Happy New Year and THANKS from RSFF2020!

Dear Raws, 
 

The festival started five years ago with humble beginnings after winning a pitch competition at Caltech, IdeaLab, and Art Center College of Design to start a new media company called Raw Science. The mission is to keep fact-based experts at the forefront of culture by celebrating the best science stories around the world. 

It is truly touching to screen films each year made by extraordinary scientists and directors working hand in hand from... everywhere. There are over 100 submissions already this year from 25 countries.

Malta, New Zealand. Philippines. Qatar. Nigeria. Romania. Thailand. United States. Russian Federation. Japan. India. Greece. Finland. Columbia. Austria. Spain. Switzerland. Germany. Italy. Netherlands. Australia. Canada. Ireland. United Kingdom. Ghana. 

It is a special time as we embark on a new year.

Raw Science Film Festival just won a Best of Fest award by Fest Forums, a key alliance for event producers and entertainment industry leaders with a Board including the President of Live Nation, Editor of Billboard, Co-Creator of Woodstock (1969), Director of Glastonbury, and President of Sundance Productions. It was special to accept the award in Santa Barbara, where over 400 people drove through the worst fire in California history to celebrate science at our event. 

The festival is about to expand in a cross-cultural exchange between the US and Latin America in partnership with the Costa Rica Film Commission. 

I have a lot of gratitude for all those who have supported us along the way, and who have travelled from all corners to celebrate, year after year. Thank you to all who have joined this team, for however long the journey. 

Filmmakers: You are paving the future with curiosity and awe by sharing your passion and joy for the living universe. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. 

Have a wonderful new year. 

Ad astra!
Keri Kukral