DOCUTAH 2017 WELCOME
WELCOME
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 DOCUTAH Program Guide Sections are in the following order and are coded by color:
WELCOME • President’s Message • Dean’s Message • High Desert Chronicles • Filmmaker Testimonials • Judges Panel • DOCUTAH Awards Celebration • DOCUTAH 2017 Staff • The Treasure of Ali Baba’s Cave • Festival Pass Pricing and Ticketing Information
FEATURE FILMS
WELCOME
SHORTS STUDENT FILMS DOCtalks SPECIAL EVENTS SCHEDULE BY DAY SPONSORS Caution Codes are located at the bottom v i>V w «>}i Ü iÀi >«« V>L i° A—Adult Themes D—Drug Use N—Nudity P—Profanity S—Sexual Issues V—Violence W—War Images
—Invited —In Competition
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 President Richard B. Williams Dixie State University Welcome to scenic Southern Utah and the beautiful campus of Dixie State University! We are excited to have you on campus as we host the DSU DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival for the eighth year.
WELCOME
While you’re here, I encourage you to take full advantage of Dixie State’s unique brand of “active learning, active life.” In the classroom, our motto translates to hands-on, individualized learning experiences. Outside of the classroom, it leads Dixie State to host educational opportunities such as DOCUTAH screenings and DOCtalks. Just as DOCUTAH “Celebrates the Art of Documentary Film,” Dixie State is committed to teaching the future generation of filmmakers the intricacies of creating films of all forms. In this vein, we recently added a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital Film to our more than 175 academic programs. The Digital Film program provides advanced production training and the opportunity for students to work on commercial projects and documentary productions. In fact, you’ll see these students helping with the Festival and introducing films. Please take time to get to know these young filmmakers. Our students here are truly remarkable and eager to learn from you. As we all seek to be lifelong learners, documentaries provide a lens through which we can investigate social, economic, and geographic worlds that we may otherwise never have the opportunity to explore. The films of DOCUTAH take us all over the world and teach us life lessons not taught in textbooks. Through them, we learn about the rewards of exercising perseverance in the face of trials, the importance of not allowing social injustice to survive, and the longlasting effects that demonstrating compassion and hope can have on others. Documentary films foster new thoughts, spark debates, and inspire us to make a difference in the world. Thank you for joining us in celebrating this incredible form of storytelling. We hope to see you again next year at DSU DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival as we are educated, encouraged, and inspired by a new selection of documentary films.
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 Dr. Jeffery Jarvis—Dean, College of the Arts Dixie State University
WELCOME
Jeffery is Dean of the College of the Arts at Dixie State University. Previously, he served as Chair of the Music Department at the University of Central Arkansas and Associate Professor of Music for nine years. Under his leadership, the UCA Music Department commissioned and premiered an original opera by Lori Laitman based on The Scarlet Letter, developed a strong relationship with music programs in China and Taiwan, and sent student ensembles to Italy, France, Austria, and China. During his tenure in Arkansas, he also served as President of the Arkansas Association of Schools of Music. Prior to his work in Arkansas, he with the School of Music faculty at East Carolina University where he taught tuba and euphonium while chairing the Department of Instrumental Studies and serving as Managing Director of the North Carolina Suzuki Institute. He has performed extensively with the North Carolina Symphony as well as performing concertos and recitals throughout the southeast and mid-west. Jeffery holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from Baylor University and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 DSU Film Students’
“HIGH DESERT CHRONICLES” Reveal the Secrets of the Desert
WELCOME
The desert has an energy and a mystery all its own. You never know what you’ll find there. For example, a high-quality documentary film festival in a tiny corner of Utah and a University film program producing professional, feature length documentary films. This year, DSU DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival™ offers 64 films, 5 special events and 4 DOCtalk™ sessions with filmmakers. While DOCUTAH screens films from all over the world, its team also has a passion for our own part of the planet and the amazing people and stories that emerge from the challenges and benefits of living in and near the wilderness. The emptiness and starkness of the desert landscape brings out a different kind of creativity and drive in its inhabitants. Just as the animals and plants adapt, so do the people. It is for that reason that Phil Tuckett, Professor of Digital Film and Executive Director of DOCUTAH, and the students of the DSU film program decided to produce the “High Desert Chronicles” for DOCUTAH, a series of films that spring from the environs of the desert Southwest. Each year, the film students at Dixie State University work with professionals to produce films that tell those stories. “The petri dish for this whole project was a class I teach called Documentary Production. The creative process starts with a blank slate and the class begins to think of ideas. But they must think quickly. A 3–month semester does not allow for a lot of rumination,” said Phil Tuckett. “You can’t meander about and wonder about this or that. Decisions need to be made and acted on.”
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
WELCOME Phil Tuckett and Cinematographer/Director/Editor Ben Braten
Each class is capped at 15 students, who together produce a documentary for the DOCUTAH Festival each year. Each student, who finds a story, is required to pitch that idea to the class. The challenge, of course, is to make your idea interesting enough that others would give up their idea to produce yours. Students must also learn, understand and implement the practical applications of anything that is needed in the film business to bring any project to fruition.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 “You’re either asking for money, asking for equipment, asking for practical help. You’re always asking for something. So, in the case of our students, it starts out with asking the other members of the class to abandon their idea for the one you have,” said Tuckett.
WELCOME
“The first three or four years we did not quite formulate a strong enough concept to take it forward, not only for the 3 months where you get the first rough cut, but then to take that throughout the summer to prepare the film to be in DOCUTAH. I would not allow any of those films to be in DOCUTAH unless they were professional quality. We had one film idea that I really liked a lot. Judea Runs Through came up with an idea about a Navajo punk rock band called Black Fire. We went down to Flagstaff Arizona and we filmed them; we brought them here and they performed in the Electric Theater. We had lots of good elements in the can, but it never coalesced into the story that you needed to go along with just the curiosity factor.” Tuckett says that happens a lot, despite even great ideas. It is a tricky thing. It is almost an alchemy. You have the good idea, you have the interviews and shots but how do you make it look like it was supposed to be done that way. As the film program builds momentum, as the program gets bigger and more students are available to take on responsibilities, Tuckett hopes that they can have the luxury of spending more time on each film shoot, which could help flesh out those stories. He says one must be careful when you decide this is the film that you are going to devote a year of your life to. You want to be sure that it is something that you won’t get half way into and say, well I’ve wasted my time on that. “I still think ‘Black Fire’ might work but I did not want to do it myself, because part of this is as a motivational tool for the student to say, I am not going to let it just sit there. I am going to go forward with it.” A perfect example of what happens when an idea and the content really works is “My Father’s Highway”, which was the first film which fit well into the idea of High Desert Chronicles. Tuckett felt that this film really tapped into an idea that came to great fruition.
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
The next desert chronicle was “The Devil and the Angel”, a film about Kevin Lee, a master luthier who is working in the desert. Kevin is from the Southern Utah desert and as a master violin maker, he says if the violin wood is cured in a low humidity environment, when it is finished it can go any place in the world. Creating the instrument in a dry climate actually increases the tonality of the violin according to Kevin. Violins which are made in higher humidity, when brought to a dry spot such as the desert, they shrink and crack. Therefore, in our little corner of the wilderness, Kevin makes internationally renowned violins in the desert, which can be transported anywhere.
WELCOME
“I broke my own rule on that one, because usually I do not pitch an idea to the students. The project needs to be theirs. However, in that case, I did because I had always wanted to do that film since my wife and I came back to St. George. I had been told there was a road through a slot canyon that was impassable, even on a horse, and now there was a four-lane highway on it. I always wondered where did that come from and who built it. The students were a little bit unfocused with their ideas and none of them really liked their own ideas so I suggested that one and we did it. It was a big hit at the Festival.”
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
WELCOME
“Then when we heard about the work that is going on at Dixie Regional Medical Center in genetic cancer research and treatment. That really intrigued us, because when you think of the “High Desert Chronicles”, it could be an old coot with a mule looking for ore but it could just as easily be high tech too—therefore, a high desert chronicle. In 2016, that film, “Moonshot Through the Double Helix”, became the third in our series produced by our students.” This year, “Tuacahn: Miracle in Padre Canyon” is the fourth in the series. The documentary intertwines the history of that magical place with a behind the scenes look at how the production of “Shrek The Musical” came together. “Using historical stills and film to reveal the story of the creation of Tuacahn Center for the Arts and Tuacahn Amphitheatre, we demonstrate what the founders first envisioned— that Padre Canyon could be more than just landscape—and then we bring the audience through the first audition and opening night for Shrek The Musical,” continued Tuckett. “I guess for me it’s a legacy. You look to what are you going to leave behind when you are all done with this. I had 38 years at NFL Films, really helping to create that genre, but I thought I had more to offer than making football films. Coming home to Dixie State University, I saw an open field of possibilities that had been constrained by being in corporate America. By making DOCUTAH part of DSU and bringing the students into direct contact with film professionals, I get to do what I love—making documentaries—and the students get real world experience of making films—shooting, editing, producing, meeting deadlines— while still in school. It does not get any better than that.”
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 FILMMAKER TESTIMONIALS “With film festivals popping up all over the world, there is always competition for festivals to find the best talent and films. In many festivals, documentaries can be lost among the narrative films. In my experience of taking my doc, ‘The Wrecking Crew’, around the world, there is only one DOCUTAH. It stands out on its own. As a judge at one of the past Festivals, I was floored by the quality of films in competition. It wasn’t an easy job to pick winners.” —Denny Tedesco Director, “Wrecking Crew”
—Jennifer Jordan Director, “3000 Cups of Tea”
“What a thrilling opportunity to be a part of DOCUTAH with the making of Moonshot Through the Double Helix! DOCUTAH films are thought-provoking, enlightening and add elements of beauty and art to the lives of those who attend. DOCUTAH has become a mustattend event for our family and friends.” —Dr. Lincoln Nadauld Executive Director of Precision Medicine and Precision Genomics at Intermountain Healthcare.
WELCOME
“The art of documentary demands fidelity to the truth, especially when that truth speaks to power. DOCUTAH has shown itself to be courageous and unflinching in its commitment to show films which engage and challenge its audience and engender thoughtful discussion.”
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 “DOCUTAH programs an impressive variety of films that tackle both contemporary and historical social issues, as well as deeply personal topics. It’s a first-rate festival amidst the enchanting backdrop of southern Utah’s natural beauty. I’d return to DOCUTAH in a heartbeat.”
