Image Maker Films, Inc., a Queens-based nonprofit arts organization, is presenting Community Connections Through Film, a series of six free public film screenings and moderated discussions designed to foster social connection, cultural understanding, and mental well-being. The initiative brings together audiences from diverse backgrounds in collaboration with Queens Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, the New York Public Library, New Plaza Cinema, and the LGBTQ Open Alliance at The City College of New York (CCNY).
Running primarily from September through December 2026, with a concluding screening on January 10, 2027, the initiative responds to growing concerns about discrimination, social isolation, and the need for welcoming public spaces. Through independent cinema and open conversations, Image Maker Films seeks to encourage understanding among people whose experiences and perspectives may differ.
“At a time when we are witnessing communities being demonized, dehumanized, and subjected to calls for exclusion, we are deeply concerned about the well-being of those who are being targeted,” said Razid Season, Founder and Executive Director of Image Maker Films. “As a nonprofit organization, we believe we have a responsibility to respond—not by deepening divisions, but by bringing people together and creating spaces where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued.”
“Every individual carries something valuable within them,” Season continued. “We want to create opportunities for people to grow, express themselves, and contribute to society. Through this four-month initiative, we are bringing people from different backgrounds and perspectives onto a shared platform, using cinema to help us understand one another and recognize our common humanity.”
The program particularly seeks to engage LGBTQI+ individuals, immigrants, refugees, racial and ethnic minorities, and others who have historically faced barriers to representation and cultural participation, while welcoming audiences of all backgrounds. Each screening features independent films followed by moderated discussions, inviting participants to reflect on issues of identity, family, discrimination, resilience, and belonging.
“This is a timely and much-needed initiative. We need more programs like this that provide underrepresented communities with opportunities to participate in meaningful conversations and have their voices heard,” said Melissa Sklarz, New York’s first openly transgender elected official and Vice Chair of the New York State Democratic Party. “Image Maker Films has organized numerous programs addressing LGBTQI+ mental well-being and social inclusion, and I had the privilege of serving as a keynote speaker at one of those events last year. I appreciate the organization’s continued commitment to creating spaces for dialogue, understanding, and community connection.”
By collaborating with public libraries, educational institutions, and independent cultural venues, Image Maker Films is making its programming accessible to neighborhoods across New York City. These partnerships help remove financial barriers to participation while creating opportunities for audiences to encounter different perspectives and engage directly with artists and fellow community members.
Upcoming screenings will take place at Brooklyn Heights Library on October 17, 2026, Queens Public Library’s Central Library on November 21, 2026, and its Forest Hills branch on December 4, 2026. The series will conclude on January 10, 2027, at 2:00 p.m. at Jefferson Market Library in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. All screenings are free and open to the public.
Community Connections Through Film builds on Image Maker Films’ ongoing work in independent cinema, public education, and arts-based community engagement. By providing opportunities for representation and meaningful social interaction, the organization hopes to help reduce isolation, challenge prejudice, and foster a greater sense of belonging.
The initiative is supported by Destination Tomorrow, a grassroots organization serving as the LGBTQI+ center of the Bronx, through its LGBTQI+ Social Determinants of Health Mini-Grant Program.
About Image Maker Films, Inc.
Image Maker Films, Inc. is a Queens-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that produces and presents independent films, public screenings, and educational programs advancing equality, human dignity, LGBTQI+ inclusion, and cultural understanding, with a focus on historically underrepresented communities.
