Sessoms is the founder of the organization “She Can Win” that trains young women to run for office and was recently awarded a large grant by the Eileen Fisher Foundation. Sessoms can recruit women from her law firm board room and suddenly hold a community gathering to speak to the block captains about their civic responsibilities and running for office.
Archives: Nominees
Jasmine Sessoms
Hi-Res Podcast
Designer Ryan Starr hosts this crisp interview-style podcast featuring Philadelphia’s designers, illustrators, photographers and creatives telling stories about the experiences that have shaped their lives and careers. New episodes post every other Tuesday on hirespod.com.
Curiosity 180 – Let’s Talk About It!
In 180 seconds or fewer, these fun animated shorts help curious viewers explore questions like “how big is the universe” or “how does the internet work.” Created and narrated by game developers from Jumpbutton Studios, the series has already been viewed more than 66,000 times on YouTube.
Continue?
For 30 minutes, comedians and friends Paul Ritchey, Nick Murphy, and Josh Henderson sit down to play a random old school video game. At the end of this online sketch show, they must decide: stop playing, or continue? Subscribers into the hundred thousands tune in to find out every week.
Viva Amiga: The Story of a Beautiful Machine
Director Zach Weddington travels back to 1985 in this feature-length documentary about the “freaks, geeks, and geniuses” behind the development of the legendary Commodore Amiga—a computer that revolutionized video, multimedia, and digital art, despite its publisher later going bankrupt.
Short Stay
Director Ted Fendt’s taut 61-minute feature debut follows Mike, a listless Haddonfield, New Jersey pizza delivery guy who finds himself subletting a friend’s apartment in Philadelphia for a short while. Described as a throwback to “early mumblecore” by the New York Times, the film made its debut in December 2016 at the Berlin Film Festival to positive reviews.
The Dark Military
In this indie horror flick from Average Superstar Films, a group of unsuspecting young adults are lured in a Halloween attraction that turns out to be a real-life fight for survival—and every terrifying move is broadcast live on the web. With nods to Battle Royale and Black Mirror, The Dark Military is a technology-driven thriller with plenty of action.
Peter English and Jeff Gregorio
What happened when an artist (English) and an engineer (Gregorio) came together to explore music and technology? Drumhenge, a new musical instrument composed of 16 drums that are played by electromagnetic vibrations. The exhibit, on display at Drexel’s ExCITe Center, is part rock show, part art installation, park interactive tech demonstration.
Kate Nyx
Kate Nyx is an everything woman: she splits her time as a musician, a touring burlesque performer and instructor, and as a seamstress and costumer who runs her own business, Closet Champion, in South Philly. The latter earned a considerable following this year for her creative, bespoke wrestling gear. Clients include wrestlers from local indie circuits as well as those in the WWE, and even brands like Haribo.
Rob Tornoe
Tornoe is a reporter and digital editor for the Philadelphia Inquirer—and one of the last remaining sports cartoonists on staff at a newspaper. His art illustrating the Phillies, Sixers, Eagles and Flyers and their surrounding communities has a loyal following on Philly.com’s Tailgaters blog.