WELCOME
—Bill Brummel Director, Selma, “The Bridge to the Ballot”
“I received great feedback after my film screened at DOCUTAH. Other filmmakers said they were inspired by it, and DOCUTAH generated fans for the film. DOCUTAH has high end projection equipment and an interesting program that allows for a wide variety of subjects.” —Nicholas Steiner Director, “Above and Below”
“DOCUTAH is one of my favorite film festivals! Not only has it been supportive of me and my films over the years, but the staff is incredibly supportive of all their filmmakers! While some film festivals may only recognize a filmmaker in a fleeting moment, DOCUTAH embraces the filmmaker from the time the film is submitted to the end of the festival (and beyond!). In 2016, I was proud to screen “Upstairs Inferno” twice during the Festival, and incredibly honored to have St. George Mayor, Jon Pike, in attendance. The DOCUTAH hospitality and audience is second to none and I’m looking forward to my next experience with this incredible Festival.” —Robert L. Camina Writer/Director/Producer “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge”, “Upstairs Inferno”
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 JUDGES April Gates worked as the Distribution Manager of Student films at the prestigious American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles, for over 10 years. She followed productions closely and gave input regarding music rights, length and content etc. to make sure films were eligible for pre-Academy Award screenings, theatrical and non-theatrical release, and film festival entry. April Gates also served as a Film Chair for Utah’s long-running arts organization “Z-Arts” in Springdale, Utah. She is a current Southern Utah resident with a deep love of documentaries and is thrilled to be part of the DOCUTAH family.
WELCOME
Jennifer Jordan is an awardwinning author, filmmaker, and screenwriter, with many years of experience as a journalist, broadcast producer, radio and television news anchor, voice-over/narration talent and motivational speaker. She directed, wrote, and produced “3000 Cups of Tea”, a documentary following the meteoric rise and devastating fall of Greg Mortenson. The film focuses on Mortenson’s mission to build schools and educate girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan, a mission which was mortally, but not fatally, wounded by the scandal. Jordan’s second book, “The Last Man on the Mountain: The Death of an American Adventurer on K2”, was released by W. W. Norton in 2010. It tells the story of Dudley Wolfe, the first man to die on K2 during the ill-fated 1939 expedition, whose remains Jordan found on the glacier below K2 base camp sixty-three years after his death. It won a 2010 National Outdoor Book Award for History/Biography and soon after publication was listed as a Best Seller in Sports books in the Wall Street Journal.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
WELCOME
Kieth Merrill has created a remarkable assortment of motion pictures, television and commercials in a wide variety of formats. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Director’s Guild of America.Merrill was nominated for an Academy Award for his IMAX film, “Amazon”. He won an Oscar for his feature documentary film, “The Great American Cowboy.” That success has been followed by several feature films, television projects and an impressive array of additional recognition. Merrill is recognized as one of the leading filmmakers of IMAX motion pictures. His recent film, “Four Blood Moons”, broke records for a one day opening with Fantom events. He has been married to Dagny Johnson for 53 years, has 8 children & 37 Grandchildren. Reed Smoot, ASC, Cinematographer, has served as Director of Photography on dozens of feature films for television and theatrical release including “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey”, “The Windwalker”, “Russkies”, “Gleaming the Cube”, “Work and Glory II: American Zion”. He contributed as a cameraman on Kieth Merrill’s Academy Award-winning Documentary Feature “The Great American Cowboy” and as Director of Photography for the Academy Award nominated NOVA Documentary IMAX film “Special Effects” and the Academy Award nominated Live Action Short Subject films “The Rainbow War” and “Ballet Robotique.” He recently completed three seasons of the Netflix dramatic series “Granite Flats.” In May 2001, he was presented with the Kodak Vision Award for outstanding contributions to Large Format filmmaking.
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
Douglas Wellman began his Hollywood career as production manager of sitcoms such as “The Facts of Life”, “ Diff’rent Strokes” and others. Moving on to directing and producing, he is credited with almost 1,000 episodes of award-winning comedy programming. He was Assistant Dean of the USC film school for ten years and is the author of Boxes: The Secret Life of Howard Hughes and the upcoming “Boxes: The Secret Life of Howard Hughes, New Evidence”.
WELCOME
Denny Tedesco grew up in Los Angeles and is an alumnus of Loyola Marymount University. His father was legendary session guitarist, Tommy Tedesco. Denny did not follow in the footsteps of his father as a musician but took another creative avenue, film making. Denny directed & produced the Documentary “The Wrecking Crew”, the story of the Los Angeles Studio Musicians, including his father, that worked on almost all the hits that came out of LA in the mid 1960s. “The Wrecking Crew” may have been his labor of love, but he has produced promos, videos and commercials for various companies and networks over the last 20 years. In the late 90s, he produced the Comedy Central Show called “Pulp Comics”. Most notably in 2000, he produced the Academy Awards’ opening with Billy Crystal and also the award winning music video for Elton John’s song, ‘I Want Love,’ directed by artist Sam Taylor Wood and starring Robert Downey Jr.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 DOCUTAH AWARDS CELEBRATION Saturday, September 9, 7:00pm DSU Film Studios S. Donlee Drive, St. George, UT
WELCOME
Awards Celebration included in Gold Festival Pass $20 per person for Red and White Pass holders and the public. This year, DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival will present its Raven awards at a gala celebration at the newly opened DSU Film Studios. Guests will enjoy lovely refreshments, including gourmet appetizers and entertainment as awards are presented to filmmakers. Enjoy the views, the sunset and the excitement of a red-carpet celebration. Music provided by Soul What!?, Southern Utah’s favorite classic line-up, playing a high-energy show filled with classic RnB and Funk, from James Brown to Joss Stone!
AWARDS CATEGORIES
Best Feature
Best Short Audience Favorite—Feature Audience Favorite—Short Best Foreign Film Emerging Artist Humanitarian President’s Award Dean’s Award Mayor’s Award
Painting by Jeff Hamm
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 EXECUTIVE TEAM Dr. Jefferey Jarvis, Dean, College of the Arts Phil Tuckett, Festival Director Karman Wilson, Festival Manager Della Lowe, Director, Marketing and PR Elise West, Festival Operations Bruce Bennett, Filmmaker Relations Brian Christiansen, Programming
ADVISORY COUNCIL Shanan Arslanian, Submissions Coordinator Debi Barmonde, Lodging Coordinator Shadman Bashir, Global Outreach
John Burns, Library Liaison Christie Christiansen, Submissions & Scheduling Assistant Ken Cook, Festival Outreach David Cordero, Social Media Specialist Susan Erickson, Screening Coordinator Michael Garcia, Ticketing Director Karen Ferguson, Graphic Design Devanie Johnson, Additional Graphic Design Cindy King, Academic Liaison Dick Kohler, Film Archivist Christina Merrill, Budget Director Janie Metcalf, Volunteer Coordinator Jeanine Nay, Budget Analysis Jodi Simkins, Ticketing Coordinator Judy Tuckett, Executive Assistant Deward Wilson, Technical Director
WELCOME
Bill Brown, Technical Specialist
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 FESTIVAL PASS PRICING September 5 through 9, 2017 Each day is divided into blocks of time, during which attendees may see several short films or one feature film, as listed in the Festival Schedule. There are several opportunities throughout the Festival to attend free screenings as well. The blocks are: 10:00am—Noon Noon—3:00pm 4:00pm—7:00pm 7:00pm—10:00pm This year, Festival awards will be announced at noon on September 9th, giving all pass holders the opportunity to attend free screenings that afternoon of those films, which have won awards.
GOLD PASS—any 15 films blocks, $90 per pass BEST VALUE! This pass allows attendees the widest access to Festival screenings and includes: Premium seating at films Free Saturday afternoon screenings of award winning films Free admission to a special screening of exclusive clips from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s 10 Part Series, The Vietnam War Free admission and two drink tickets to the Red Carpet Awards Celebration and Presentation
WELCOME
• • • •
WHITE PASS—any 10 film blocks, $65.00 per pass This pass includes: Free Saturday afternoon screenings of award winning films
• •
Free admission to a special screening of exclusive clips from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s 10-Part Series, The Vietnam War
RED PASS—any 5 film blocks, $35.00 per pass This pass includes: Free Saturday afternoon screenings of award winning films
• •
Free admission to a special screening of exclusive clips from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s 10 Part Series, The Vietnam War
ADDED VALUE
•
All Festival passes include the free screening at Town Square of Far Western, 9/5, The Vietnam War, 9/8 and daily DOCtalk sessions with filmmakers.
Central Campus Ticket Office Cox Performing Arts Center 350 South 700 East, St. George, UT Box Office website: http://tickets.dsutix.com/DOCUTAH TICKET OFFICE PHONE: (435) 652-7800 Ticket Office Hours 10:00am to 2:00pm–Monday through Friday
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 The Treasure of Ali Baba’s Cave By John Burns, MLIS Reference and Instruction Librarian Chair, Dixie Forum As a member of the Dixie State University staff, I appreciate DOCUTAH and the outstanding films it brings in for our students and community to experience; there are many who feel the same way. Unfortunately, the Festival is only a week and many students and community members are not familiar with a library resource and how it can truly enrich their lives. I want to change that. The treasure of Ali Baba’s cave exists in the DSU library.
Ken Burns was my first introduction into the fascinating world of documentary film and I had to have more. His films on the Civil War, Presidents of the United States, Mark Twain, Frank Lloyd Wright, and others mesmerized me and helped me learn about the world in way I had never experienced. Ken also shared my last name so I always felt that the universe had brought me to his work because of that and I became a librarian—just another way to satiate my curiosity and desire to learn. However, becoming a librarian was also a way to help people find the amazing resources that exist in this great modern era of information. I love the capacity of libraries to enable a person to selfeducate and I wanted to help people learn all they can both inside the classroom and perhaps, more importantly, outside as well. The learning that can take place in a library is not just a one-time meal for the mind and soul. Libraries are a smorgasbord of learning that can create lifelong learning and true enrichment to the soul.
