All Roads Film Project Blog

All Roads Film Grant Recipient, Xiaodan He, receives Warm Welcome at National Geographic

2009-10-02T16:00:55Z

By Francene Blythe

Xiaodan He's film, The Fall Of Womenland, is presentating a discussion of her work to National Geographic divisions on Friday, October 2, at 1 pm. Her film wil be a World Premier screening open to the public on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the Grosvenor Auditorium of the National Geographic Society.

Xiaodan He, a Canadian filmmaker from China, has studied film production at the Beijing Film Academy in China from 1993 to 1997. She then worked for the Yunnan Minority Film Studio as an assistant producer and an assistant director. Her first short film, Cairo Calling screened in over 50 festivals around the world winning awards and garnered television sales in both North America and Europe. The Fall of Womenland is Xiaodan's first long documentary.

Coming from the same ethnic background as the Mosuo, Xiaodan will discuss the topic of her film, the Musuo culture, offering insight on women's roles in one of the last remaining matriarchal societies of the world, the unique family structure of the Mosuo culture, the sexual equality between men and women known as the "walking marriage," and how modernity is impacting this custom and culture.

Her lecture and full version of the film, The Fall of Womenland screens publicly Saturday, October 3rd at 2 p.m. in Grosvenor Auditorium. To purchase tickets to the screening, go to http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/films/2009/10/03/all-roads-showcase-the-fall-of-womenland/

Filmmaker Cherien Dabis talks with Kojo Nnamdi on her film Amreeka

2009-09-21T18:34:03Z

Courtesy of Kojo Nnamdi Show

Kojo talks with filmmaker Cherien Dabis about Amreeka - her feature debut. The film -- an immigration story about a Palestinian woman and her son moving to Midwest -- recently won the Humanitas Award at Sundance.

Cherien Dabis was an All Roads seed grant awardee, for her film Make A Wish, in 2006.

Listen to the show here.

For local showtimes and to watch the trailer, visit www.amreeka.com

Variety Magazine names Producers to Watch - Heather Rae!

2009-09-16T19:24:53Z

Congratulations Heather Rae!

She is one of the All Roads seed grant recipients. She received an All Roads Seed Grant for her documentary, Trudell, in 2005 which went on to PBS broadcasting in 2006. Now she has just been named one of ten top producers to watch by Variety Magazine.

By ANTHONY KAUFMAN

Heather Rae is known for producing "Frozen River," Courtney Hunt's 2008 Sundance winner, but she's now breaking out into more mainstream fare. Currently heading toward production and with financing coming together is "Ass Backwards," written by Casey Wilson and June Diane Raphael ("Bride Wars"). Scribes will star along with Kate Hudson, Kristen Wiig, Amy Sedaris and David Cross.

"I call it a bitch-slap to the boy-buddy movie," she says. "It's not a big movie, but it's a big change," admits Rae, who ran the Sundance Institute's Native American program for several years. "I've been the social realism go-to girl; I've made heavy-handed documentaries and dark films like 'Frozen River.' It's a new frontier, but I'm really excited."

Despite her turn to broader comedy, Rae's steadfast commitment to her experimental and half-Cherokee roots remains. Five years ago, she moved from Los Angeles back to Idaho, and she continues to cultivate projects for Native American director Randy Redroad.

Former Sundance honcho Geoff Gilmore calls Rae a "groundbreaker."

"But despite the fact that she's a risk-taker, she gets things done," he says. "What's remarkable about her is she's creative and capable, passionate and has a rock-solid steadiness."

Rae recently completed soldier-coming-home drama "The Dry Land" for Maya Entertainment, starring Melissa Leo and America Ferrera. And she has several low-budget pics in development: first-timer Jaffe Zinn's "Buhl, Idaho"; Daniel Calparsoro's "The Cold"; a radical Western called "A Thousand Guns," starring Vera Fermiga; and Redroad's "Tearjerker."

"I'm trying to grow and do things in a bigger and better way," she says. "But I'll always have a strong commitment to these smaller gems, because I respect that type of filmmaking. I think the most important work is done on this smaller scale, where it's not encumbered by the budget it's shouldering or too many cooks in the kitchen."

