WINNERS
2025
NOURISHING NARRATIVES
ABOUT
Nourishing Narratives is a national mobile film competition hosted by Mosaic Film Experience, in collaboration with Newman’s Own Foundation. The contest provided a platform for youth to share their perspectives on food justice and equitable food system for all.
Open to youth ages 10-18, the competition challenged participants to create and submit original films—up to three minutes in length—created and edited entirely on mobile devices. Each film was required to explore the filmmaker’s view of food justice, highlight innovative ideas or solutions, and incorporate three key elements: a fruit or vegetable prop, the saying “Tomorrow Starts Here,” and a strong connection to the theme of food justice.
Submissions were evaluated on storytelling, creativity, originality, integration for the required elements, and technical execution.
We're so proud of these young storytellers. They brought incredible creativity and passion to exploring food justice through film. These stories show what happens when young people have the tools and platform they need—they create work that sparks real conversations and drives change.
— Elizabeth Merriman, Programming and Education Manager at Mosaic Film Experience.
WINNING FILMS
Filmmakers: Mia Cuevas, Esmé Woerner, Tessa Stones, & Dale Hancock
Cocos Frios
Duarte, CA
Tomorrow Starts Now:
a story of food justice by Josiah
Filmmaker: Josiah Jesse
Brooklyn, NY
Filmmakers: Caleb Jesse & Daniel Ewer
Apples
Grand Rapids, MI
Egg-straordinary Prices
Filmmaker: Myles Fredrickson
Castaic, CA
A Just Plate: Food for All
Filmmaker: Jonathan Eric Conley
Lexington, KY
Filmmaker: Ambrosia Acevedo
Food Justice
Meridian, CT
Filmmaker: Jade Marie Mitchell
Food of Tomorrow
Leominster, MA
Filmmakers: Morgan Hawkins & Sukey Hayden
Food Justice East of the Anacostia River
Washington , DC
Filmmaker: Leah Mei Gold
Balancing the Equation
Rolling Hills Estates, CA
Filmmakers: Dylan Robinson, Madison Patrick, Paris Giles, Idris Martin, Alyssa Clarke, Dilan Oatman, Kameron Powell, & Sunny Bright
The 411 on Food Fuel
Atlanta , GA
We’re delighted to work with Mosaic Film Experiences to give a platform to young people who are passionate about food justice. At Newman’s Own Foundation, we believe that many solutions start at the community level, and bringing youth voices into the conversation is a key ingredient for change.
— Alex Amouyel, President and CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation
MEET THE JUDGES
FIRST ROUND
Rhea Singh
Principal Strategist, FoodCorps 2018, Whole Foods Market
Liz Broussard Red
Food Systems Co-Steward, Center for Mississippi Food Systems
Laurel Costello
Owner / Registered Dietitian, Embark Nutrition Counseling, LLC
Njeri Jenkins
OST Advocacy Manager, Dc Action
Chloe Garrett
Arkansas Arts Council
Kentaro Johnson
Interim CEO & Board President, Southern Opportunity Foundation
Taylor Hinton
Wellness Programs Director, Allegheny College
Mike Saunders
Program Manager of Arts + Tech, WMCAT
Tamarra Campbell
Impact Producer and Grant Writer, TMedia Impact Solutions
Mariah Barrera
Writer, Filmmaker, Break Barriers
Cady Molloy
Executive Chef, Cherry Creek School District
Chisara Ehiemere
Senior Research Lead, Return on Sustainability Investment, NYU Stern CSB
SECOND ROUND
Lacey Cornell
SNAP-Ed Senior Program Manager, Vetri Community Partnership
Janie Simms Hipp
CEO / President, Native Agriculture Financial Services
Mark Newberg
President, Stockbridge Advisors
Matthew Minor
Chief Impact Officer, Elevate Prize Foundation
Patrick Simpson
Director of Food, Health and Well-Being, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Lara Metcalf
Chief Portfolio Manager, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Kumar Chandran
Former Senior Advisor, USDA
Nishant Roy
Chief Impact Officer, Chobani
Joseph Claunch
Director of Education, Southern Ute Indian Tribe Education Department
Angela Odoms Young
The Nancy Schlegel Meinig Associate Professor of Maternal and Child Nutrition, Cornell University - College of Human Ecology
Isis Bous
Managing Director, Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation
Ryan Stephens
Co-Producer, Warner Bros. Discovery
Marisa Arbona-Ruiz
Contributing Journalist, NBC News
Jane Feldman
Principal Photographer, Jane Feldman Photography
THIRD ROUND
Tim Hotchner
Producer / Writer
Eva Maldonado
NBC Nightly News: Kids Edition
Sarah Wallendjack
Senior Director of Content Development, PBS Kids
Pamela Kirkland
Host of NPR's Morning Edition at Georgia Public Broadcasting
Alejo Vélez Ramirez (Alex)
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Back to the Roots
Amani Martin Founder
Executive Producer, Media Strategy at Peaceful Warrior
Heather Fipps
Co-Founder / Executive Producer, Hollywood Climate Summit, Senior Program Director, Redford Center
Chef Jackson Kalb
Chef / Owner, Memento Mori Hospitality
Top Chef Season 19
Rachel Cooke
Vice President of Impact at 1Community
Maria Godoy
Senior Editor, NPR
Longer Tables Fund team
José Andrés
Nourishing Narratives winners and their guardians will be flown out to LA for an exclusive celebration at Paramount Pictures on August 2.
Celebrating Nourishing Narrative Winners in
Los Angeles