WELCOME
My heart and mind have always had an insatiable hunger to learn. I recall from an early age I would satisfy that hunger devouring programs like Cosmos with Carl Sagan (now with Neil deGrasse Tyson), Nova, American Experience, and Scientific American Frontiers with Alan Alda (to name a few). My siblings and I would be entranced by programs like Nature on PBS more so than binging on Saturday morning cartoons. I was hooked and this led me to search for more and more. My curiosity eventually led me to discover documentary film.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
WELCOME
When I came to Dixie State University as a Reference Librarian in 2012, I instantly saw the potential of DOCUTAH as part of this learning experience. DOCUTAH is a unique gem; a rare treasure that I wanted to be a part of. My motivation and passion was to help students experience the pure joy I have felt repeatedly when learning something new. Documentary films brought the world to me, widened my lens on life, helped me understand people and cultures, and fascinated me in a wide range of subjects every time. I absolutely love helping students, faculty, and community members discover the films and find one that resonates with them. The DSU Library has collected and maintained many of the documentary films that are shown in the Festival each year since its inception. This collection grows each year and is now nearly 500 films strong. Where we have rights from the filmmakers, the library has a copy of the film to check out. We even have a computer or a DVD player if you want to watch the film in the library. Because DOCUTAH is such an integral part of DSU, we also keep a copy of the film in our special collections and archive to preserve the rich history of Dixie State University. Each year, we gather the films after the Festival in September and organize all the information for our records. Since 2016, this has taken on more of a HD and digital flavor. When gathering the film files, I am now often creating a Blu-ray disc to preserve the HD footage. Once I make the Blu-ray discs, they go to our cataloging librarian, David Zielke, who creates beautiful digital records full of pertinent data for each film. This information resides in an electronic record in the library’s online catalog allowing users to find the films when searching the catalog. (One needs only a browser and an internet connection). Many others help process the films to make them available in the DSU Library, including Ellen Banadurer, her staff and student workers. We collect the films, because we know their profound value to the students. Many are used by faculty to supplement course curriculum and support the material studied in class. Often the films provide a real-world perspective on content students are exposed to in a course, a lecture, an assignment, or a textbook. These films are a wonderful way to continue to foster the mission of Dixie State to help students be active learners, forming connections between the lives and experiences in the films to content they learn in class.
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 When you are ready, come talk to any of the librarians or staff and we can help you find the films. I am always more than happy to show you how to do it and can help you in person, via chat on the library web page (library.dixie.edu), over the phone, or virtually over the internet too. You will be blown away and truly, truly enriched!
WELCOME
FEATURE FILMS
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
4 WHEEL BOB “4 Wheel Bob” tells the story of wheelchair hiker Bob Coomber and his attempt to be the first wheelchair hiker to cross the Sierra Nevada. Bob has hiked more than 100 parks in the Bay Area, and was inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame in 2007. Over the past decade, state and national parks have tried to cope with budget cuts, sequestration, and a dwindling number of visitors. As a board member of the East Bay Park district, Bob aims to motivate, educate and inspire the public to discover California’s great outdoors. Wednesday 9/6, 7:15pm, Eccles Theatre Friday 9/8, 12:10pm, Sears Gallery 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:12:00 Director: Tal Skloot Contact Information: Tal Skloot skloots@earthlink.net 510-685-5432
P
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 25 TRACKS It’s 2011 and “twentyfive” plans to write, record then release a fresh song every two weeks of the year. “twentyfive” are two unknown, indie songwriters in a bare bones studio in the industrial West of Melbourne—Australia’s music capital. They have a studio set-up which is a piece of Melbourne history—a 1957 train carriage, lovingly restored, fitted out with a Tiki Bar.
2017 / Australia Runtime: 00:53:00 Director/Producer: Fiona Cochrane Contact Information: f_reel@optusnet.com.au 613 9-510-1880
A, P
FEATURE FILMS
Tuesday 9/5, 4:00pm, Sears Gallery Thursday 9/7, 10:15am, Main Stage Theater
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 42 GRAMS
FEATURE FILMS
“42 Grams” is an intimate portrait of chef Jake Bickelhaupt’s evolution from illegal restaurateur to culinary celebrity and the consequences the transformation has on his life and marriage. After working at some of the world’s best restaurants, Jake’s aggressive personality kept him from finding a kitchen to call home, so he set out to create his own. Alongside his dedicated wife, Alexa, their “underground” restaurant becomes a foodie hot spot.
Tuesday 9/5, 4:15pm, The Electric Theater Thursday 9/7, 7:10pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:22:00 Director: Jack C. Newell Producer: Declan Ryan Editor: David Burkart Music: Takenobu (Nick Ogawa) Contact Information: Jack C. Newell jackcnewell@zaxiefilms.com
P
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 ANATOMY OF A MALE BALLET DANCER “Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer” is an unprecedented behindthe-scenes portrait of Brazilian ballet star Marcelo Gomes. Widely considered the greatest partner of his or any generation, every ballerina wants to dance with Marcelo. From his struggle to reach the top of the ballet world, to his complicated relationship with his father, the film takes us on Marcelo’s journey from the heart of the Amazon to the most important International stages. Currently at the height of his athletic and artistic abilities, Marcelo has to manage injuries in order to continue doing what he loves.
2017 Runtime: 01:23:00 Director/Producers: David Barba, James Pellerito Contact Information: James Pellerito james@retributionmedia.com 212-496-9017
FEATURE FILMS
Wednesday 9/6, 4:30pm, Main Stage Theatre Thursday 9/7, 4:15pm, Concert Hall
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 BODY AND SOUL: AN AMERICAN BRIDGE Out of all such encounters that have resulted in the richness of American popular music, none has been so prominent or so fraught with fraternity and conflict as the one between African Americans and American Jews. “Body and Soul: An American Bridge” aims to tease out the strands
FEATURE FILMS
of this cultural knot by focusing on the early performance history of the jazz standard, “Body and Soul”, one of the most recorded songs in the jazz repertoire.
Tuesday 9/5, 4:30pm, Concert Hall Friday 9/8, 7:10pm, Sears Gallery 2017 Runtime: 00:58:20 Director/Writer: Robert Philipson Producer: Shoga Films Contact Information: shogafilms@gmail.com 510-531-0512
A, P, S
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 BUZZ ONE FOUR
“Buzz One Four” chronicles the ill-fated flight of a Cold War B-52 bomber loaded with two thermonuclear bombs that crashed 90 miles from Washington DC. The crash has remained classified and details continue to be repressed by the Air Force, but it is a story the filmmaker grew up with because the pilot of the plane was his grandfather. Wednesday 9/6, 7:00pm, Black Box Theatre Thursday 9/7, 4:00pm, Sears Gallery 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:00:00 Director/ Matt McCormick, Contact Information: matt@rodeofilmco.com 503-888-5037
FF
FEATURE FILMS
Crashed planes, lost thermonuclear bombs and an Air Force cover-up: a filmmaker unpacks the secret history of how his grandfather nearly blew-up the Eastern seaboard and leaves us wondering if the United States was in greater danger of nuking itself rather than being attacked by the Russians.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
CATCHING SIGHT OF THELMA & LOUISE A most relevant film about how women experience the world. Through film clips and commentary, “Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise” explores themes of particular consequence to women: female friendship, personal freedom, harassment, rape, and empowerment. Our guides on this journey are female and male filmgoers who, in 1991, wrote letters sharing their thoughts and feelings about Thelma & Louise. Much like its namesake, “Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise” grabs you and doesn’t let you go just because you finished watching it. Some films provoke animated conversations and robust engagement. This is one of them. Tuesday 9/5, 12:15pm, The Electric Theater Friday 9/8, 10:20pm, Main Stage Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:27:00 Director/Producer: Jennifer Townsend Director of Photography/ Stuart Ferrier Editor/ Sarah Ferrier Music/ Stephen Thomas Cavit Contact Information: farbeyondfilm@gmail.com 206-697-5077
A, P, S, V
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 CHASING EVEL : THE ROBBIE KNIEVEL STORY The life of Robbie Knievel, 52 and the owner of 20 world records and 350 jumps worldwide, is profiled through his pursuit of sobriety and his attempt to escape the shadow of his father’s legacy.
2017 / Canada Runtime: 01:48:00 Director: Jesse James Miller Producers: Ken Johns, Jesse James Miller, Adam Scorgie Contact Information: Ken Johns 3067 kenjohns@profilefilms.ca 778-241-3067
A, P
FEATURE FILMS
Thursday 9/7, 7:15pm, The Electric Theater Friday 9/8, 4:30pm, Main Stage Theatre
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 CRIES FROM SYRIA
FEATURE FILMS
“Cries From Syria” focuses on child protesters, revolution icons, activists and their relatives, and high-ranking Army generals who defected to join the fight of the people. It tells the story of Syrian people who have never lost hope.
These people, like all of us, have families. They are human beings. But the choices they have are to either die from torture in Assad’s prisons, be slaughtered by ISIS, or die under the Russian bombs. So they choose to leave the country to find shelter for their kids in order to survive. Wednesday 9/6, 12:00pm, Sears Gallery Thursday 9/7, 12:15pm, The Electric Theater 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:51:00 Director: Evgeny Afineevsky, Producers: Evgeny Afineevsky, Den Tolmor, Aaron I. Butler Contact Information: evgeny@newgenerationfilmsinc.com 310-929-0036
A, V, W
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 DATA MINING THE DECEASED: ANCESTRY AND THE BUSINESS OF FAMILY
Wednesday 9/6, 10:15am, The Electric Theater Thursday 9/7, 4:20pm, Main Stage Theatre 2017 / Canada Runtime: 00:56:00 Director: Producer: Julia Creet Writers: Julia Creet, Andrew Nisker, Dennis Day Contact Information: creet@yorku.ca 416-605-3542
FF
FEATURE FILMS
“Data Mining the Deceased” prods the industry behind the exponential growth of interest in genealogy. It is arguably the largest historical enterprise in the world, and one of the largest data mining operations, driven by big religion, big business and big technology. What are the motivations of the key players and how are their ambitions affecting the millions of North Americans who are searching for answers?
