Does My Vote Count?
Things to Consider
90 minutes | 2021
Emily L Karlsson
Does My Vote Count?
Using only iPhones, a. filmmaker and her team travel the U.S. during a worldwide pandemic, a crumbling economy, and civil unrest to find answers. Whose vote really matters, and can we change the course of history?
Screenings
Online Only
October 28, 12 PM PDT - November 3, 11 PM PST
Online at FHFF.org
Sponsored by:
Friday Harbor Film Festival
Filmmaker Q&A:
(following in-theatre screening)
About
Our story follows voters, candidates hoping to make a difference, and activists while they fight for disabled, veteran, immigrant, and Native American voter rights, as well as tackle the deep-seated issue of the black disenfranchised voter.
We document the highs and lows of these important people as they passionately fight to have every vote count in an uncharted time and historic election.
In the aftermath of Biden’s victory, we explore how that happened. Who fought to have votes counted in areas where they hadn't before? Who succeeded in doing so, and who failed?
The 2020 presidential election meant an election where we would have to adapt to vote safely in the middle of a pandemic. It meant voting during a time where the president of the United States told citizens their votes would not be counted and there would be mass fraud at the voting booths.
It also meant that like never before there were people working tirelessly behind the scenes and on the front lines to help ensure this election was fair and that everyone who wanted to vote could.
Does My Vote Count chronicles our journey across eight states to chat with these sometimes unlikely individuals, who in the darkest hour of our American dream, stood up and said, “Our vote counts, and our voices will be heard.”
FILMMAKER BIO
Emily L Karlsson
Director Biography - Emily L Karlsson
Emily Karlsson studied theater and dramatic arts at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London and then went on to study at the American Conservatory Theater of San Francisco.
She moved behind the camera to study screenwriting at UCLA extension and Media Arts at Santa Monica College. Emily’s first work behind the camera was as producer/assistant director for “Finding Benny”, which was a documentary about special needs actors living in Los Angeles with the goal of promoting their talents and hiring them to represent their community.
In 2015 she worked as a field producer for the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, where she secured in-house footage for the Olympics. In 2019 she was invited to take part in the Women Excel project with Creative Visions and directed her first documentary short I Am America, I Am an Immigrant. The film explored the work of a legal team in California, The Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWIC). The film covers immigrants who have been through the worst type of abuse and hardship as they apply for humanitarian visas to become citizens of the United States. Because of the film’s screening, a 15K grant was given to ICWIC to help their cause.
Today Emily is completing her bachelor's degree at UCLA in the film program with an emphasis on documentary. She wants to create content that gives a voice to the underserved and undervalued communities, changing the narrative to focus on how it is our differences that connect us all.
CREDITS
Director
Emily L Karlsson
I am America, I am an Immigrant
Producer
Diane Foster
I am America, I am an Immigrant.
Producer
Max Lichtig
Editor
Nancy Foster
Fostermedia LLC