Locally Produced Sister City Video Wins Top Honors

Homer and Teshio, Japan have enjoyed a Sister City relationship since 1984.  Over the years, the relationship has been nurtured by occasional delegation visits between the Cities.  This year, the Anchorage Consular Office of Japan offered a Japan-Alaska Friendship Video Campaign to help strengthen sister city connections.

Homer’s Park Maintenance Supervisor, Matt Steffy and friend Stevie Drescher co-produced “Sisters and Sea Messages” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNl4TsqLH5k, which won second place honors from among the eleven videos submitted to the campaign.  First place went to Obihiro City, Japan’s production of “Moving with Seward Towards a Brighter Future.” 

The value of the Sister's & Sea Message video (a first-time film production by two friends) has spread beyond rekindling a relationship that spans the ocean – it has led to a permanent cultural installation and a valuable technology donation to a local youth organization.  The Howard’s have offered to donate the 16” glass float featured in the video for display at a City location, and the prize awarded by the Consular Office of Japan for winning top Alaska honors, an Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality system, will be donated to the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic’s Rec Room, giving youth there access to many educational, artistic, puzzle solving, and social programs available today. 

Congratulations to Matt and Stevie.  Thanks for your creative work.