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
DEEJ
Abandoned by his birth parents and presumed incompetent, DJ Savarese (“Deej”) found not only a loving family but also a life in words, which he types on a text-to-voice synthesizer. As he dreams of college, he confronts the terrors of his past, society’s obstacles to inclusion and the sometimes paralyzing beauty of his own senses. In this first-of-its-kind collaboration between a veteran filmmaker and a nonspeaking autistic, Robert Rooy and DJ Savarese share editorial control as they attempt to navigate the challenges of representing autism. “Deej” is a story told largely from the inside, by DJ—not by his parents or autism experts. Tuesday 9/5, 10:15am, The Electric Theater Wednesday 9/6 , 4:00pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:11:48 Director: Robert Rooy Producers: Robert Rooy, David James Savarese Executive Producers: Jeanne Jordan, Steven Ascher; Contact Information: rer@rooymedia.com 240-446-5317
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 DOGS OF DEMOCRACY
A universal story about love and loyalty and what we might learn from animals. Thursday 9/7, 12:10pm, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 10:00am, Black Box Theatre 2017 / Australia Runtime: 00:58:00 Director: Mary Zournazi Producer: Tom Zubrycki Contact Information: m.zournazi@unsw.edu.au 61 42-705-6943
FF
FEATURE FILMS
This is a parable about the stray dogs of Athens and the citizens who take care of them. Filmmaker Mary Zournazi explores life on the streets through the eyes of the dogs’ and peoples’ everyday experience in Europe’s poorest economy and how the dogs have become a symbol of hope for the people and for the antiausterity movement.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 DROKPA Set in the high plateau of eastern Tibet, “Drokpa” is an intimate portrait of the lives and struggles of Tibetan nomads whose life is on the cusp of irreversible change. The grasslands of the Tibetan plateau are home to the source of Asia’s major rivers. Nearly half of humanity depends on this water for survival, but the nomads know that disaster is looming. Tibetan
FEATURE FILMS
nomads, known as DROKPA have roamed on this land for thousands of years. With rare access to an extended nomadic family living at the center stage of this drastic and historical change, “Drokpa” reveals the unprecedented environmental and sociopolitical forces that are pushing the Tibetan nomads to the edge of their existence. Wednesday 9/6, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Thursday 9/7, 4:10pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:19:00 Director: Yan Chun Su Producers: Yan Chun Su, Dolma Gyab Contact Information: ysu@pobox.com 1-720-675-8568
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 DYING IN VEIN: THE OPIATE GENERATION “Dying in Vein” is a deeply personal exploration of opiate and heroin addiction through a cinéma vérité style that drops you directly into the lives of an addict in recovery, a couple trying to get clean, a family grieving the loss of their son and an emergency room physician trying to save one patient at time.
Wednesday 9/6, 4:15pm, The Electric Theater Friday 9/8, 7:00pm, Main Stage Theatre 2016 / United States Runtime: 01:09:57 Director: Jenny Mackenzie Producer: Geralyn Dreyfous Contact Information: jennymackenziefilms@gmail.com 801-554-6489
D, M, P
FEATURE FILMS
Through these stories, the film explores the contemporary belief of ‘living life pain free’ and the shame and blame that exists around addiction. The film looks at the impact of socioeconomic class on our broken treatment system, and how a group of emergency care physicians are working to save their patients from the opiate crisis.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
EXPEDITION ALASKA
Twenty teams brave the Alaskan wilderness for the competition of a lifetime. Racers will traverse over 350 miles in a non-stop sevenday race, carrying everything they will need to survive a course that pits themselves against Mother Nature and each other. Racers will mountain bike through the sharp peaks of the Kenai Peninsula, traverse mountain ranges, crevasse filled glaciers, mudflats filled with quicksand and paddle countless life-threatening rivers and rapids. A student production team from the University of Cincinnati braved the same hardships to produce this film.
Friday 9/8, 7:15pm, Gardner Center (see Special Events) Saturday 9/9, 12:15pm, The Electric Theater 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:15:00 Director: Brian J. Leitten Producers: Brian J. Leitten, Mackenzie Houston, Shannon St.George, Kevin Burke Contact Information: brian.leitten@gmail.com 917-842-5723
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 FAR WESTERN
Tuesday 9/5, 7:00pm, Town Square Friday 9/8, 4:15pm, The Electric Theater 2017 / Germany Runtime: 01:22:00 Director: James Payne Producers: Matt Leach, James Payne Contact Information: Matthew Leach leachmo1@gmail.com 918-527-0718
FF
FEATURE FILMS
“Far Western” is a feature documentary film that tells the phenomenal story of the transplant of American country music to post-World War II Japan. Nearly 70 years later, for a devoted group the music has become a lifelong obsession. Part music history and part character portrait, “Far Western” is told through the lives of musicians, fans, and live-music venue owners. Set both in modern Japan and the American South, the film explores the uncanny ability of a simple form of music to cross geographic and language barriers, forming a strange cultural bridge between the two countries. Now, these Japanese musicians have made their own pilgrimages back to America, to the birthplace of the music, playing in honky-tonks and festivals in America.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
FOREVER ‘B’
On October 17th, 1974, in the quiet town of Pocatello Idaho, 12 year old Jan Broberg was kidnapped by her family’s best friend and neighbor. 18 months later, out on bail and awaiting trial for kidnapping, Robert Berchtold (Brother ‘B’ to Jan and her family) abducted Jan a second time, triggering a nationwide FBI manhunt. Through threats and brainwashing, Brother ‘B’ successfully turns Jan against her own family, while simultaneously manipulating her parents who unwittingly paved the way for Jan’s abductions. Forever ‘B’ reveals epic failures and untold personal dramas that point to the biggest tragedy of all—that the crimes could have been prevented. Tuesday 9/5, 4:20pm, Main Stage Theatre Thursday 9/7, 7:15pm, Concert Hall 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:31:00 Director: Skye Borgman Producers: Skye Borgman, Stephanie Tobey Contact Information: skye@topknotfilms.com 323-309-2766
A, S
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 FORGIVE–DON’T FORGET At its core, “Forgive–Don’t Forget” is about the connection between two very different cultures and the importance of remembrance. When Japan surrendered to the U.S. at the end of World War II, numerous Japanese swords were confiscated and taken back to the States. The Japanese sword, while once a symbol of wartime aggression, is also deeply embedded in Japan’s rich history and spiritual heritage. In order to better understand the past and build a bridge between cultures in the present, an American filmmaker attempts to return one of these surrendered swords to its original owner.
2017 / United States Runtime: 01:08:30 Directors: Brad Bennett, Jonah Guelzo, Austin Journey, Paul Ufema Executive Producers: Paul Martin, Brad Bennett Writer/Editor: Austin Journey Contact Information: fdfmovie@gmail.com
FF
FEATURE FILMS
Tuesday 9/5, 12:00pm, Sears Gallery Thursday 9/7, 4:15pm, The Electric Theater
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
HITCHHIKING TO THE EDGE OF SANITY
As the US deals with civil unrest and a toxic political climate in 2017, “Hitchhiking to the Edge of Sanity” takes a look back to the turbulent social upheaval of the early 1970s and follows an idealistic writer and his soon-to-be-married photographer friend as they set out to find their purpose via a terrifying road trip across the Sahara Desert. What started out as two young Kansas kids setting out to find themselves traveling around Europe in late 1970, turned to disillusionment and danger. If they were looking for experiences, Ewert and Russell certainly found them. Wednesday 9/6, 10:10am, Main Stage Theatre Thursday 9/7, 12:00pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:19:00 Director/Producer: Scott Petersen Director of Photography: Pete Biagi Contact Information: scrabylon@gmail.com 818-642-6301
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 LAST MEN IN ALEPPO
Tuesday 9/5, 12:20pm, Main Stage Theatre Friday 9/8, 7:15pm, The Electric Theater 2017 / Syrian Arab Republic Runtime: 01:44:00 Director: Feras Fayyad Producers: Soren Steen Jespersen, Kareem Abeed, Stefan Kloos Contact Information: Nick Newman nick@grasshopperfilm.com 845-521-1912
P, V, W
FEATURE FILMS
The film follows the efforts of the internationally-recognized White Helmets, an organization comprised of ordinary citizens who are the first to rush towards military strikes and attacks in the hope of saving lives. Incorporating moments of both heart-pounding suspense and improbable beauty, the documentary draws us into the lives of three of its founders—Khaled, Subhi, and Mahmoud — as they grapple with the chaos around them and struggle with an everpresent dilemma: do they flee or stay and fight for their country.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
LIBERATED: THE NEW SEXUAL REVOLUTION “Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution” explores today’s young adult hookup culture. The film examines the attitudes and behaviors of young adults regarding their sexual lives and delves into the role that the stories told in pop-culture play in shaping these attitudes and behaviors. “Liberated” widens the view of today’s hookup culture by exposing the rampant sexual assaults occurring in casual sex environments like Spring Break and on college campuses. The film exposes how sexual assaults and misconduct are becoming normative among young adults and what can be done to curtail that increase.
Wednesday 9/6, 7:15pm, Concert Hall Friday 9/8, 10:10am, Sears Gallery 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:30:00 Director/Writer: Benjamin Nolot Producer: Morgan Perry Contact Information: media@liberatedfilm.com 816-293-2927
A, P, S
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 LITTLE STONES
Wednesday 9/6, 12:30pm, The Electric Theater Saturday 9/9, 10:10am, Sears Gallery 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:26:53 Director: Sophia Kruz Producers: Sophia Kruz, Meena Singh Contact Information: sophia@driftseed.org 734-904-3538
A, S
FEATURE FILMS
From a graffiti artist speaking out against domestic violence in the favelas of Brazil to a dancer rehabilitating sextrafficking survivors in India, “Little Stones” profiles four women, each of whom are contributing a stone to the mosaic of the women’s movement through their art. These four artists show that the world is full of little stones waiting to be discovered. This 87-minute documentary directed by EMMY® Award-winning filmmaker Sophia Kruz and cinematographer Meena Singh (20 Feet from Stardom, Hollidaysburg), with music by Amritha Vaz (500 Days of Summer) was produced over a period of 18 months in Senegal, Kenya, Brazil, Germany, India and USA.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
LIVES WELL LIVED
Forty people aged 75 to 100, with a collective life experience of 3000 years, share their secrets, wit, and wisdom on how to live a meaningful life. Their thoughtful perspectives reveal a treasure trove of life lessons about perseverance, the human spirit, and staying positive in the midst of the great challenges. Their stories will make you laugh, perhaps cry, but mostly inspire you to think. Thursday 9/7, 10:15am, The Electric Theater Friday 9/8, 7:30pm, Concert Hall 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:12:00 Director: Sky Bergman Associate Producer: Catherine Trujillo Editor: Randi Barros Graphic Force: Gayle Force Contact Information: Mark Lukenbill markelukenbill@gmail.com
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 NO MAN’S LAND
During the 41-day siege, the filmmakers were granted remarkable access to the inner workings of the insurrection as the occupiers went about the daily business of engaging in an armed occupation. “No Man’s Land” documents the occupation from inception to its dramatic demise and tells the story of those on the inside of this movement—the ideologues, the disenfranchised, and the dangerously quixotic, attempting to uncover what draws Americans to the edge of revolution. Friday 9/8, 7:00pm, Cox Auditorium Saturday 9/9, 4:15pm, The Electric Theater 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:22:00 Director: David Byars Producers: Morgan Spurlock, Jeremy Chilnick, David Holbrooke, Stash Wislocki, Rachel Traub, David Osit Contact Information: dgb@warrior-poets.com 970-412-6404
P, V, W
FEATURE FILMS
With unfettered access, Director David Byars gives a detailed, on-the-ground account of the 2016 standoff between protesters occupying Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, led by Ammon Bundy, and federal authorities. After the leaders of this occupation put out a call to arms via social media, the Malheur occupiers quickly bolstered their numbers with right-wing militia and protesters setting the stage for a tragic conclusion.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
NO ROADS IN
“No Roads In� is a musical journey for singer/songwriter Blake Reid, sound engineer Adam Naugler and the Blake Reid Band, whose paths were brought together by the very basis of musical inspiration. They had a common desire to reconsider what is really important in music, and in life. Finding the faith to explore a process of making music that does not rely on advanced digital recording technologies, controlled studio environments, or commercial expectations, but rather, more closely resembles the way they felt music was meant to be created and shared. Sound Engineer Adam Naugler was fascinated by a nearby abandoned homestead. Hunkered against battering winter winds, adrift on summer wheat seas, the farmhouse was so forgotten that the road in had long since faded. Yet this became the perfect place to record an album. Tuesday 9/5, 4:10pm, Black Box Theatre Friday 9/8, 10:15am, The Electric Theater 2017 / Canada Runtime: 01:18:46 Director: Josh Wong Producers: Geoff Plewes, Josh Wong, Blake Reid, Adam Naugler Writer: Christopher Leeson Contact Information: geoff@lemonade-pictures.com 403-681-2484
FF, P
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 PAPER LANTERNS Even the worst of events can bring us together and show the best of our nature as human beings. On August 6th, 1945, among the tens of thousands that lost their lives in the bombing of Hiroshima were 12 American POWs. Shigeaki Mori witnessed the blast and survived, but was forever changed. He dedicated his life to revealing to the American families what really happened to these forgotten POWs.
