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"RISE UP & FIGHT"

Nolan's new civic anthem commemorates the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer. This film short—winner of 87 international film, music & media honors—was released last year as a call to action leading up to the 2024 national election cycle. 

"RISE UP & FIGHT" IS ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED FILM SHORTS IN HISTORY!

About "Rise Up & Fight!"

Williams’s “Rise Up & Fight” is written in the voices of James Earle Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael “Mickey” Schwerner, three civil rights workers who were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi during “Freedom Summer.” 


In the song, Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner return 60 years later to evaluate progress made since their untimely deaths. They are disheartened to discover that not much has changed on the civil rights front. In fact, in some ways, things are worse. They issue a call-to-action to their audience: “Now is the time to rise and fight, fight for what is right!”

Composed, Produced & Directed by Nolan Williams, Jr. 


Illustrations & Art Direction by Willie Cordy, Jr. 


Animation & Motion Graphic Direction by Gabriel Genesis 


Music Production by Warren Jones & Nolan Williams, Jr. 


Horn Arrangement by Phil Lassiter


Mixed & Mastered by Corey Novosel (CNOMusic LLC) 


Tracking Engineers: Daryl L.A. Hunt (Street Symphonic Studios, Inc), Warren Jones, and Brian Jacobs (Bias Recording Studios) 


Featuring Rayshun LaMarr, Benjamin H. Moore, John Riddle & Nova Y. Payton  


Also featuring the NEWorks Voices of Inspiration (Simone Brown, Teriauna Duran, Jay Frisby, Ronnette Harrison-Rollins, Devin Mercer, Nova Y. Payton, Daniel Smith, Jaquay Smith, Angel Strong-Archer, Desmond Thompson, Laura van Duzer)


Narration by Teriauna Duran  


Band: Warren Jones, Daryl L.A. Hunt, Hamilton Hayes, Quincy Phillips 


Special thanks to: Anonymous, Will Robinson, The Public Concern Foundation, and David Frederick & Sophia Lynn

WINNER OF 87 FILM, MUSIC & MEDIA HONORS!

29 FILM & MUSIC PRIZES

· Award of Excellence – Music Video, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)

· Award of Excellence – Animation, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)

· Award of Excellence – African American Theme, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)

· Award of Excellence – Music Video, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)

· Award of Excellence – Animation, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)

· Award of Excellence – Original Song, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)

· Award of Excellence – African American Theme, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)

· Award of Excellence – Liberation/Social Justice/Protest, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)

· "Best Lyrics Video" – 2024 International Music Video Competition

· "Best Animation" – 2024 Chicago Indie Film Awards

· "Best Animation Music Video" – 2024 Los Angeles Movie & Music Video Awards

· "Best Animation Music Video" – 2024 Europe Music Video Awards

· "Best Animation Short" Silver Prize – 2024 Independent Shorts Awards

· "Best Animation Short" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)

· ”Best Animation Short” – 2025 San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival

· "Best Director, Animation Music Video" – 2025 Cannes Film Awards 

· "Best Director - Music Video" – 2024 New York Film & Female Actress Awards

· "Best Human Rights Short" – 2025 Philadelphia International Filmmaker Awards

· "Best Music Video" – 2024 London Global Film Awards

· "Best Music Video" – 2024 Los Angeles Film Awards
· "Best Music Video" - 2025 Magnolia Independent Film Festival 

· "Best Music Video" – 2024 Paris International Short Festival

· "Best Poster" – 2025 Dallas Movie Awards Festival 

· ”Best Producer” – 2025 San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival

· "Best Short Score" – 2024 Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills 

· "Best Social Commentary Video" – 2025 Las Vegas Music Video Awards

· Bronze Medal: Listener Impact: Content/Message Delivery – 2024 Global Music Awards

· "Outstanding Achievement Award for Music Video" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)

· "Special Achievement Award for Social Justice & Hope" – 2024 California Music Video & Film Awards 

36 FILM & MUSIC HONORS

· Finalist, "Best Director" – 2024 Music Video Awards

· Finalist, "Best Original Song" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)

· Finalist, "Best Producer" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)

· Finalist/Nominee/Honorable Mention, "Best Short Music Film" – 2025 California Music Video & Film Awards

· Finalist, “Best Music Video” – 2025 Orion IFF International Film Festival

· Finalist/Honorable Mention – 2024 Best Shorts Competition Humanitarian Award (International)

