BEST YOUTH THEME FEATURE

A film written and acted by foster care youth ripped from the stories of their lives. Five youth’s worlds interweave as they confront loss, heartbreak, and come of age in this tale about transience and perseverance. Addie struggles to graduate from high school while her best friend Marie loses her grandmother. Megan copes with being taken from her abusive family and faces the harsh reality of living in a residential treatment center. All the while Eva works to be mother to her sister while their father falls deeper into a crack addiction. Finally, there’s Austin who’s living on the street with his brother; barely able to feed himself. All of them must decide to survive or else fall victim to a broken system.

Know How is not a documentary nor is it fiction. It’s a hybrid approach for using film to create social change. Instead of professional screenwriters and actors, these true stories are written and performed by a cast of ordinary foster care youth – and their performances are powerful, moving, and eye-opening. Know How is a musical that brings authentic voices and unseen stories to the screen.

Producer: 
Marcus Clarke, Paul Griffin

Director: 
Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza

Lead Actors: 
Claribelle Pagan, Ebonee Simpson, Gabrielle Garcia, Gilbert Howard, Niquana Clark,

Supporting Actors: 
Ainsley Henry, Anatoli Grek, Angela Santillo, Deshawn Brown, Gary Vincent, Joshua Adams, Kraig Swartz, Lydia Jimenez, Marc A. Soto, Michael Dew, Renada Romain, Setor Attipoe, Vincent Notice

Writer: 
Claribelle Pagan, Deshawn Brown, Ebonee Simpson, Gabrielle Garcia, Gilbert Howard, Michael Dew, Niquana Clark

Cinematographer: 
Salvador Bolivar

Animator: 

Voice Over: 

Origin: 
New York, NY

Screening With: 

Length: 
106 min.