Tuesday 9/5, 12:00pm, Sears Gallery Thursday 9/7, 4:15pm, The Electric Theater 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:00:00 Director/Producer: Barry Frechette Editors: Max Esposito, Cliff Nash Contact Information: barryfrechette@yahoo.com 978-930-1518
W
FEATURE FILMS
Our journey in the film takes us from Lowell, Massachusetts to Harrodsburg, Kentucky to Hiroshima to tell the story of Mori and the 12 U.S. Airmen. It shows how the war impacted families in both countries, and how one man can rise above the hatred of war and heal the wounds of those terrible days.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
RUNNING ON EMPTY
After multiple deployments, Brendan O’Toole completed his final tour with the U.S. Marines in June of 2012. When O’Toole first returned home, he was in a difficult and depressed mental state similar to many of his brothers and sisters throughout the military. A cross-country journey, intended to make a difference in the beginning, was certainly looked upon as an ambitious dream. But mile by mile, America arose to show its true colors within the people along the route. The film documents these unique interactions which kept Brendan pushing through the toughest days on the road. Tuesday 9/5, 4:00pm, Sears Gallery Thursday 9/7, 10:15am, Main Stage Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:54:479 Directors: Joey Dwyer and Timmy Dwyer Producer: SGT Brendan O’Toole Contact Information: joey@jwdproductions.com 703-919-4485
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 SAUTI (VOICE)
Tuesday 9/5, 10:20am, Black Box Theatre Friday 9/8, 7:15pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:13:33 Directors/Producers: Gayle Nosal, Beret E. Strong Videography: Edwin Kariuki Editor: John Tweedy Contact Information: beret@neeneeproductions.com 303-819-1443
FF
FEATURE FILMS
The refugee crisis in Uganda’s Kyangwali Refugee Settlement isn’t new. For the people of this camp, being a refugee is a protracted circumstance endured for decades. “Sauti” (“Voice” in Swahili) follows the efforts of five young women who were brought to the Settlement as children and who, as they approach adulthood, strive to pursue their dreams for a future beyond the constraints of a protracted refugee situation in an underdeveloped host country. These five young women make choices as diverse as the countries and circumstances of their origins.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
SHOW ME DEMOCRACY
Amidst the uprising in Ferguson, seven St. Louis college students evolve into advocates and activists as they demand change through policy and protest. The documentary follows the interns’ initial frustrations with police brutality and failing school systems; their first meetings as a team; one student’s experience of being tear-gassed on the streets of Ferguson; and the group’s visits with Missouri representatives. At the State Capitol, they advocate for educational reforms that would improve educational access for students of color, those with limited financial resources, and immigrant students in Missouri. The film examines the students’ personal lives and diverse backgrounds, follows them as they cope with the events in Ferguson, and will ultimately reveal whether a group of committed young people can make a difference in complex and imperfect systems. Wednesday 9/6, 4:10pm, Sears Gallery Saturday 9/9, 10:20am, Main Stage Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:25:00 Director: Dan Parris Music: Courtney Peebles Contact Information: speakupproductions@gmail.com 314-303-0723
A, P, V
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 THE LAST PIG
Thursday 9/7, 12:10Pm, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 10:00am, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:53:48 Director/Producer/Editor: Allison Argo Producer/Cinematographer: Joseph Brunette Editors: David Kennedy, Enat Sidi Contact Information: thelastpigfilm@gmail.com 508-240-1955
FEATURE FILMS
“The Last Pig” is a lyrical meditation on what it means to be a sentient creature with the power to kill. Deeply immersive and experiential, the film follows a pig farmer through his final year of raising pigs for market. The bucolic life of the pigs on the farm is ruptured by weekly trips to the slaughterhouse. Through sparse, intimate musings, the farmer reveals the growing conflict of a life spent “peddling in death.” Through this personal journey, “The Last Pig” raises crucial questions about equality, the value of compassion and the sanctity of life.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HERO
The Other Side of the Hero takes us into that world of the first responder we rarely see: life out of uniform. Actor Enrico Colantoni, who played Sgt. Greg Parker for five years on the international hit series Flashpoint, is our guide on this journey. We’ll get to know first responders through their families, their spouses, their co-workers, and themselves; people who have experienced the flip-side of what can happen when a hero discovers that they are not emotionally immune to all that they deal with during a shift. Wednesday 9/6, 12:20pm, Main Stage Theatre Thursday 9/7, 10:10am, Black Box Theatre 2017 / Canada Runtime: 01:26:53 Director/Producer/Writer: Karen Shopsowitz, Producers: Enrico Colantoni, Diana Warme Contact Information: moviewitz@me.com 416-992-5717
A
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH
Wednesday 9/6, 7:10pm, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:10pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:26:27 Director/Writer: Loki Mulholland Executive Producers: Loki Mulholland, Jeanne Luckett Contact Information: lokim03@gmail.com 801-368-8418
A, V
FEATURE FILMS
Loki Mulholland, the son of famous civil rights activist, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, grapples with his family’s deep roots in racism as he unearths his family’s history and the truth behind their slave-owning past. Together with Luvaghn Brown, a Freedom Rider and activist, Loki explores the United States’ institutions of racism that continue to haunt our country today through his very personal journal. “The Uncomfortable Truth” is an unapologetic film that lays bare what we all need to understand about each other with an open and honest dialogue on race and society.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
THIS IS EVERYTHING: GIGI GORGEOUS
One family’s acceptance is tested when a champion diver, destined for the Olympics, announces he’s transitioning into a woman and invites his YouTube followers along for every moment. Follow the intimate journey of Gigi Lazzarato, a fearless young woman who began life as Gregory Lazzarato, only to later come out as a transgender female to an audience of millions. This film provides a raw and revealing look at a life that never compromises happiness and spotlights a family’s unwavering and unconditional love for a child. Thursday 9/7, 7:20pm, Main Stage Theatre Friday 9/8, 12:00pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:31:00 Director/Producer: Barbara Kopple Producer: David Cassidy Contact Information: cabincreekfilms@aol.com 213-343-2545
N, P
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 TOKYO IDOLS
This ever-growing phenomenon is told through Rio, a bona fide “Tokyo Idol”, who takes us on her journey toward fame. We meet her “brothers”: a group of adult middle aged male super fans who devote their lives to following her—in the virtual world and in real life. Friday 9/8, 12:15pm, The Electric Theater Saturday 9/9, 10:00am, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United Kingdom Runtime: 01:30:00 Director: Kyoko Miyake Producers: Felix Matschke, Bob Moore, Kyoko Miyake Writer: Kyoko Miyake Contact Information: marina@eyesteelfilm.com 514-937-4893
FEATURE FILMS
Girl bands and their pop music permeate every moment of Japanese life. Following an aspiring pop singer and her fans, “Tokyo Idols” explores a cultural phenomenon driven by an obsession with young female sexuality, and the growing disconnect between men and women in hyper-modern Japanese societies.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 TRUMPED
FEATURE FILMS
This feature documentary is drawn from footage shot for Showtime’s documentary series, “The Circus.” The film follows journalists, Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, and strategist, Mark McKinnon, as they experience from the inside the most turbulent presidential campaign in history.
