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A Kingston-based nonprofit film company, HUDSY, is asking Hudson Valley residents to share their stories of positive change for a new documentary project called '250 Acts of Positive.' The project aims to showcase acts of kindness, creativity, justice, healing, and connection across the region, from Westchester up to Albany, throughout 2026.
According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, HUDSY will collect 250 short videos, each one to three minutes long, highlighting community-enriching acts. These entries will be shared on HUDSY's website and social media, including YouTube, over the coming year. A selection of the most impactful stories will also be featured in a documentary set to be released at the end of 2026, with the goal of showing the world the spirit and strength of the Hudson Valley community.
Laura Kandel, HUDSY's cofounder and executive director of operations, said, "Everybody can do an act of positive change. The hope is to get that point out and that there are beautiful people doing beautiful things all around us, and in a time in this world where things feel very scary for a lot of us, we want to give a breath of fresh air." Kandel added that the project encourages even the shyest community members to step forward and share their contributions.
HUDSY was established in 2017 by Angel Gates Fonseca, Jesse Brown, and Shawn Strong as a way to support local filmmakers and connect the region through storytelling. The company has evolved into a nonprofit, allowing more opportunities for grants, donations, and community-focused projects, as described by lohud.com.
Beyond the documentary, HUDSY is also hosting the inaugural HUDSYS Community Awards, an Oscar-style event to honor artists, educators, and connectors who make the Hudson Valley more creative and united. Winners in each category will have a short documentary film produced about them, valued at $15,000, as reported by Kingston Happenings.
Anyone interested in participating in '250 Acts of Positive' can submit their story or nominate someone else by visiting the HUDSY website and filling out a short form. HUDSY will also hold pop-up events throughout the Hudson Valley, inviting community members to share their experiences in person.
The project is part of HUDSY's ongoing mission to bring people together and uplift under-served voices through independent filmmaking. As the year progresses, HUDSY plans to continue celebrating local impact and inspiring other regions to follow suit.