Click Here, to read the full article.

The AISI Students Film Their Own PSAs

2009-07-20T19:52:02Z

On Thursday, the students of the American Indian Summer Institute spent the day shooting "PSAs" (Public Service Announcements). The students worked in three teams of 7-8 students, each of which were assigned production mentors from Hollywood to assist in the shoot. One notable mentor was Chuck Banner of BannerCaswell Productions, a production and post-production studio specializing in cable television and private network content. His team got the opportunity to shoot in his production house, while the other two teams shot around the UCLA campus. These two teams worked hard throughout the entire day, utilizing as much daylight as possible for their outdoor shoot. The BannerCaswell team worked into the wee hours of the morning, shooting with a green screen and recording a rap to go with their PSA.

Two student teams shooting around the UCLA Campus.

The BannerCaswell team, shooting in front of a green screen.

The students spent Friday editing their footage into a final 30-second cut. One student from each team worked closely with an editor, while the others got a tour of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and heard a presentation from the Indigenous Language Institute, which encapsulated the week's media training by highlighting the importance of incorporating Native language into the students' future media works.

Later, Friday evening, the students celebrated the completion of the week's training by attending a spectacular dinner and reception, hosted by Fox Entertainment and the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. The dinner featured a preview screening of the final PSAs to an audience of Fox executives and National Geographic VIPs, and all of the students received certificates of completion.

Students receiving their certificates of completion from Fox Studios.

On Saturday, the week wrapped up with an amazing screening of new films for the All Roads International Film Showcase.

Congratulations to the students for completing the rigorous but fun week of training and workshops. Check back tomorrow for a re-cap of the International Showcase!

Article by Claire Ensslin

A Day of Memorable Presentations for the AISI Students

2009-07-16T20:15:17Z

Yesterday was another busy day for the AISI Students. They had lunch with speaker Eva Thomas, then attended a presentation from documentary filmmaker Yolanda Cruz, and ended the day with an evening panel titled "Sustainable Indigenous Storytelling in Film & TV," presented by the National Geographic All Roads Film Project.

Afternoon presenter Yolanda Cruz, an acclaimed filmmaker with seven award-winning documentaries under her belt, taught the students memorable lessons about filmmaking. Willie White recalls, "Yolanda Cruz said 'Film is like a gun'...that line struck me...you can't just shoot a gun when someone hands it to you, you have to learn and understand it before you can shoot it." Yolanda hails from the Chatino community of Oaxaca, Mexico.

The evening panel featured Jason Gavin, Tracey Rector, Steve Judd and Yolanda Cruz, and was moderated by Bird Runningwater. The students asked insightful questions and the panelists discussed their filmmaking backgrounds and how they got to where there are today. Panelist Jason Gavin (Blackfeet) is a screenwriter who has written for hit shows such as Royal Pains and Friday Night Lights. Stephen Judd (Kiowa, Choctaw) is a member of the WGAW (Writer's Guild of America, West) and has written for Disney XD and NBC.

Here's what the students had to say:

"Hearing from the [panelists] was the most interesting, insightful and funniest thing I have been to in a while. Too bad it is only a week long."
-Kyle Perron

"This evening's panel offered a lot of insight for the AISI participants and will allow us to continue to strive in the right direction as we look towards our bright future as indigenous people with big dreams...anything is possible!"
-Kelly McCabe

"Flawless"
-Nico Serneo

"Fabulous - I never want to leave!"
-Princilla Parker

The week will end with an amazing showcase of new International films hosted by the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. Buy your tickets today!

Check back daily for more updates on this exciting program!

Article by Claire Ensslin

The AISI Students Workshop at Fox Studios

2009-07-15T20:18:18Z

Yesterday at the American Indian Summer Institute, the students spent the day at Fox Studios. Presenters Marsha Cole and Kevin Considine shared valuable insight about working in Hollywood, and later that day, the students attended the WGAW (Writer's Guild of America, West) Reading Series, presented by the WGAW American Indian Writers Committee and the Fox American Indian Summer Institute.