Wednesday 9/6, 4:15pm, Concert Hall Friday 9/8, 12:20pm, Main Stage Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:45:00 Directors/Producers: Banks Tarver, Ted Bourne, Mary Robertson Producers: Mark Halperin, John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Ken Druckerman, Kevin Vargas Contact Information: Charlotte Levy bankassist@leftright.tv
A, P
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 TUACAHN: MIRACLE IN PADRE CANYON
Monday 9/4, 6:30pm, Tuacahn Amphitheatre (see Special Events) Wednesday 9/6, 7:30pm, Main Stage Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:20:00 Directors: Ben Braten, Phil Tuckett Producer/Writer: Phil Tuckett Cinematography/Post Production: Ben Braten Editors: Ben Braten, Phil Tucket Contact Information: Phil Tuckett tuckett@dixie.edu
FF
FEATURE FILMS
It sits in the majesty of Padre Canyon formed by nature eons ago. A place so magical it takes your breath away. But the vision that created Tuacahn Amphitheater was born from a reverence for nature and a desire to preserve that natural magnificence and provide a unique experience for visitors. Now the Dixie State University DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival joins with Tuacahn Amphitheatre to present a film documentary which intertwines the history of this place with a behind the scenes look at just how the incredible production of Shrek the Musical came together.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
TURN THE PAGE “Turn the Page” examines the fractured relationship between incarcerated parents and their children left behind through the lens of a jail-based literacy program called ‘Storybook’ at Ontario County Jail. Twice a month at this facility, volunteers of the Storybook Program assist inmates who are moms and dads, as they record themselves, through tears and laughter, reading children’s books onto audio cassettes. More than 2.7 million children in the US have an incarcerated parent and approximately 10 million children have experienced parental incarceration at some point in their lives. At least now through storybook, these imprisoned fathers can read a bed-time story to their children. Wednesday 9/6, 10:15am, The Electric Theater Thursday 9/7, 4:20pm, Main Stage Theatre 2017 Runtime: 01:00:00 Director/Producer: Linda Moroney Producers: Ray Maynard, Don Casper Animator: Emily Hubley Contact Information: linda@lowtotheground.com 647-645-0664
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 WHERE THE WIND BLEW
Wednesday 9/6, 7:00pm, Black Box Theatre Thursday 9/7, 4:00pm, Sears Gallery 2017 / United Kingdom Runtime: 01:14:08 Director/Producer: Andre Singer Writer: Lynette Singer Contact Information: andre.singer@springfilms.tv 44203-327-4931
W
FEATURE FILMS
“Where the Wind Blew” tells the story of how the Cold War super powers, in their race to develop more deadly bombs, spent forty years developing weapons capable of wiping out entire nations, while sacrificing their own vulnerable populations in the name of national security. In part it is the story of Kazakhstan’s place in the Cold War struggle for nuclear supremacy, and the power of the human spirit as victims and participants from that struggle find their own ways to survive. Although Soviet operations were wreathed in secrecy, it is becoming clear that the Kazakh villagers who faced the daily reality of living in nuclear fall out zones continue to be victims of a war that was not their own. Using archive footage and testimony, this harrowing story is told through the eyes of the victims, activists and participants affected by the legacy of nuclear bomb testing from Kazakhstan to St George, Utah.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
FEATURE FILMS
ZAATARI DJINN
“Zaatari Djinn” is an intimate film about the resilience of children. In the middle of the Jordanian desert a few tents were set up for several hundred Syrian refugees. Then, quick as lightning, with improvised shacks and tents, arose Zaatari, a new city consisting of tens of thousands. Through the eyes of four children, we see and feel what it is like to grow up in this place, with very little resources or prospects, but with an enormous scope for dreams. Tuesday 9/5, 12:10pm, Black Box Theatre Wednesday 9/6, 7:20pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / Netherlands Runtime: 01:30:57 Director: Catherine van Campen Contact Information: stagain@witjfilm.nl 31 (0)20 688 5049
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 ZUZANA: MUSIC IS LIFE “Zuzana: Music is Life” is the triumphant story told by Zuzana Ruzickova, now 90, of how she became a world-famous harpsichordist and interpreter of Bach under the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia after surviving three concentration camps during her teenage years. Zuzana Ruzickova’s story is remarkable not just because she returned to Czechoslovakia after the war to fulfill her childhood dream of a career in music, but also in how she navigated Communist and anti-Semitic persecution at home, while becoming a tour-de-force in concerts and competitions around the world.
Thursday 9/7, 12:30pm, Main Stage Theatre Friday 9/8, 7:20pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 01:23:00 Directors/Producers: Peter Getzels, Harriet Gordon Getzels Executive Producers: Frank and Emily Vogl, Veronika Slamova Editor- Catherine Shields Contact Information: hgetzels@mac.com 202-361-9055
W
FEATURE FILMS
Speaking in English with candid wit and piercing irony, Zuzana tells how she went from having bubonic plague and damaged hands, to becoming the first and only person in the world to record all the keyboard works of Bach. As she navigates a life of hope and fear, the little-known story of Czechoslovakia emerges, from the promise of 1930s democracy to the Nazi invasion, followed by the grinding brutality of forty years behind the Iron Curtain.
SHORT FILMS
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 1-800-GIVE-US-YOUR-KIDNEY
SHORT FILMS
In this touching short documentary, Harold Mintz recounts his decision to donate one of his kidneys to a complete stranger. In the late nineties, after a series of seemingly unrelated events, Harold inquired about donating one of his kidneys to “whomever needed it the most,” but at the time, there were no protocols in place to allow for his unusual request. He was told it would not be possible. Two years and one psychiatric evaluation later, Harold became one of the country’s first anonymous living kidney donors. The recipient, Ethiopian woman Gennet Belay, shares moving memories of the hardships she faced before the donation, offering us a glimpse into the reality of living on the waiting list. While Harold did not know her name, age or even gender as he went into the operating room, he and Gennet now share not only organs, but also close friendship. This story of love and generosity encourages us all to lend a hand — or kidney—to others, no matter how different from us they may be. Thursday 9/7, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:15pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:16:34 Director/Producer: Samantha Smith Cinematographer: Neil Barrett/Joe Ramos Music: Dimitri Smith Contact Information: Samantha Smith samismith@gmail.com www.1800giveusyourkidney.com
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 116 CAMERAS
The documentary “116 Cameras� follows Auschwitz survivor, Eva Schloss, as she goes through this unique process and reflects on her role as a speaker and activist. The film is an intimate portrait of Eva as she tells her story in an utterly new way and reflects on memory, testimony and the Holocaust. Tuesday 9/5, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Wednesday 9/6, 4:20pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 Runtime: 00:14:30 Director/Producer: Davina Pardo Co-Director: Joanna Sokolowski Cinematographer: Emily Topper Editor: Lila Place Consulting Editor: David Teague Contact Information: davina@birdlings.com 718-701-5040 www.birdlings.com www.116cameras.com
SHORT FILMS
As the Holocaust survivor population ages, we are on the brink of a turning point in its living story. We are nearing the day when there will be few survivors left to share their stories in person. Faced with this reality, the USC Shoah Foundation has embarked on an ambitious new project: to transform survivors into 3D digital projections that will interact with generations to come.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 A HOLE IN THE LEG A traumatic incident changed journalist Genevieve’s outlook on life.
SHORT FILMS
She shares her terrifying story in this short but riveting animated documentary.
Tuesday 9/5, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Wednesday 9/6, 4:20pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / Canada Runtime: 00:04:50 Director/Writer: Martine Asselin Producer: Cinecoop Productions Cinematographer: Gabriele Kislat Animation: Alexadre Roy Music: Simon Bellefleur Contact Information: Marie-Michèle Genest developpement@spira.quebec
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 ASIYEH
Thursday 9/7, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:15pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / Islamic Republic of Iran Runtime: 00:33:52 Director/Producer: Leila Merat Cinematographer: Akbar Jafari Editor: Keyhan Shadvar Contact Information: Leila Merat merat.leila@gmail.com
SHORT FILMS
What can we learn about the role of traditional methods in global health care from a bonesetter in Northwestern Iran? Asiyeh is a bone setter who lives in a village called Gavzan, in Northern Iran. From the small cities and towns around Gavzan, the afflicted come to be healed by her centuries-old methods. Asiyeh Karimi sees patients in her house and makes trips on horseback to a teahouse to offer her services. Observational scenes with patients emphasize Auntie Asiyeh’s no-nonsense character; occasional smash cuts underscore the power of her approach to the healing arts. Through persistence and gentleness, Asiyeh finds out some uncomfortable truths.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
SHORT FILMS
CAVIAR DREAMS All of us have our own ideas about what caviar is, who eats it, and why it has the reputation it does. Some of us have tried it, some of us would like to try it, and others never have and never will. In any case— whether you’ve eaten caviar or not—this delicacy can tell us a great deal about human nature, and can give us important insights into the relationship we have with our food. “Caviar Dreams” focuses on the historical and cultural significance of caviar in the US and abroad, while commenting on the environmental impact of producing caviar and the need for sustainable farm-raised sturgeon in order to protect wild populations. It shows how our desire for luxury is at variance with the sustainability of that luxury.
Friday 9/8, 4:00pm, Sears Gallery Saturday 9/9, 10:15am, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:15:00 Directors: Brian Gersten, Liv Dubendorf, Wei Ying Contact Information: caviardreamsfilm@gmail.com 847-370-7809
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 DEANERS ‘Deaners’ is the term given to proud, dedicated fans of the legendary actor James Dean. This film is a pilgrimage to the annual James Dean Festival in Fairmount, Indiana, the hometown of the actor, as seen through the eyes of the cultural icon’s die-hard fans. This playful, yet earnest dissection of the Deaners’ subculture is illuminated in all its quirky, extreme glory.
50s-inspired teenage musical duo James & Dean who started at a very early age, Naomi Yamada, who travels from Japan to share her crafted grave bouquet of 1,000 paper cranes, and renowned groupie-turned-bestselling-author Pamela Des Barres. Each contributes his or her own story of what James Dean means to them and what compels them to make that trek to Fairmount each year. Friday 9/8, 4:00pm, Sears Gallery Saturday 9/9, 10:15am, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:19:28 Director/Producer: David Garry Director of Photography/Editor: Sam Webb Music: Daniel Mehta Contact Information: david@davidgarry.com 323-533-1158
FF
SHORT FILMS
In between the carnival, parade and look-alike contests, we get to know a handful of Deaners intimately, including
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 EMILY MASON: A PAINTING EXPERIENCE
SHORT FILMS
This short documentary offers a portrait of the prolific visual artist Emily Mason. With a career spanning over six decades, the film presents Mason as a shy, yet innovative, figure in American art, a pioneer in the field of lyrical abstraction, and a master of the so-called “poetry of color.”
Tuesday 9/5, 10:10am, Main Stage Theatre Wednesday 9/6, 12:10pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:18:49 Director: Rafael Salazar Producer: Ava Wiland Music: Jon Juc Hefferman Contact Information: ava@ravafilms.com 917-355-5487
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 HAND-CUT From chainsaw to cocktail, this beautiful 5-minute documentary tracks the journey of clear, artisan ice into the hands of New York City bartenders.
SHORT FILMS
Friday 9/8, 4:00pm, Sears Gallery Saturday 9/9, 10:15am, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:05:04 Director: Griffin Hammond Contact Information: griffinhammond@gmail.com 309-533-1335
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 HEAVEN IS A TRAFFIC JAM ON THE 405 A portrait of a brilliant artist, who has always battled devastating depression and anxiety. Her hyper self- awareness has produced drawings and sculpture that describe her state of mind with powerful psychological precision.
SHORT FILMS
By examining her family history and a lifetime of her work we learn how art gave her a voice that saved her life.
Tuesday 9/5, 10:10am, Main Stage Theatre Wednesday 9/6, 12:10pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:39:58 Director/Producer: Frank Stiefel Contact Information: frank@stiefelco.com
A, P
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 HIMALAYAN REFUGEE This is a story of a people without a country. Ahmadis are a sect of Islam that are deemed Non-Muslim by the Pakistani Constitution and severe punishment is doled out to any Ahmadi found posing as a Muslim. Pakistani Ahmadis have migrated across the globe; some of them are asylum seekers in Nepal.
