The HUDSYS Inaugural Community Award
The HUDSYS is a new Oscar’s-style community awards show and fundraiser honoring the artists, educators, and connectors that make the Hudson Valley a more creative, united, and inspiring place to live, featuring a glam cam, award presenters, high production value, live Brasskill brass band, and more. The winner of each category will have a short documentary film created about them by HUDSY that celebrates their work and impact in the community, a prize valued at $15,000 each! In addition to the awards ceremony, there will be an after party with DJ, dancing, beverages and light bites included.
The HUDSYS was created from a simple belief: that stories have the power to connect communities. More than a traditional awards ceremony, each honoree’s work is celebrated through a short documentary film produced by HUDSY later in the year, transforming community impact into visual storytelling that can be shared for years to come.
“At the core of HUDSY is our mission to highlight stories and uplift under-served voices of the Hudson Valley”, said Laura Kandel, Executive Director of Operations. “The HUDSYS allows us to do that in a big way while also meeting our need as a nonprofit to host an annual fundraiser that doesn’t only serve us, but also serves our community.”
Awards to be Presented:
CREATE: Celebrates a person, organization, or project that exemplifies creative excellence or innovation through storytelling or artistry across any medium, and makes a positive impact on the community through their work.
Finalists: Broadway in Beacon, Paul Thompson, Unshattered
EDUCATE: Honors a person, organization, or project who creatively inspires learning, shares knowledge, and empowers others through education, mentorship, or skill-building.
Finalists: Andrea Velasquez, Career InTouch, Community Matters 2, Inc
CONNECT: Recognizes a person, organization, or project that brings people together to create meaningful community experiences and/or relationships in the Hudson Valley.
Finalists: ConnectHV, Erica Brown, Upstate Color
THE GOLDEN HUDSY: A lifetime achievement style award for a person, organization or project that exemplifies all three pillars: CREATE. EDUCATE. CONNECT.
Finalists: The Sanctuary for Independent Media, Woodstock Film Festival, Youth FX
⭐ For info and bios on all of the finalists CLICK HERE
The Process:
Over 100 nominations were received from the community and a committee chose the top three finalists in each category. A community voting period took place in January and close to 950 votes were received, helping HUDSY’s committee choose the winners.
The winner of each award will be announced LIVE during the ceremony on March 25th and will each have a short documentary film created about them by HUDSY that celebrates their work and impact in the community, a prize each valued at approximately $15,000!
ABOUT HUDSY
HUDSY is a 501c3 nonprofit film production company founded in 2017 with a mission to educate and connect communities through the power of independent filmmaking. We bring people together around stories that matter by making films that create positive change, running a paid seven-month Filmmaker Apprentice Program, and hosting community events. To learn more, visit https://hudsy.org.
