Help Filmmaker Lisa get to the Film Gala!

Hi, my name is Lisa Simmons. I am a recent graduate of Howard University receiving my MFA in Film. My Thesis film, "HESS" has just received an award from Toronto Independent Film Festival 2021. "Hess" has recently been selected for The International du Film PanAfricain Cannes in Cannes. Recently, I got an email telling me "HESS" was officially selected for possibly winning the Dikalo Award at The International du Film PanAfricain Cannes. I have never been to France nor to a film festival in my entire life. I'm an older student and this would be life changing for me. This trip will allow me to network with fellow filmmakers across the world. Next year I will begin to pay back both student loans for the BFA and the MFA.

If I am able to go to this event I could possibly bring back an award and at the same time create working relationships with others in the film industry moving forward. This is a real opportunity to build relationships that could create future work. The money would be spent on the round trip flight, hotel, event gala, and food plus travel to and from the hotel to the airport. I will also document this event. "HESS" so far has received Best Director and Best Film at the Paul Robeson Student Film Awards at Howard University. James Lopez presented me with my award that evening. At that time, James Lopez was the President of Will Packer Productions. The Awards Gala, is scheduled for October 19th - 24 2021 indicates the urgency of my request. Unfortunately the euro currency is a lot stronger than the dollar so I'm taking that into consideration with cost for exchange fees.