Thursday 9/7, 7:00pm, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:20pm, Concert Hall 2017 / Nepal Runtime: 00:27:57 Director: Nikhil Singh Rajputt Producer: Pitobash Tripathy Contact Information: nikhilsingh@me.com +91 976-907-8767
V
SHORT FILMS
Nepal doesn’t regard them as refugees, despite them being accepted by UNHCR in Nepal. This has left the 350 odd asylum seekers in a limbo, some waiting for a decade to get government clearance to be resettled according to UNHCR procedures. This is about their plight and their aspirations of a peaceful and dignified resettlement.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 I’M FREE
SHORT FILMS
On the 8th of October 2013, Geir Karijord goes missing in Romsdal Valley, Norway. This leaves his family in limbo—should they mourn their brother and son, or should they hope for his return? “I’m Free” depicts the family’s experience of Geir’s disappearance. It is an intimate documentary about loss, mental illness and living with unanswered questions.
Thursday 9/7, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:15pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / Norway Runtime: 00:19:56 Directors: Edvard Karijord, Bendik Mondal Producer: Westerdals Oslo ACT Cinematography: Christian Karlsen Contact Information: edvard.karijord@hotmail.com 474-763-3633
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 ONE WAY HOME
Friday 9/8, 4:00pm, Sears Gallery Saturday 9/9, 10:15am, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:30:00 Director/Producer: Qingzi Fan Contact Information: qf260@nyu.edu 917-660-5882
FF
SHORT FILMS
What is the cost of a free government-sponsored education? Tibetan children, Tashi and YuJu, were chosen to study in Mainland China joining thousands of Tibetan kids in the boarding schools for Tibetans only. These boarding schools prepare them to return to Tibet as China’s new elite, but the “first class” education comes with a deep loss of identity, language and culture.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
SHORT FILMS
POSTURE This is the story of professed cultural misappropriation, a founder disgraced by sexual harassment charges and the dream of being recognized as the best yoga practitioner in America. “Posture” follows similar documentaries about unconventional sporting events like Spellbound and The King of Kong. It goes behind the scenes with three yogis in the adult women’s division as they pose their way toward a shot at the national title. Each athlete has more at stake than a congratulatory medal. From chronic illnesses to prosthetic legs, these yogis bring more baggage than just a yoga mat. They also seek victory against those who oppose legitimizing yoga as a sport. For the skeptical yoga purists, the competition is seen as an insensitive detachment from the practice’s spiritual roots. Friday 9/8, 4:00pm, Sears Gallery Saturday 9/9, 10:15am, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:26:09 Directors: Daniel A. Nelson, Nathan Bender Contact Information: posturefilm@gmail.com
P
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 REMAND Henry, a Ugandan teenager, was losing hope, languishing in prison for two murders he didn’t commit. Jim’s comfortable life as a Los Angeles lawyer and law professor nearly ensured he and Henry would never meet. “Remand” tells the firsthand, true story of how Henry and Jim, separated not only by an ocean and thousands of miles, but also differing cultures and life experiences, met and worked together to inspire justice reform for an entire country.
You will look deep into the faces of despair, through the eyes of twelve law students, as they meet these prisoners in their darkest hours. Watch as the story unfolds and leads to dramatic change in the criminal justice system of an entire country in the wake of this work. Thursday 9/7, 7:00pm, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:20pm, Concert Hall 2016 / United States Runtime: 00:39:39 Director: Craig Detweiler Producers: Michelle Abnet, Randy Brewer, Zach Prichard Executive Producers: Angela Bassett, Janet Kerr, Dale Brown Cinematographer: John Pope Contact Information: Michael Saltzman michael@saltzmanpr.com www.remandfilm.com
SHORT FILMS
A simple suggestion made by two law students led to deep and systemic changes in the Ugandan criminal justice system and benefited thousands of people, including Henry and several other prisoners desperate for justice. Their stories are told in this film.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
SHORT FILMS
SHIVANI
When two-year old Dolly Shivani set a national archery record in India, she appeared in international press as a striking and incongruous image: A tiny girl peering with uncanny intensity down the shaft of an arrow. Dolly’s aging parents believe her to be the reincarnation of her brother Lenin, a champion archer who died in an accident at the age of 26. Tuesday 9/5, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Wednesday 9/6, 4:20pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:19:19 Director: Jamie Dobie Producers: Jamie Dobie, Vijay Pamarathi Cinematographer: Michael Fuchs Editor: Melanie Vi Levy Contact Information: jamie.dobie@gmail.com 631-617-3151 www.shivanifilm.com
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 SOBER MINDS
Thursday 9/7, 7:00pm, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:20pm, Concert Hall 2017 / Ireland Runtime: 00:16:39 Director/Producer: Charlo Johnson Contact Information: Charlo Johnson iamcharlojohnson@gmail.com 0035385-717-3825 www.charlojohnson.com/soberminds
SHORT FILMS
Sober Minds highlights the hidden beauty of our urban wildlife in an autobiographical documentary that examines a natural cure for depression.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
SHORT FILMS
SOULS OF THE VERMILION SEA
“Souls of the Vermilion Sea” tells the story behind the struggle to save the vaquita—the world’s most endangered marine mammal. This unique species of porpoise is found only in the northernmost waters of the Gulf of California in Mexico, and is being driven to extinction by a nefarious illegal wildlife trade. The swim bladder of a fish called the totoaba is worth tens of thousands of dollars in China, and the booming illegal fishery for this species has driven the vaquita frighteningly close to extinction. “Souls of the Vermilion Sea” chronicles the efforts of a select few dedicated individuals who have committed themselves to the protection of this unique species and its surrounding ecosystem. Breathtaking scenery, intimate conversations and distinctive animation create a powerful and revealing film with the potential to influence change. Tuesday 9/5, 10:10am, Main Stage Theatre Wednesday 9/6, 12:10pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:28:51 Directors: Sean Bogle, Matthew Podolsky Contact Information: Matthew Podolsky matthew@wildlensinc.org
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 THE COLLECTION
Thursday 9/7, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:15pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:11:15 Director/Producer: Adam Roffman Cinematographer/Editor: Nathaniel Hansen Contact Information: adamroffmanis@gmail.com 617-966-4236
FF
SHORT FILMS
“The Collection� is a short documentary about two friends, DJ Ginsberg and Marilyn Wagner, and their discovery of an astonishing and unique collection of movie memorabilia, comprised of over 40,000 printer blocks and 20,000 printer plates used to create the original newspaper advertisements for virtually every movie released in the United States from the silent period through 1984, when newspapers stopped using the letterpress format.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
SHORT FILMS
THE GREAT THEATER
The Grand Theater in Warsaw is the largest opera theatre in the world. Now, thanks to Slawomir Batyra’s careful observations, everybody has a chance to see what happens backstage during rehearsals for Madama Butterfly directed by Mariusz Trelinski. This film journey behind the scenes gives us an opportunity to discover this unknown, remarkable world, which is just as fascinating as what is presented on stage. The film is a visually and theatrically sophisticated symphony of images, sounds and light, which enables a metaphorical understanding of how real art is created. Tuesday 9/5, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Wednesday 9/6, 4:20pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / Poland Runtime: 00:30:00 Director/Writer: Slawomir Batyra Producer: Adam Sokolowski Contact Information: arostropowicz@gmail.com 4850-022-8298
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 THE ORIGINAL RICHARD MCMAHAN Olympia Stone directs this surprising portrait of a most unusual artist. The multi-talented outsider artist, Richard McMahan, is on a quest to painstakingly re-create thousands of famous and not-sofamous paintings and artifacts—in miniature. From well-loved Picasso and Frida Kahlo paintings to more obscure intricate Maori canoes, McMahan has mastered dozens of genres over 30 years of creating. And he’s made most of it on a cluttered kitchen counter using recycled materials. McMahan is also the curator of a mini-museum with a collection that surveys the scope of humanity’s visual record.
2017 / United States Runtime: 00:20:45 Director: Olympia Stone Writer: Jody Becker Graphic Design: Todd Lanning Contact Information: olympiastone@gmail.com 919-967-0175
FF
SHORT FILMS
Thursday 9/7, 7:00pm, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:20pm, Concert Hall
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
SHORT FILMS
THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD
“There Goes the Neighborhood” intimately follows an extended Black family of View Park, California as they experience demographic changes that are altering their beloved community through gentrification. Adele Cadres, a long-time resident and mother of three, gives us insight into the history of the neighborhood. Ayana Cadres, her eldest daughter, raises her biracial children with the hopes that they foster the utmost respect and reverence for the black community she grew up in. Adele’s youngest daughter, Aida, struggles to find an affordable home in the neighborhood due to increasing property values. As the family and other residents reflect on the history and culture of their neighborhood, they debate the issues of maintaining a changing community. Thursday 9/7, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:15pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:26:36 Director: Angelique Molina Producer: Liliana Granados Contact Information: tgtnmovie@gmail.com 909-241-3179
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 TIMBERLINE
Thursday 9/7, 7:00pm, Sears Gallery Friday 9/8, 4:20pm, Concert Hall 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:12:51 Director: Elaine McMillion Sheldon Executive Producers: Laura Poitras, Charlotte Cook, AJ Schnack Contact Information: Mark Lukenbill markelukenbill@gmail.com
SHORT FILMS
When a 450-resident Navy base is decommissioned, the small town of Sugar Grove, West Virginia loses its largest economic engine. As the Navy base is put up for auction, local residents watch intently to see who will be the highest bidder. But it is the tenants that never left, operating NSA satellites from an underground bunker in the mountains overlooking the Navy base, that remain shrouded in mystery. In less than 15 minutes, filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon impressively taps into the layers of this small town— dissecting the dissonance between what one is told and what is the truth.
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
SHORT FILMS
VOICES OF FIRE
Through the timeline of the tragic Idaho Soda Fire, “Voices of Fire” explores the role of wildfires on the Western landscape. How will the Bureau of Land Management, the ranchers, and the ecosystem rebound from this tragedy and what can be done to prevent another Soda Fire in the future? The goal is to use the Soda Fire as a case study to discuss how to manage and prevent future wildfires in the area. Tuesday 9/5, 10:00am, Sears Gallery Wednesday 9/6, 4:20pm, Dunford Auditorium 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:25:08 Director/Producer: Hugo Sindelar Contact Information: rjphoto13@gmail.com 832-651-4599
FF
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 WINTER’S WATCH
Tuesday 9/5, 10:10am, Main Stage Theatre Wednesday 9/6, 12:10pm, Black Box Theatre 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:14:00 Director/Producer: Brian Bolster Contact Information: briansbolster@icloud.com 646-549-1824
FF
SHORT FILMS
Located ten miles off the coast of mainland New England, the Oceanic Hotel is the grand, yet farfrom-modern, home to the thousands of guests who brave the choppy seas to visit during the warmer spring and summer months. Offseason, the hotel and the 43-acre Star Island on which it sits, is home to one woman— its winter caretaker who braves the colder, darker months of inclement weather by embracing the solitude and finding inspiration and life in what would otherwise be considered the ‘bones’ of winter.