Marsha Cole, one of the presenters, is a sought-after motivational speaker and trainer for youth career preparation, who began her own career in the entertainment industry at the age of seventeen. "We need to prepare our youth for careers and provide them with the necessary tools to compete in the marketplace," she says.

Kevin Considine, another presenter, founded Hollywood CPR, a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 © (3) organization, in 1997. He was inspired by the arts, which helped him break through the walls erected by academia and led him to a successful career in the entertainment industry.

The American Indian Writer's Committee, who hosted the reading series, represents the professional and creative interests of American Indian writers. It works to mentor, encourage, empower and increase the visibility and employment of writers of American Indian heritage. The series featured staged readings of short scenes from unproduced screenplays or teleplays by WGA members.

Here's what the students had to say:

"I learned that you have to be very enthusiastic, really believe in your project, and that you can't be shy. At times I was being the typical Native, holding myself back, but I learned today that I need to push myself."
-Carey Tully

"The most exciting part of coming here to Fox today was getting to know the writers...They shared [their knowledge of] how things happen in Hollywood and this gave me a better perspective for how to approach what I eventually want to do."
-Kelly McCabe

"Today has changed my whole perspective...it's been a great opportunity to hear the insight of these professionals in their fields...so far [the program] has surpassed any expectations that I had...they keep us really busy."
-Dietrich Wilke

The week will end with an amazing showcase of new International films hosted by the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. Buy your tickets today!

Check back daily for more updates on this exciting program!

Article by Claire Ensslin

Kickoff of the 2009 American Indian Summer Institute!

2009-07-14T19:47:01Z

Yesterday was the first day of the American Indian Summer Institute (AISI), a week-long program for which 20-30 Native American students were nominated to learn about filmmaking at the UCLA Campus. This year, Fox Diversity, the Native Media Technology Network (NMTN), and the National Geographic All Roads Film Project partnered together to produce the program.

On their first day, the students had an opportunity to work with two seasoned filmmakers, Tracy Rector and Cedar Sherbert.

Tracy Rector was an All Roads Seed Grant recipient in 2006 for her film, "March Point" which aired recently on PBS. She is also the co-producer of "Teachings of the Tree People," which has garnered recognition in both the National and International film circuit. She says, "I have learned from the Skokomish people that none of us are able to succeed alone...When I give back to the community it is my way of saying 'thank you' to everyone who has mentored me and believed in me."

Cedar Sherbert directed and produced the award-winning short "Gesture Down: I Don't Sing." He has worked extensively as a media instructor for at-risk youth throughout California.

Here is what the students have to say:

"Today's team building activities [led by Tracy] helped us find the balance between film as an individual experience and film as a collaborative goal."
-Josh Pelekai

"I look forward to learning more from the speakers and continuing to gain knowledge throughout the week."
-Gabriel Siert

The week will end with an amazing showcase of International Films, hosted by the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. Buy your tickets today!

Check back daily for more updates on this exciting program!

Article by Claire Ensslin

Welcoming Sylvie Brieu to the Film Advisory Board

2009-07-09T19:42:38Z

A top writer for National Geographic Magazine in France and an independent filmmaker, Sylvie Brieu has been covering cultural diversity issues and minority rights for 17 years, and her articles have been translated into multiple languages.

Born in southern France, Sylvie was exposed to different cultural backgrounds and ways of thinking at a young age. She was raised in a family that was closely connected to the land and spoke Occitan, an endangered romance language.

At the University of Paris-Sorbonne and UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, Sylvie earned degrees in modern languages, international relations, and journalism. She also developed a passion for Maya Hieroglyphics writing and now speaks six languages.

Sylvie began her career in 1992 as a socially-engaged documentary filmmaker and a TV reporter in California, where she hosted a news program. A few years later, she was elected to chair an international network of young journalists. She led two groups of professionals from five continents to Central and South America on a summer university tour that emphasized "freedom of expression and human rights." As head of the network, she also moderated a seminar in Thailand on "cultural and religious pluralism," which was attended by more than 200 participants from 86 countries.

