Sangsun Choi, an assistant professor at Kennesaw State University, received the “Best of Festival” award in the faculty documentary category at the Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts, according to an April 9 announcement. The honor was given for his documentary “Chicken Ghetto,” which tells the story of Mable, a teenager living with sickle cell disease in a Ugandan slum.
The recognition is significant as it highlights not only Choi’s achievement but also brings attention to issues surrounding health and community support in Uganda. The festival is highly competitive, receiving more than 2,500 submissions each year and maintaining an acceptance rate of about 2%.
“This is the most prestigious film festival in media academia,” Choi said. “Receiving this award is a significant achievement, and it’s meaningful to share the value of our community and represent KSU.” He explained that while Mable faces many challenges due to her illness and poverty, the film focuses on her strength and family bonds. “She’s not just a victim of sickle cell disease,” Choi said. “She expresses herself through music and embraces her identity. The beauty of this documentary is that it shows how they embrace their challenges in a brave way and how much they love and support each other.”
Filming took place over three weeks in Uganda as part of an interdisciplinary research initiative funded by KSU’s Radow College and Office of Research. Students from KSU were involved throughout production; linguistics major Isabelle Loyd contributed editing work as part of her studies. “Working on the project gave me a broader view of language and communication on a global scale,” she said. “We considered how we could leverage alternative forms of communication to help the audience connect with the subject… I’m very glad to have been a part of this meaningful project from its early stages, and I look forward to seeing the impact it will have on the wider discourse surrounding sickle cell disease…”
Choi collaborated closely with Paul Lee, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at KSU who served as producer for “Chicken Ghetto.” “Being part of ‘Chicken Ghetto’ was both inspiring and humbling,” Lee said. “It shifted my perspective as an engineer from focusing primarily on technical solutions to recognizing the human stories behind them…”
Choi plans further work documenting Ugandan communities later this year after completing another film focused on rural areas there. His previous documentaries have been recognized at several prominent festivals including Atlanta Film Festival, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, RiverRun International Film Festival, along with winning first place at AEJMC Festival.
Reflecting on his experience sharing “Chicken Ghetto” with Mable’s family during a return visit to Uganda, Choi said: “When I went back to Uganda, I showed her and her family the documentary…and we watched it together in front of her house…That was a truly meaningful moment in my life.”
