Jury Statement: "One of the most treasured contributions of independent film is exploring what it is to be human with honesty and authenticity. In Valerie Weiss' A Light Beneath Their Feet, we experience just this with the intimate complexities of a high school girl's internal tug-of-war between her own sense of purpose and loyalty to the one she loves. The story beautifully weaves the struggle of being young and dealing with an oft-misunderstood disorder; and the nuanced performances by the talented cast strikes a visceral and emotional chord. We're proud to award the 2015 Stubbornly Independent Award to Valerie Weiss for her poignantly beautiful film, A LIGHT BENEATH THEIR FEET." Jury Members: Andrea Allen, Director of Production at Vimeo; James Choi, Educator & Filmmaker; Kristin Fitzpatrick, Director of Acquisitions and Exhibition, Women Make Movies; Scott Mansfield, Managing Partner, Monterey Media; Kate McEdwards, Head of Non-Theatrical, Oscilloscope Laboratories