Vox Pop Films

06/17/2025

In the preface of her best-selling book, “Lovely One,” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson thanks her high school debate coach, Fran Berger. I imagine that Ms. Berger would be very proud of what her extraordinary student has accomplished!

We were fortunate enough to meet Justice Brown Jackson and her daughter Leila at the screening of our film, . In one of the busiest weekends of the Supreme Court’s session, the Justice made time to see the next generation of leaders and changemakers profiled in our film.

Thank you to the Justice and her wonderful staff; thank you to the always eloquent students Esther Oyetunji and Mfaz Mohamed Ali; and thank you to the DC/DOX team for the invite!
....

Shannon Finney, Getty Images

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson with her daughter, Leila, attending the SPEAK. screening at DC/DOX film festival on Friday. From left to right Executive Producer Abby Ellin, Festival Co-Founder Jamie Shor, Producers Liz Kineke and Lisa Hepner, film participant Esther Oyetunji, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Leila Jackson, film participant Mfaz Mohamed Ali, Co-Director Guy Mossman and Jack Mossman.

https://deadline.com/2025/06/2025-dc-dox-festival-interview-sky-sitney-jamie-shor-1236435138/

04/07/2025

It was a beautiful weekend celebrating documentary filmmaking and community at in Durham, NC. It’s never felt more urgent to showcase the power of cinematic storytelling than now. .oyetunji, one of the eloquent speakers profiled in the film, was there with cinematographer and co-director representing the .documentary team!

Our film SPEAK. was honored with the Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights presented by Laura Edwards. Thank you for the award and a memorable weekend, and to the community for hosting us.

up, SPEAK out!



Simon Kilmurry


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Joe and Polly Wolfe

Daniel J. Chalfen



Greg Schmidt

03/25/2025

“The former speech and debate kid in me is somewhere, smiling from ear to ear, eager to see his story reflected on the big screen! Audre Lorde reminds us that ‘it is better to speak, remembering we were never meant to survive.’ For this reason, at this moment in time, we must amplify youth voices. Carve out space for their truths. May this film inspire us all to remember that our silence won’t save us.”

❤️

02/01/2025

Sundance, what a week!! We got to share Speak. and our amazing student orators with the world 📣❤️ Very special to see Sam, Mfaz, Noor, Esther and Noah light up the big screen (and Park City) 🗻

And of course, big love to everyone who worked on Speak. far and wide — these stories couldn’t be shared without you!

© 2025 Sundance Institute |
Photos by Stephen Speckman

12/25/2024

As "Speak." prepares for its Film Festival debut in January, we would like to take a moment to thank The National Speech and Debate Association, who has been our champion for almost five long years -- through a neverending pandemic, many creative challenges and lots of brilliant students, coaches and families. Shout out to NSDA's J. Scott Wunn and Dr. Mike Edmonds for believing in the project and taking a chance on us when we first called them in 2019!

"Speak." follows five American teens as they spend a year crafting spoken word performances with the dream of winning the Super Bowl of public speaking competitions: the NSDA Nationals.

We can't wait to celebrate with you in Utah! Film Festival Speech & Debate Association



Image 1 description: Mfaz Mohamed Ali backstage at the 2023 National Speech & Debate Tournament. In the foreground is the NSDA logo, and the text "The 2024 Nats as featured in 'Speak.' Documentary"

Image 2 description: Guy Mossman films 2024 NSDA Nationals contestants on stage with Scott Wunn.

Image 3 description: Guy Mossman and Cassandra Giraldo sit in the theater hosting the 2024 NSDA Nationals.

Image 4 description: Pamela Griner and Jennifer Tiexiera sit courtside as NSDA National finalists are announced.

Image 5 description: A lineup of NSDA National competition trophies sit on a table.

12/24/2024

Feeling grateful and so much love for everyone that has made 2024 so special! ❤️🙏🏻 Happy holidays from Vox Pop Films! 🎄🕎

Let’s make 2025 even better!!✨🍾

✨🎬documentary ✨📢
✨🎥
✨🎤


oyetunji ali aefer






















 




Simon Kilmurry
Meryl Metni
Daniel J. Chalfen 
Stephen J. Wolfe Foundation
The deNovo Initiative
Jamie Wolf
Joe and Polly Wolfe
Greg Schmidt

📷

12/11/2024

This has been a long time coming! (Five years in fact!) Lisa Hepner and I are so beyond proud to announce that our feature documentary film, “SPEAK.”, will be premiering at the Film Festival 2025!

Directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Co-Directed and photographed by Vox Pop Films’ Guy Mossman, Speak.Documentary captures a year in the life of five extraordinary teens from around the country as they dream of winning the Super Bowl of public speaking, the National Speech and Debate Championships.

For tix and more info, go to www.festival.sundance.org. Passes and packages are on sale right now; single film tickets go on sale January 16th.

Huge thanks to the students who trusted us with their story; the National Speech & Debate Association National Speech & Debate Association who dove into the deep end with us; our executive producer/NSDA alum Josh Gad, and to our loyal, talented and hard-working crew and financiers. We wouldn’t be here without you.

Sundance Film Festival

Our Student Orators:
Esther Oyetunji
Mfaz Mohamed Ali
Noah Chao-Detiveaux
Sam Schaefer
Noor Garoui

Our Team:
Lady & Bird Films
Stephen J Wolfe Foundation
The deNovo Initiative
Schultz Family Foundation
Truant Pictures

Directed by: Jennifer Tiexiera
Co-Directed by: Guy Mossman
Produced by: Pamela Griner, Guy Mossman, Jennifer Tiexiera

DP: Guy Mossman
Editors: Delaney Lynch Jennifer Tiexiera
Composer: Osei Essed
Executive Producers:
Lisa Hepner
Josh Gad
Simon Kilmurry
Christoph Bsaden
Abby Ellin
Hallee Adelman
Joe and Polly Wolfe
Marci Weinstein Wiseman
Daniel J. Chalfen
Susan Potter
Dawn Morgenthal Bonder
Toby Nalbandian
Greg Schmidt
Sean Bradley
Lauren Lexton
Co-EPs: Michael Sugar, Nathalie Seaver, Jamie Wolfe, Neil Berkeley
Co-Producers: Lisa Hepner, Christoph Bsaden Orly Ravid
Additional Camera: Christoph Bsaden Cesar Alvarez, Cassandra Giraldo, Bex Rodriguez Jose Element, Noah Nelson
1st Assistant Camera: Jose Element, Noah Nelson, Jeff Cerritos, Marco Rabadan
Sound Mixers: Dwight Williams Jennilee Park, ToneMesa, Inc. Kevin Hagen, Kristen Olmo, Ricardo Rivas
Additional Editing: Alex Bohs
Color: Beau Leon
Graphics: Plucky
Sound Design: Margarita Mix Hollywood

Participant Advocate: Dr Kameelah Mu’min Oseguera
Casting Producer: Liz Kineke
Development: Alexandra Garcia, Giorgio Angelini, Colby Hartburg Maggie Renshaw
Lenses Provided By: Atlas Lens Co.
Camera Systems: Sony Cine
Fiscal Sponsor: Tenth Muse Films
Sales: William Morris Endeavor Maggie Pisacane Hayley Hashemi
PR: Frank PR Clare Anne Darragh
Festival Distribution: The Film Collaborative, Jeffrey Winter, Kathy Susca

Image description: Esther Oyetunji sitting in front of red theater curtains, smiling and looking upwards. Yellow text reads "SPEAK." and at the top of the image is the "Official Selection 2025 Sundance Film Festival" laurel. In the bottom right of the image sits the Vox Pop Films logo.

07/28/2023