Financial Literacy Through Film • April 2026
CENCAL FIN LIT
FILM FESTIVAL
CREATIVITY IS CURRENCY
“From Fresno to the world—stories that make dollars and cents.”
April is Financial Literacy Month • 501(c)(3) Sponsored
The Problem
77%
OF AMERICANS REPORT FINANCIAL ANXIETY
Nearly 8 in 10 Americans feel anxious about their financial situation. Traditional education has failed them. We believe storytelling can change that — because entertainment reaches people where lectures cannot.
Our Solution
EDUtainment.
(Education + Entertainment)
Stories about money that hit like your favorite movie — not your worst class.
“No lectures. No textbooks. Just short stories that stay with you.”
COMPOUND INTEREST
What if a short film could teach your kids about compound interest?
CREDIT SCORES
What if a comedy sketch could explain credit scores?
START SAVING
What if a documentary could inspire someone to start saving?
Past Event in Kern County, CA
The Leadership
MEET THE TEAM
KP PHAGNASAY
Co-Founder · Actor · Director · Producer · KP1 Studios
KP builds doors — and then makes sure people can walk through them. A Lao-American refugee and graduate of CSU Fresno’s Theatre Arts program, KP turned grit into a Hollywood career with credits including Netflix’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, AMC’s Interview With The Vampire, and The Brothers Sun. But the real story isn’t what he’s done on screen — it’s what he’s built off it. Through KP1 Studios and this festival, he continues to mentor new voices, elevate underrepresented stories, and create real access into the industry.
GEORGE OHAN
Producer · Finance Officer, American Legion Post 1337
US Army Veteran and NAACP Image Award Nominee whose path from service to screen took him through the LA Film School — where he graduated magna cum laude — Cannes, and leadership roles at the GI Film Festival and Asian World Film Festival. A UCLA-trained entrepreneur, George has produced content recognized by Sony Music, led hospitality operations across California, and built veteran transition programs from Puerto Rico to Hollywood. He holds a California insurance license.
Two immigrants. Two very different paths. One outcome: build something meaningful and give it back.
KP saw something in George — a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant born in Aleppo, Syria — before George ever stepped onto a set. No formal pipeline. No industry connection. Just belief. KP brought him into his first film class and opened a door that didn’t exist before. That moment turned into a working partnership, a Vietnam-era film, and ultimately, a shared mission.
They don’t lecture. They don’t preach. They entertain first — and let the message stick. Meet people where they are, respect their time, and deliver something that actually resonates.
For sponsors, this is the difference. This isn’t a concept. It’s a lived story, a proven partnership, and a platform built from the ground up — rooted in trust, community, and execution.
FilmFreeway Reviews
WHAT FILMMAKERS SAY
11 Reviews • 5 Stars across all categories
★★★★★
“The most creative festival of the year!!! Thank you for letting us be a part of the celebration.”
ADRIA K. HERNANDEZ
December 2025
★★★★★
“Thank you to the Military Movies on Mondays team for the thoughtful curation and supportive atmosphere. It was an honor to be part of a program that values storytelling and strong screenwriting.”
MEYSAM OGHBAEI
December 2025
★★★★★
“Very Interesting and helpful!! It was a great experience as a first time producer.”
DHRUVIT SHAH
December 2025
★★★★★
“Great Opportunity and communication during such an odd time for our industry. Glad to be chosen and to be a part. Thanks for the acknowledgements!!”
TOMMY ANDERSON SHERRY SEVERS
December 2025
★★★★★
“They were super communicative and easy to work with!!”
ELIZABETH KILLOUGH
May 2024
★★★★★
“Financial Literacy Film Festival is a fabulous event for fiscally-oriented films intended for augmenting monetary acumen with fervent communication, forthright jury, frank networking and flawless communication.”
KHALID KHAN
FilmFreeway
Invest in Impact
BECOME A SPONSOR
This isn’t charity — it’s a smart investment in brand visibility, producer credits, and community impact. Sponsorships made through our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor may be tax-deductible.
“You’re not just funding a film. You’re making one. Your story. Your wisdom. Your legacy — told by a professional filmmaker and preserved on IMDb forever. No other sponsorship gives you that.”
FOUNDING PARTNER
$10,000
The premier tier. You work side by side with a professional filmmaker to turn your story — your journey, your wisdom — into a narrative short film. A legacy piece that lives forever. Plus premier brand placement across all materials, red carpet recognition, VIP access, and a featured sponsor story in our film lineup. May be tax-deductible through Cinema Charity.
