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· "Best Lyrics Video" – 2024 International Music Video Competition
· "Best Animation Short" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· "Best Animation Music Video" – 2024 Los Angeles Movie & Music Video Awards
· "Best Animation Music Video" – 2024 Europe Music Video Awards
· "Best Director - Music Video" – 2024 New York Film & Female Actress Awards
· "Best Music Video" – 2024 London Global Film Awards
· "Best Music Video" – 2024 Los Angeles Film Awards
· "Best Music Video" – 2024 Paris International Short Festival
· Bronze Medal: Listener Impact: Content/Message Delivery – 2024 Global Music Awards
· "Outstanding Achievement Award for Music Video" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival) New York Film & Female Actress Awards
· Finalist, Best Producer – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· Finalist, Best Original Song – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· Finalist, Best Audience Impact – 2024 Music Video Awards
· Nominee, Best Song – Cannes World Film Festival 2024
· Nominee, Best Social Justice Short – Cannes World Film Festival 2024
· Semifinalist – 2024 Dubai Independent Film Festival
· Semifinalist – 2024 Sunday Shorts Film Festival (UK)
· Semifinalist – 2024 Seattle Filmmaker Awards
· Semifinalist – 2024 Robinson Film Awards (International Film Festival)
· Honorable Mention – Best Music Video, 2024 Apex Film Awards
· Honorable Mention – Best Animated Short Film, 2024 Apex Film Awards
· Special Mention – 2025 UK Animation & Music Video Festival
· Official Selection, 2024 New York Film & Actor Awards
· Official Selection, 2024 AfroComicCon International Film Festival
· Official Selection, 2024 CAFF The Cultural Animation Film Festival
· Official Selection, 2024 Animation Marathon
· Official Selection, 2024 Tokyo International Short Film Festival
· Official Selection, 2024 Syracuse International Film Festival Honoring Outstanding Black Filmmakers
· Official Selection, 2024 Los Angeles Film & Documentary Awards
· Official Selection, 2024 Hollywood Best Indie Film Awards
· Official Selection, 2024 Independent Shorts Awards
· Award of Excellence – Music Video, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – Animation, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – African American Theme, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – Music Video, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Animation, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Original Song, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – African American Theme, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Liberation/Social Justice/Protest, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· "Best Lyrics Video" – 2024 International Music Video Competition
· "Best Animation Short" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· "Best Animation Music Video" – 2024 Los Angeles Movie & Music Video Awards
· "Best Animation Music Video" – 2024 Europe Music Video Awards
· "Best Director - Music Video" – 2024 New York Film & Female Actress Awards
· "Best Music Video" – 2024 London Global Film Awards
· "Best Music Video" – 2024 Los Angeles Film Awards
· "Best Music Video" – 2024 Paris International Short Festival
· Bronze Medal: Listener Impact: Content/Message Delivery – 2024 Global Music Awards
· "Outstanding Achievement Award for Music Video" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival) New York Film & Female Actress Awards
· Finalist, "Best Producer" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· Finalist, "Best Original Song" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· Finalist, "Best Audience Impact" – 2024 Music Video Awards
· Nominee, "Best Song" – Cannes World Film Festival 2024
· Nominee, "Best Social Justice Short" – Cannes World Film Festival 2024
· Semifinalist – 2024 Dubai Independent Film Festival
· Semifinalist – 2024 Sunday Shorts Film Festival (UK)
· Semifinalist – 2024 Seattle Filmmaker Awards
· Semifinalist – 2024 Robinson Film Awards (International Film Festival)
· Honorable Mention – "Best Music Video," 2024 Apex Film Awards
· Honorable Mention – "Best Animated Short Film," 2024 Apex Film Awards
· Special Mention – 2025 UK Animation & Music Video Festival
· Official Selection, 2024 New York Film & Actor Awards
· Official Selection, 2024 AfroComicCon International Film Festival
· Official Selection, 2024 CAFF The Cultural Animation Film Festival
· Official Selection, 2024 Animation Marathon
· Official Selection, 2024 Tokyo International Short Film Festival
· Official Selection, 2024 Syracuse International Film Festival Honoring Outstanding Black Filmmakers
· Official Selection, 2024 Los Angeles Film & Documentary Awards
· Official Selection, 2024 Hollywood Best Indie Film Awards
· Official Selection, 2024 Independent Shorts Awards
· Best Social Video, Davey Awards Gold Prize
· Best Animation, Davey Awards Gold Prize
· Best Use of Music, Davey Awards Gold Prize
· Best Music VIdeo, Davey Awards Gold Prize
· Best Art Direction, Davey Awards Gold Prize
· Best Use of Animation, Davey Awards Gold Prize
· Best Human & Civil Rights Special Project, Anthem Awards Silver Prize