As a young explorer, international reporter and a senior editor Sylvie has traveled all over the world - including trips to Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Easter Island, Ecuador, Mexico, Madagascar, South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe. Recently, her research efforts have taken her on a solo journey from the Andes to the Amazon, where she lived with seven different tribes in some of the most troubled areas.

Her investigations have raised awareness about the plight of some of the most vulnerable populations in the world, highlighting their creative initiatives to fight for their environment, their cultures and their lives.

In recognition of her inspiring work, she was granted the UNESCO CNF's patronage in 2008 for a long-term project with indigenous communities worldwide.

Now, she is a member of the All Roads Film Project's Film Advisory Board.

Congratulations, Sylvie!

Article by Claire Ensslin

"Dear Lemon Lima" Screening Extended

2009-06-24T18:11:12Z

Back by popular demand, Suzi Yoonessi's Dear Lemon Lima is having an impromptu third screening in Los Angeles at Landmark 8 this Saturday at 4:15 PM after to two sold-out screenings on the 20th and 23rd.

Dear Lemon Lima, an All-Roads Seed Grant recipient, tells the story of 13-year-old Vanessa Lemor, a Yu'pik girl with a vivid imagination. After getting dumped by her true love, she rallies with her fellow misfits, including a bi-racial girl named Nothing and a pathological liar who claims that Puff Daddy is her father, to compete in the Snowstorm Survivor Competition, her prep school's bastardized version of the World Eskimo Indian Olympics.

The film was originally inspired by director Suzi Yoonessi's childhood diary, which is a "rainbow-studded, tragic and funny compilation of letters to [her] imaginary friend Lemon Lima." As Yoonessi flipped through the pages, she was struck by genuine amount of passion, sincerity and heartbreak that was communicated in each passage. With Dear Lemon Lima, the director intends to prove that "every human connection deserves the love and compassion that a 13-year-old girl embraces the world with."

Yoonessi's award-winning short version of "Dear Lemon Lima" (2007) played internationally in over 60 festivals including the Tribeca Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival and Los Angeles Film Festival. Suzi Yoonessi has also directed Vern (2004) and No Shoulder (2005), and her producing credits include 3 Weeks After Paradise (2002), Vern (2004), Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), and Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody? (2005).

"Suzi Yoonessi's delicious debut makes the life of her Alaskan teenage heroine as colorful and sweet as a snow cone." - Jonathan Wysocki of the Los Angeles Film Festival

"...one of the most affecting and poised performances by a 13-year-old we've seen in quite some time." - Bilge Ebiri of New York Magazine

"...as refreshing as an Astro-Pop on a summer's day." - The Los Angeles Times

Buy Tickets Here

Article by Claire Ensslin

Call For Entries - The Andian Film Project

2009-05-29T21:15:11Z

The Andean Film Project announces that submissions are now open for the first Andean Film Festival, to be held in fall 2009 in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Festival is intended as a forum for films by and about the peoples and cultures of the Andes. Documentaries, dramas and comedies, animation, feature length and short films will all be considered. Although one of the principal goals of the Andean Film Project is to promote the development of work by Andean filmmakers, non-Andean filmmakers may submit work to the Festival as well, provided that the work portrays Andean culture authentically and respectfully, and/or deals with issues of concern to the people of the Andes.

The exact dates and location of the Festival will be announced later this year. Submissions will be accepted through June 15, 2009. For submission information please visit the website, http://www.andeanfilmproject.com/3.html

"Amreeka" honored in Cannes

2009-05-27T15:25:06Z

"Amreeka," to be released by National Geographic Entertainment in September, was awarded the International Film Critics Award (the FIPRESCI Prize) Saturday at Directors' Fortnight, an independent section held parallel to the Cannes Film Festival. The award, aimed at promoting film art and young and new cinema, is presented at international film festivals. "Amreeka" is the story of a Palestinian mother who immigrates with her son to a small Illinois town. Writer/director Cherien Dabis is a former NG All Roads seed grant recipient. "The award signifies the global appeal of "Amreeka," and acknowledges the artistry and skill as a director of Cherien," said NG Cinema Ventures President Lisa Truitt. "This prestigious award adds to the acclaim "Amreeka" received at the Cannes Film Festival, which included a five-minute standing ovation after the screening as part of the Festival's Directors' Fortnight selections of films."