SPECIAL STUDENT FILM
DOCUTAH C AH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 KENT HARRISON HAYES— THE MOST IMPORTANT MAN IN THE WORLD
SPECIAL STUDENT FILM
Special High School Student Short Film
Kent Harrison Hayes is a Southern Utah multi-talented artist. As the world of art evolves, Kent is carving a new place for his creativity as a digital artist—with laughter, humility and love. A Senior at Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts, filmmaker Shane Hecksel has been involved in making films since the age of eleven. His passion was so strong, he started working part-time in order to buy his own equipment. Whether creating his own film, or acting as crew on a fellow filmmaker’s set, Shane enjoys every part of the process. His goal is to turn this passion into a career. Saturday 9/9, 12:15pm, The Electric Theater 2017 / United States Runtime: 00:28:42 Director/Cinematographer/Editor: Shane Hecksel Producer: Patti Hecksel Contact Information: Shane Hecksel shane.hecksel@gmail.com
FF
DOCtalks
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 DOCtalks September 5–8, Sears Gallery Tuesday—Friday, 3:00pm to 5:00pm DOCtalk takes place September 5th through 8th at 3:00pm in The Sears Gallery located in the Dolores Doré Eccles Fine Arts Center
DOCtalks
If you ever wanted to sit down with a filmmaker or director to hear the inside story of their film, now is your chance. DOCtalks bring together these accomplished artists in an intimate setting, allowing you to hear their thoughts on the joys, pitfalls, struggles and successes when tackling documentary filmmaking. Attendees also have a chance to ask questions and get advice on the business of filmmaking from those who have been there, done that. Don’t miss this golden opportunity, whether you are a budding filmmaker or just a fan of the genre, to get up close and personal with filmmakers and directors. All DOCtalks are free and open to the public. Tuesday, September 5 Stick to the Subject—How to find the right subject for your documentary and then make sure your subject is covered in a compelling, concise way that does it justice. Wednesday, September 6 Show Me the Money—How to find funding sources for your doc while maintaining as much artistic autonomy as possible while living within a budget you know is too small. Thursday, September 7 It Takes a Village—How to find and build your collaborative team, how to assign roles, maximize everyone’s strengths and keep everyone happy until the project is completed. Friday, September 8 Getting the Word Out—If you make a documentary and no one is around to see it, has it made a difference? Now that your doc is done, how to market and publicize it.
SPECIAL EVENTS
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 TUACAHN: MIRACLE IN PADRE CANYON Gala World Premier: Monday, September 4, 7:00pm, Tuacahn Amphitheatre Encore Screening: Wednesday, September 6, 7:00pm, Main Stage Theater, Eccles DOCUTAH hosts a gala dinner event at Tuacahn for the world premiere of its documentary film, “Tuacahn: Miracle In Padre Canyon.”
SPECIAL EVENTS
It sits in the majesty of Padre Canyon formed by nature eons ago. A place so magical it takes your breath away. But the vision that created Tuacahn Amphitheatre was born from a reverence for nature, a desire to preserve that natural magnificence and to provide a unique experience for visitors.
Now the Dixie State University DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival joins with Tuacahn Amphitheatre to present a film documentary which intertwines the history of this place with a behind the scenes look at just how the incredible production of “Shrek: the Musical” came together. Proceeds from the Gala benefit Tuacahn Center for the Arts and the DSU Film Program.
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 FAR WESTERN
“Far Western” is a feature documentary film that tells the phenomenal story of the transplant of American country music to post-World War II Japan. Nearly 70 years later, for a devoted group the music has become a lifelong obsession. Part music history and part character portrait, “Far Western” is told through the lives of musicians, fans, and live-music venue owners. Set both in modern Japan and the American South, the film explores the uncanny ability of a simple form of music to cross geographic and language barriers, forming a strange cultural bridge between the two countries. Now, these Japanese musicians have made their own pilgrimages back to America, to the birthplace of the music, playing in honky-tonks and festivals in America. Before the screening two exceptional local entertainers play for the audience and are joined by Yoshi Sakamoto, from the Japanese band, The Blues Side of Lonesome, who is featured in the film.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Tuesday, September 5, 6:30–10:30pm Town Square Free to the Public
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
SPECIAL EVENTS
Eric Dodge—Dodge’s albums are making waves in the country music world! His album “Why Not Today” became a huge international success and has sold all over the world in over 15 countries and even topped the Amazon.com best selling albums list. He’s also shared the stage with many of country music’s biggest names, including, Clint Black, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, SheDaisy, Julianne Hough, John Michael Montgomery, Justin Moore, Collin Raye, Chris Ledoux, Diamond Rio, Terri Clark, Travis Tritt, and Carrie Underwood! Sam Payne —storyteller, writer, singer/songwriter, radio personality, and arts educator. Sam’s audiences remain loyal friends, and find in his stories and songs resonant images that give faces and names to their deepest feelings about family, faith, and notions of home.
Take a break listen to great music and have a snack as we wait for night to fall for the screening of “Far Western.”
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 THE VIETNAM WAR Wednesday, September 6, 7:00pm, Cox Auditorium Special FREE Screening—Exclusive Clips from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s 10 Part Film, “The Vietnam War”.
Visceral and immersive, the series explores the human dimensions of the war through revelatory testimony of nearly 80 witnesses from all sides—Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as combatants and civilians from North and South Vietnam. Ten years in the making, the series includes rarely seen and digitally re-mastered archival footage from sources around the globe, photographs taken by some of the most celebrated photojournalists of the 20th Century, historic television broadcasts, evocative home movies, and secret audio recordings from inside the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations. “The Vietnam War” features more than 100 iconic musical recordings from greatest artists of the era and haunting original music from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as well as the Silk Road Ensemble featuring Yo-Yo Ma. “The Vietnam War” is a production of Florentine Films and WETA
SPECIAL EVENTS
Docutah International Documentary Film Festival is proud to include a special free screening of exclusive clips from “The Vietnam War,” the new 10 Part documentary film from award-winning filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, premiering on PBS stations on September 17. This groundbreaking documentary series tells the epic story of one of the most divisive and consequential events in American history.
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 EXPEDITION ALASKA
SPECIAL EVENTS
Friday, September 8, 7:15pm Kenneth N. Gardner Student Center Free Student Screening Twenty teams brave the Alaskan wilderness for the competition of a lifetime. Racers will traverse over 350 miles in a non-stop seven-day race, carrying everything they will need to survive a course that pits themselves against Mother Nature and each other. Racers will mountain bike through the sharp peaks of the Kenai Peninsula, traverse mountain ranges, crevasse filled glaciers, mudflats filled with quicksand and paddle countless life-threatening rivers and rapids. A student production team from the University of Cincinnati braved the same hardships to produce this film. Background “Expedition Alaska” is a partnership with the University of Cincinnati’s Production Master Class. The University sent a team of media-savvy students, along with Professor Kevin Burke and Emmy award-winning producer, and alumnus, Brian J. Leitten, to Alaska to film the race from start to finish. Developed by CCM Professor Kevin Burke and UC Alumnus and Emmy award-winning producer Brian J. Leitten, the Production Master Course was made possible by a three-year grant from the University of Cincinnati’s UC Forward Collaborative, an initiative that supports experiential learning and is part of the UC Academic Master Plan. The pedagogic goal was to create a transformative, “hands-on” experience for the students by taking them out of the classroom and into the field to produce the documentary series and create professional-quality digital media content that could be distributed to a national television audience. “The idea was to totally re-invent the college classroom,” notes UC President Santa Ono, “focusing interdisciplinary teams of faculty and students on real world projects.”
SCREENING SCHEDULE
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
SCHEDULE
SCREENING SCHEDULE MONDAY 9/4 TUESDAY 9/5
BB CH DF ET MS SG
— — — — — —
Black Box Theatre Concert Hall Dunford Auditorium Electric Theater Eccles Main Stage Sears Gallery
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 SCREENING SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY 9/6
BB CH DF ET MS SG
— — — — — —
Black Box Theatre Concert Hall Dunford Auditorium Electric Theater Eccles Main Stage Sears Gallery
SCHEDULE
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
SCHEDULE
SCREENING SCHEDULE THURSDAY 9/7
BB CH DF ET MS SG
— — — — — —
Black Box Theatre Concert Hall Dunford Auditorium Electric Theater Eccles Main Stage Sears Gallery
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 SCREENING SCHEDULE FRIDAY 9/8
BB CH DF ET MS SG
— — — — — —
Black Box Theatre Concert Hall Dunford Auditorium Electric Theater Eccles Main Stage Sears Gallery
SCHEDULE
— — — — — —
Box Office website: http://tickets.dsutix.com/DOCUTAH TICKET OFFICE PHONE: (435) 652-7800 Ticket Office Hours 10:00am to 2:00pm • Monday through Friday
BB CH DF ET MS SG
Central Campus Ticket Office Cox Performing Arts Center 350 South 700 East, St. George, UT
SCREENING SCHEDULE SATURDAY 9/9
ADDITIONAL TICKETING INFORMATION IN WELCOME SECTION
SCHEDULE DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 Black Box Theatre Concert Hall Dunford Auditorium Electric Theater Eccles Main Stage Sears Gallery
DOCUTAH SPONSORS
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017 2017 DOCUTAH SPONSORS
President’s Circle $16,000+ Dixie State University City of St. George
Executive $8,000–$15,999
SPONSORS
A to Zion
Producer $4,000–$7,999 Camping World Canyon Media Cherry Creek Media Discovery Clubhouse David and Carole Hansen Red Mountain Resort
Direct $2,000–$3,999 Etched Magazine KUED Red Lion Hotel
DOCUTAH INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2017
Edit $1,000–$1,999 Aaron’s Best Western Coral Hills Brad Harr & Associates Burger Theory Equality Utah George’s Cafe The Granary Holiday Inn The Inn at Entrada
St. George Health and Wellness Twisted Noodle Urban Renewal Utah Film Commission Utah Small Business Development Center
Writer Up to $999 Alphagraphics Durham, Jones and Pinegar Susan and Jeffery Jarvis Morris Murdock Travel Spectrum Media Washington County Fair
In Partnership With Duy Tan University The Walter (Pat) Kerr Scholarship
SPONSORS
Painted Pony
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
Cover image courtesy of Almerinda Travassos Book design by Karen Ferguson/kfergusondesign@gmail.com Š DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival 2017