From June 18th to 25th, the new 2023 edition of SWIFF (Student World Impact Film Festival) took place in the United States. A few months prior, the festival received support from Phil Murphy, the current Governor of New Jersey, in a letter addressed to Mark Leschinsky, the festival's founder. In the letter, the Governor expressed his appreciation for the festival's commitment to raising awareness about global societal issues. This festival annually gathers over 13,000 films from more than 120 different countries. Approximately 300 films are selected for evaluation by a jury consisting of 500 individuals, including professionals in the audiovisual industry, students, professors, scientists, and more. This prestigious festival is regarded as one of the pioneers in showcasing films designed for educational purposes aimed at students.

The winners of the 2023 edition

Super Short Film

3rd Place Super Short Film (Under 18) - Now The Wolves Will Run

2nd Place Super Short Film (Under 18) - LUCID

1st Place Super Short Film (Under 18) - How to Make a First-Generation Mexican-American Daughter

Short Film

3rd Place Short Film (Under 18) - Sharing the Floor

2nd Place Short Film (Under 18) - Startline

1st Place Short Film (Under 18) - What do I Remember of the Evacuation ?

Drama

3rd Place Drama (Under 18) - Missing, How are you?

2nd Place Drama (Under 18) - So We Live

1st Place Drama (Under 18) - Flight

Documentary

3rd Place Documentary (Under 18) - Virginia is for glass recycling lovers

2nd Place Documentary (Under 18) - COVID/CHOIR

1st Place Documentary (Under 18) - Growing up

Animation

3rd Place Animation (Under 18) - Now The Wolves Will Run

2nd Place Animation (Under 18) - Grandma's Tale of The Magical Ou-tenga

1st Place Animation (Under 18) - Mirror Me

Feature Film

3rd Place Feature Film (Under 18) - ZENITH

2nd Place Feature Film (Under 18) - Glory of the Seat: the Chair Olympics Story

1st Place Feature Film (Under 18) - The Ancient Key

Public Service Announcement

3rd Place Public Service Announcement (Under 18) - Get Bugged

2nd Place Public Service Announcement (Under 18) - Peer Pressure

1st Place Public Service Announcement (Under 18) - End Distraction

Experimental

3rd Place Experimental Film (Under 18) - Now The Wolves Will Run

2nd Place Experimental Film (Under 18) - Joy Tune

1st Place Experimental Film (Under 18) - a ghost story

Music Video

3rd Place Music Video (Under 18) - Starry Night MV

2nd Place Music Video (Under 18) - Burnout

1st Place Music Video (Under 18) - A Fantasy

Film About a Social Issue

3rd Place Film About a Social Issue (Under 18) - Small Things Add Up (< 5 min)

2nd Place Film About a Social Issue (Under 18) - Lotus Roots

1st Place Film About a Social Issue (Under 18) - Prayer of The Birds

Global Impact Awards

Global Impact Grand Jury Award (Under 18) - Memento Mori

Global Emerging Film Visionary Award (Under 18) - My Sisters In The Stars: The Story of Lee Yong-soo

Global Impact Inspiration Award (Under 18) - Datie: The Art Tribe of Tiegang

Global Impact Excellence in Film Award (Under 18) - Get Bugged

Global Impact Grand Prize (Under 18) - Virginia is for glass recycling lovers

Comedy

3rd Place Comedy (Under 18) - The Homework

2nd Place Comedy (Under 18) - LEGO The Haircut 2

1st Place Comedy (Under 18) - What's in the Cards

Super Short Film

3rd Place Super Short Film (18 or Older) - D&T

2nd Place Super Short Film (18 or Older) - Ever Had a Kid Like Me?' 2e Perspective: ADHD

1st Place Super Short Film (18 or Older) - Roughly Seven Minutes

Short Film

3rd Place Short Film (18 or Older) - Make Room

2nd Place Short Film (18 or Older) - Underneath

1st Place Short Film (18 or Older) - Lola

Drama

3rd Place Drama (18 or Older) - Cold Summer

2nd Place Drama (18 or Older) - Her Habitat

1st Place Drama (18 or Older) - Hindsight

Documentary

3rd Place Documentary (18 or Older) - Battlers with a broken wing

2nd Place Documentary (18 or Older) - Watermarks: A Hurricane Ian Documentary

1st Place Documentary (18 or Older) - Debatable

Animation

3rd Place Animation (18 or Older) - Monochrome

2nd Place Animation (18 or Older) - Mavi

1st Place Animation (18 or Older) - After Work, Tuesday Night

Feature Film

3rd Place Feature Film (18 or Older) - UFO: They are already here

2nd Place Feature Film (18 or Older) - Feel Amazonia

1st Place Feature Film (18 or Older) - Velinattukkaasu

Public Service Announcement

3rd Place Public Service Announcement (18 or Older) - What can we do for the "Blue"

2nd Place Public Service Announcement (18 or Older) - The Farmington Land Trust

1st Place Public Service Announcement (18 or Older) - Piecing Together Humanity

Experimental

3rd Place Experimental Film (18 or Older) - Stunning 8K Resolution

2nd Place Experimental Film (18 or Older) - Chaotic Girls

1st Place Experimental Film (18 or Older) - ANOMIA

Music Video

3rd Place Music Video (18 or Older) - The Moon Rises During the Day(Sound Sculpture)

2nd Place Music Video (18 or Older) - En Tus Suenos- In Your Dreams

1st Place Music Video (18 or Older) - A Stranger with my Blood

Film About a Social Issue

3rd Place Film About a Social Issue (18 or Older) - Bumper

2nd Place Film About a Social Issue (18 or Older) - Arm Me For Peace

1st Place Film About a Social Issue (18 or Older) - Dinner at the End of the World

Global Impact Awards

Global Impact Grand Jury Award (18 or Older) - The Study Group

Global Emerging Film Visionary Award (18 or Older) - Lessons In Exile

Global Impact Inspiration Award (18 or Older) - Forget Me Not

Global Impact Excellence in Film Award (18 or Older) - Maybe Next Time

Global Impact Grand Prize (18 or Older) - I Miss You ()

Comedy

3rd Place Comedy (18 or Older) - Burgers n' Flies

2nd Place Comedy (18 or Older) - Please

1st Place Comedy (18 or Older) - Arena

The documentaries that stood out and received the highest distinction of the festival

Honorable mention of Jury

Abarjana - a way of Living

The Venus Chained

Picnic

Eclipse

Escalator

Dead at Once

With the desire to transform society, this festival concluded with kindness. This major event in the American film industry allowed young directors to express their art while conveying a powerful message. The Student World Impact Film Festival looks forward to welcoming you next year for its new edition in 2024, which promises to be filled with emotion.