· Nominee, "Best Animation" – 2025 Cannes Film Awards

· Nominee, "Best Social Justice Short" – Cannes World Film Festival 2024

· Nominee, "Best Song" – Cannes World Film Festival 2024

· Nominee, "Best Animation" – 2025 Cinematography & Photography Awards 

· Nominee, "Best Animation" – 2025 Simi Music Video Fest

· Nominee, "Best Animation" – 2024 Tokyo International Cinema Awards

· Nominee, "Best Animation in a Music Video" – 2025 California Music Video & Film Awards

· Nominee, "Best Animation Film" – 2025 Barcelona Indie Awards

· Nominee, "Best Animation Music Video" – 2025 Cannes Film Awards

· Nominee, "Best Animation Video" – 2025 Las Vegas Music Video Awards

· Nominee, "Best Director, Music Video" – 2025 Cannes Film Awards

· Nominee, "Best Human Rights" – 2024 Tokyo International Cinema Award

· Nominee, "Best Lyrics & Verse" – 2025 California Music Video & Film Awards

· Nominee, "Best Music Video" – 2025 Barcelona Indie Awards

· Nominee, "Best Music Video" – 2025 Cinematography & Photography Awards

· Nominee, "Best Music Video" – 2025 Las Vegas Music Video Awards

· Nominee, "Best Original Song" – 2025 Cannes Film Awards

· Nominee, "Best Original Song" – IndieX Film Fest, January 2025

· Nominee, "Best Producer" – IndieX Film Fest, January 2025

· Nominee, "Best Song in a Video" – 2025 Las Vegas Music Video Awards

· Semifinalist – 2024 Chicago Filmmaker Awards

· Semifinalist – 2024 Dubai Independent Film Festival

· Semifinalist – 2025 Madrid Arthouse Film Festival

· Semifinalist – 2025 Prague Underground Film Festival

· Semifinalist – 2024 Robinson Film Awards (International Film Festival)

· Semifinalist – 2024 Seattle Filmmaker Awards

· Semifinalist – 2024 Sunday Shorts Film Festival (UK)

· Honorable Mention, "Best Animated Short Film" – 2024 Apex Film Awards

· Honorable Mention, "Best Music Video" – 2024 Apex Film Awards

· Special Mention – 2025 UK Animation & Music Video Festival 

14 FILM FEST OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

· Official Selection, 2024 AfroComicCon International Film Festival

· Official Selection, 2024 Animation Marathon

· Official Selection, 2025 Atlanta Cinema Awards

· Official Selection, 2025 Berlin Music Video Awards Silver Screenings

· Official Selection, 2024 CAFF The Cultural Animation Film Festival

· Official Selection, 2024 Hollywood Best Indie Film Awards

· Official Selection, 2025 Independent Days International Festival

· Official Selection, 2025 Los Angeles Black Film Festival

· Official Selection, 2024 Los Angeles Film & Documentary Awards

· Official Selection, 2024 New York Film & Actor Awards

· Official Selection, 2025 Nubes Music Video Awards

· Official Selection, 2024 Syracuse International Film Festival Honoring Outstanding Black Filmmakers

· Official Selection, 2024 Tokyo International Short Film Festival

· Official Selection, 2025 Wellsboro Film Festival

WINNER OF 8 MEDIA PRIZES

· 2025 Ava Digital Awards Platinum Prize for "Best Music Video"


· 2024 Davey Awards Gold Prize for "Best Social Video"

· 2024 Davey Awards Gold Prize for "Best Animation"

· 2024 Davey Awards Gold Prize for "Best Use of Music"

· 2024 Davey Awards Silver Prize for "Best Music Video"

· 2024 Davey Awards Silver Prize for "Best Art Direction"

· 2024 Davey Awards Silver Prize for "Best Use of Animation"


· 2024 Anthem Awards Silver Prize for "Best Human & Civil Rights Special Project"

"BECOMING DOUGLASS COMMONWEALTH"

A NEWorks Productions documentary presented by the Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser | Produced, directed, co-written by Nolan Williams, Jr.

WINNER OF TEN MEDIA AWARDS INCLUDING THREE GOLD PRIZES for BEST DOCUMENTARY

About...

This one-hour documentary chronicles the long and complicated journey towards Washington, District of Columbia becoming our 51st state, Douglass Commonwealth. To date, "Becoming Douglass Commonwealth' has aired in five CBS markets and on DCTV.


WINNER OF TEN MEDIA PRIZES...

