The MPI Original feature Freedom Hair won the Impact Award at the 16th Annual Naples International Film Festival (NIFF) in Naples, Florida. Named among the “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine, NIFF showcases top talent from around the globe.

Festival attendees had two chances to watch Freedom Hair, each drawing a packed audience. After each screening, executive producer and MPI executive vice president Nick Reid and executive producer and film subject Melony Armstrong participated in Q&As. They also joined the festival’s panel, “Real to Reel: Unlocking the Cinematic Potential of True Stories,” where they discussed bringing true stories to life through research, creative techniques, and storytelling in both documentaries and narrative films.

Freedom Hair tells the inspiring true story of Melony Armstrong, a mother from Mississippi who set out to start a natural hair braiding business but encountered opposition from the cosmetology lobby and restrictive state laws. Written and directed by Oscar-nominated Dianne Houston and starring Simona Brown (Netflix’s Behind Her Eyes), the film follows Armstrong’s legal fight, supported by the Institute for Justice, to overcome these obstacles and achieve her entrepreneurial dream.

You can now watch Freedom Hair online on streaming platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play. If you enjoyed the film, please consider leaving a review on RottenTomatoes.com!