MOSAIC PSA & CNN FREEDOM PROJECT
2026 TOP 10 SUBMISSIONS
FILMMAKERS AWARD WINNER
“BREATHING”
DIRECTED BY SIMONE CORDA//WRITTEN BY ALESSANDRO DI CANDIA
HUMANITARIAN AWARD WINNER
“SURVIVORS GET TIRED LAST”
SUBMITTED BY ALFRED QUANSAH FOR THE CHALLENGING HEIGHTS ORGANIZATION
VISUAL ART AWARD WINNER
“EXIT”
BY ANNA ZAIACHKIVSKA
Studio Samuel Girls Academy
“We are honored to share a short PSA created with artwork by girls from Studio Samuel Girls Academy in Ethiopia which reflects our belief that education is one of the strongest forms of protection.
I founded Studio Samuel Girls Academy after befriending a young girl who had been trafficked by her parents—an experience that revealed how quietly vulnerability can emerge when opportunity disappears.”
Submitted by: Tamara Horton
Across the street
“This PSA is rooted in a personal evolution. For decades, my work as a photographer has been guided by a search for beauty, dignity, and connection across cultures. My camera has been a bridge, allowing me to witness and share the humanity that unites us. But in 2009, at the Global Peace Summit, I was first introduced to the reality of modern slavery, an encounter that ignited a partnership and set me on a path I could not have anticipated. In 2010, that path became undeniable when that bridge shattered as I came face to face with people enslaved in a brick kiln in India. In that moment, I could no longer look away. I realized the story I had been telling was incomplete, and the truth was far more urgent, far more uncomfortable, than I had allowed myself to see. This piece reflects that turning point and the years that followed. It challenges the common belief that modern slavery exists only in distant places. Instead, it brings the issue into immediate proximity, revealing that exploitation is embedded within everyday environments, including communities in the United States. The intention is not only to inform, but to confront the viewer with their own position in this reality. By moving the narrative from “over there” to “right here,” the PSA asks the audience to reconsider their role. Awareness alone is not enough. Witnessing creates responsibility. This work invites the viewer to see differently, to recognize what is often hidden, and to understand that change begins with the willingness to bear witness.”
Submitted by: Lisa Kristine
Human Trafficking is a Crime Against Humanity
“This short film seeks to highlight the harsh reality of human trafficking and modern-day slavery within our communities, while emphasizing the urgent need for awareness, accountability, and collective action. Through visual storytelling, the PSA aims to remind audiences that human trafficking is not a distant issue, but a crime that continues to affect vulnerable people across the world. The PSA was produced by acclaimed South African filmmaker Anant Singh and veteran actress Leleti Khumalo, whose commitment to socially conscious storytelling helped shape the message and impact of the piece. We hope this contribution helps amplify the global conversation around human trafficking and supports the initiative’s mission to expose and confront this crime against humanity.”
Submitted by: Sumeet Maharaj
Closer Than You Think
“This PSA “Closer than you think” raises awareness about the reality of human trafficking within our own communities. It challenges the common misconception that trafficking only occurs across borders by revealing how victims often foster youth, immigrant or vulnerable women are exploited in plain sight. Awareness can be the difference between silence and survival empowering everyday people to report suspicious activity and potentially save lives.”
Submitted by: Marcela Silva
THE GAME MASTERS
A short film that addresses sex trafficking by following a young foreign actress who attends a party hoping to advance her career, only to discover it is a trap for a U.S.-based trafficking ring.
Conversation with Actors: Ayhan Tongadur, Rigan Machado
We are especially honored to welcome Rigan Machado, who has just received his red belt—one of the highest distinctions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We’re truly grateful for his time and for lending his voice to this important cause.
THE STORY BEHIND THE DARK WATCH MISSION
In this PSA, Mr. Thomas highlights the urgent global crisis of human trafficking, which affects 50 million people worldwide and generates an estimated $230 billion annually, funding criminal networks, violence, and terrorism. He emphasizes the economic incentives driving exploitation: victims can be sold up to 20 times per day, far surpassing profits from drugs or firearms. Criminal groups are increasingly engaging in sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and organ trafficking because of its profitability.
Mr. Thomas underscores that addressing human trafficking requires focusing on the business and financial structures that enable it. He shares how technology-driven interventions have already resulted in the arrest of traffickers and the rescue of a 17-year-old girl, demonstrating that innovative tools can directly disrupt criminal networks and save lives.
We hope this contribution will inspire viewers and reinforce the importance of confronting human trafficking locally and globally.
By noel thomas, Ceo of dark watch
PRIYANKA ANNUNCIA
Miss Universe Singapore discusses her work within the human trafficking space.