Tax-deductible • 501(c)(3)
BECOME A PARTNEREXECUTIVE PRODUCER
$5,000
This is your chance to sit down with a filmmaker and turn your journey — the lessons you learned the hard way, the advice you wish someone had given you — into a real film. Your investment puts 20 people on set to bring that story to life. An Executive Producer credit on IMDb is a permanent professional asset that lives forever. Logo placement across all materials and VIP access included.
Tax-deductible • Permanent IMDb Credit • 501(c)(3)
BECOME A PRODUCERCO-PRODUCER
$2,500
Your name on IMDb — permanently. A Co-Producer credit is a professional asset that lives on the world’s largest entertainment database forever. It goes on your LinkedIn, your company bio, your portfolio. No other marketing spend gives you that.
Tax-deductible • Permanent IMDb Credit • 501(c)(3)
BECOME A CO-PRODUCER
Our red carpet step-and-repeat — your brand could be next.
501(c)(3) FISCAL SPONSOR
Contributions made through Cinema Charity, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, may be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Consult your tax advisor for details.
WHY SPONSOR?
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE MARKETING
Sponsorships made through our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor may be tax-deductible. Turn your marketing budget into a tax advantage.
FINANCIAL LITERACY ALIGNMENT
Ideal for banks, credit unions, fintechs, and financial advisors. Authentic audience alignment with the communities you serve.
PERMANENT PRODUCER CREDITS
An IMDb credit is a permanent asset. It lives on your resume, your LinkedIn, your company bio — long after the event ends.
MEASURABLE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Free festival, youth mentorship, veteran workforce development. Impact you can point to in your annual report and CSR materials.
Why It Matters
OUR IMPACT
FILMMAKER EXPOSURE
A global distribution stage reaching all 7 continents. Filmmakers gain audience, sponsors gain brand visibility alongside stories that educate and inspire.
GLOBAL COMMUNITY
From Fresno to Antarctica — a proven grassroots model that scales. Your brand reaches an engaged, purpose-driven audience across every continent.
FINANCIAL EDUCATION
Every film carries a financial lesson wrapped in entertainment. Sponsors align with the $1.5 trillion financial literacy gap — the most underserved education market in America.
Our Track Record
BUILT ON YEARS OF DOING THE WORK
The only festival to unite all 7 continents through financial storytelling.
Inaugural event in Fresno, CA — local filmmakers and finance professionals create the very first edutainment short films.
Virtual global streaming — first (and only) festival to receive submissions from all 7 continents, including Antarctica.
In-person festivals in Puerto Rico — international expansion with red-carpet screenings and community events.
Las Vegas red-carpet premiere — largest attendance to date, featuring the award-winning dark comedy Gunpoint.
Military Mondays at the Movies — special veteran-focused film series.
Red Carpet Film Screenings — Fresno, Sunday, April 26, 2026 — the biggest CenCal Fin Lit Film Festival yet.
Stories & Insights
FROM THE BLOG
Stories, insights, and updates from our community of filmmakers, veterans, and builders.
Past Official Selections
FROM HOLLYWOOD TO ANTARCTICA
The Main Event
AN EVENING OF EDUTAINMENT
CENCAL FINLIT
FILM FESTIVAL
CREATIVITY IS CURRENCY
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Red Carpet Film Screenings • Fresno, California
An evening celebrating short films that make financial literacy accessible, entertaining, and unforgettable.
Watch Free
LEARN MORE
Free EDUtainment shorts and festival recaps from around the world.
Submissions Open
SUBMIT YOUR FILM
Got a short film with a financial lesson? We want to see it. Submit through FilmFreeway today.
SUBMIT ON FILMFREEWAY
Before a single frame is shot, every set goes quiet for “The Jonsey” — a safety briefing named in honor of Sarah Jones, the camera assistant whose life was lost on a film set in 2014. It is a moment of leadership, integrity, and compassion — a promise that no story is worth more than the people telling it. Human lives come first. Always.
Get in Touch
CONTACT US
Have a question, want to partner, or just want to say hello? Reach out and we will get back to you.
finlitfilmfest@gmail.com
kp@kp1studios.com
Fresno, CA
100% Free to the Community
SUPPORT THE MISSION
This festival is 100% free to the community — no tickets, no fees. Everything we do is powered by sponsors, partners, and contributors who believe in financial literacy through storytelling.
KP and George have built this program from the ground up — mentoring youth, training people in the entertainment industry to earn a sustainable living wage, and giving back through real experiences and real stories. Every contribution fuels that work.
Contributions may be tax-deductible through Cinema Charity, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Consult your tax advisor.