  • 2023 Communicator Award of Excellence for Best Documentary
  • 2023 Anthem Awards Silver Prize for Best Human & Civil Rights Film
  • 2022 Davey Awards Gold Prize for Best Online Documentary
  • 2022 Telly Awards Gold Prize for Best TV Documentary
  • 2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best News Feature for Television
  • 2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best Direction for Television
  • 2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best Editing for Television
  • 2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best Writing for Television
  • 2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best Political/Commentary for Television
  • 2022 Telly Awards Silver Prize for Best Government Relations for Television


Produced, directed and co-written by Nolan Williams, Jr.

Associate produced by Michael DuBose

Co-written by Chris Myers Asch & George Derek Musgrove

Hosted by Andrea Roane & Bruce Johnson

Narrated by Ralph Wesley


Featuring: 

· José Andrés, Chef/Restauranteur 

· Chris Myers Asch, Visiting Instructor, History, Colby College; Co-Author of Chocolate City

· Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher, The Washington Informer

· The Honorable Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, D.C. (2015 to present) 

· Rep. James Clyburn, D-SC 6th District 

· Robert J. Contee, III, Acting Chief, Metropolitan Police Department 

· Linda Cropp, Former Chairwoman, Council of the District of Columbia

· John J. DeGioia, President, Georgetown University 

· C.R. Gibbs, Historian

· The Honorable Vincent Gray, Mayor of Washington, D.C. (2011-2015)

· The Honorable Eric Holder, Jr., Former Attorney General of the United States

· Jamal Holtz, Co-founder, Statehood 51 for 51

· Harry Holzer, John LaFarge Professor of Public Policy, Georgetown University and Nonresident Senior Fellow-Economic Studies, Brookings Institution

· Rep. Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader, D-MD 5th District 

· Ted Leonsis, founder, Chairman, and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment

· Jane Levey, Historian, DC History Center

· Ezra Levin, Co-founder, Indivisible

· William P. Lightfoot, Former Member, Council of the District of Columbia

· Abbe Lowell, D.C. statehood advocate

· Gregory McCarthy, Trustee, Federal City Council; SVP, Washington Nationals Baseball Club 

· Phil Mendelson, Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia

· George Derek Musgrove, Professor of History, University of Maryland, Baltimore; Co-Author of Chocolate City

· Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC

· Philip Pannell, DC statehood advocate

· Robert Patterson, Professor of African American Studies, Georgetown University 

· Beverly Perry, Senior Advisor to the Mayor

· The Honorable Sharon Pratt, Mayor of Washington, DC. (1991-1995)

· Rep. Jaime Raskin, D-MD 8th District 

· Paul Strauss, U.S. Shadow Senator, D.C. (1997 to present)

· George Vradenburg, Vice President, AOL and AOL Time Warner (retired)

· The Honorable Anthony A. Williams, Mayor of Washington, D.C. (1999-2007)


#DCStatehoodNow 

"I HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE"

A Star-studded Voting Rights Anthem composed, produced and directed by Nolan Williams, Jr. | Over 2,000,000 global views

Winner of Davey Awards Gold for Best Music Video & Telly Awards Bronze for BEST SOCIAL Impact VIDEo

"HOLD ON"

Produced by Nolan Williams, Jr.

Filmed by Xavier Mack

Edited by Kevin Parisi


Music Arranged by Nolan WIlliams, Jr.

Music Produced by NEWorks Productions


Lead vocals by Nova Y Payton and Monique Steele-Griffiths


Featuring Xavier Mack, Bianca Melidor, Terrell Rogers, Jr. and Isabel Wallace-Green


Film locations: Griggs Park and Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, TX

Winner of 2023 Telly AwardS Silver Prize for Best Social Video (Dance & Performance)

"WHEN GRAN'ME COOKED"

Nolan leads the cast of his new musical, GRACE, in a performance of the finale song, "When Gran'Me Cooked." The music video, with a special introduction by Celebrity Chef and GRACE culinary ambassador Carla Hall, has garnered over 100K views!

'AMERICA' SONG PROJECT

With over 1.3 million views, this two-part video series, conceived and directed by Nolan and featuring American theatre performer Kevin McAllister and inspirational artist Monique Steele Griffiths, honors the American tradition of #PeacefulTransition. Click here for more information.

NATIONAL LACTAID COMMERCIAL

Check out Nolan's first national commercial gig, appearing alongside celebrity chef Carla Hall.

Copyright © 2021, Nolan Williams, Jr. 

All Rights Reserved.

COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Marvin Joseph 

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