2022 RAFA Award Winner Announced
The top prize for our 2022 Radio & Audio Funding Award (RAFA) goes to Stepfanie Aguilar for her project, Through It All. Congratulations!
In Through It All, we meet 5-year-old Jayla, who knows something is up. “My brain is telling me we’re homeless” she announces to her Mum, Janice. It is true. The dream of a life of freedom on the open road has crumbled. With a new-born, a partner and a wise child to care for, Janice finds herself down-and-out in LA. Every moment lovingly documented with the help of her audio producer friend Stepfanie, we are drawn into the warm heart of a family that will reveal more than the statistics can ever show.
Judge, Leanne Alie said: “It has been a long time since I have listened to audio where the people have moved me this much. It is a great example of how audio can be a platform to tell a story that would otherwise go unheard. This insightful project reveals, in real time, how homelessness can happen to simply anybody, and why.”
Hugh Levinson, another member of our esteemed judging panel told us that he simply “cannot wait to find out what happens next!”
We facetimed Stepfanie who is based in LA, California to break the exciting news to her, and we interrupted her morning workout at the gym! You can watch the recording below:
After Stepfanie recovered from the initial surprise, she responded: “It’s a huge confidence boost for this work to be recognised and to receive funding for this work is really something I didn’t imagine possible when I first started documenting this story. Janice is super grateful and overjoyed as well!”
Unlike in previous years, our RAFA finalists did not pitch their projects in public in order to decide on a winner. Instead, each won £1,000 and were invited to join our RAFA Development Workshop. The additional prize bundle for the winning project consists of £4000, plus mentorship from a top industry professional.
Find out more HERE.
We would like to thank the rest of our talented finalists (see them below during our workshop) and wish them the best of luck with their onward journeys. They have set the bar for next year very high indeed.