Presented By:

2009-05-27T15:25:06Z

CALL FOR SHORT SCRIPTS FROM NATIVE AMERICAN WRITERS FOR THE 4th ANNUAL CREATIVE SPIRIT SCRIPT-TO-SCREEN INITIATIVE

2009-05-26T17:55:09Z

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INDIAN CENTER, INC.
INTERTRIBAL ENTERTAINMENT
& VSA ARTS OF NEW MEXICO

Invite Native storytellers to submit a 10 page screenplay
in any genre that reflects the American Indian experience

Two scripts will be selected by a panel of judges from the entertainment industry and the Native American community

One script will be produced and screened as part of the
2nd Annual Two Worlds Festival of Native Film and Theater
in Albuquerque, New Mexico in September 2009

The other script will be produced by
InterTribal Entertainment in Los Angeles during the Fall of 2009
with a world premiere screening to be held in 2010.

The winning writers will be provided with airfare, hotel and meals for their respective world premiere screenings. The winning writers, if local to the shooting location of their scripts, will have the option of participating in the production of the short in any capacity based on their interest and level of experience.

The purpose of the award-winning Creative Spirit initiative is to provide employment and training opportunities for American Indians in film production.

VISIT www.nativefilm.com TO DOWNLOAD A SUBMISSION FORM

You can send a hard copy of your entry and submission form to:
CREATIVE SPIRIT
c/o Southern California Indian Center, Inc.
3440 Wilshire Blvd. #904
Los Angeles, CA 90010

Or you may e-mail the script and forms with an electronic signature to:
jameslujan@nativefilm.com

Visit www.nativefilm.com to view the trailers of previous Creative Spirit productions and to download the guidelines and submission forms. There is no entry fee and you may submit more than one script. However, scripts which have been submitted in previous years to Creative Spirit will not be eligible.

Deadline is June 26, 2009.

'Samson and Delilah' wins Cannes prize

2009-05-26T17:42:42Z

article courtesy of AFP

Aboriginal director Warwick Thornton's Samson and Delilah, a tale of young love in a troubled indigenous community, was Sunday awarded the Camera d'Or first film prize at the Cannes festival.

Thornton's feature takes an unflinching look at the problems facing Australia's remote Aboriginal communities: violence, substance abuse and poverty.

Shot in a derelict Aboriginal community near Alice Springs, it follows the slow, shy courtship between a boy who spends his time sniffing petrol and lost in music, and a girl forced to care for her ailing grandmother.

French actress Isabelle Adjani awarded the Camera d'Or of the 62nd Cannes film festival to what the jury described as "the best love film we've seen for many a year, 'Samson and Delilah.'"

Played by first-time Aboriginal actors Rowan McNamara and Marisa Gibson, both 14 at the time, the film is marked by long silences, and what little is spoken is mostly in the Central Australian language Warlpiri.

"Thank you for believing in our first born baby," Thornton said as he accepted the award. "I don't don't know what to say. Viva Cannes, viva le cinema."

The 38-year-old filmmaker drew on his own experience of growing up on the streets of Alice Springs when writing the screenplay, and approached local Aboriginal communities for help in finding his actors.

"It is about Aboriginal kids growing up and how incredibly strong and resilient and beautiful they are, and how they are neglected, not only by their own people and their own families but by the system."

In an interview with AFP, Thornton said a sense of his identity ran strongly through his work.

"I'm an Aboriginal and I will be all my life," he said. "The stolen generation, that's me. I'm actually not supposed to be here, it was actually government policy to breed us out and get rid of us."

"When you're writing your first feature you have to ask yourself, have you got something to say? Is there a fire inside of you, that you can translate to the film?"

"That's what it was. Everything that's in the film I've seen personally."

CONGRATULATIONS WARWICK!!!!

Maori Voice Missing in New Proposed Auckland Super City

2009-05-21T19:54:53Z

article by Ibadet Dervishaj

The scrapping of three Maori seats on the plan for a new Auckland Super City- as proposed by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Auckland Governance- has raised serious concerns about the consequences of the Super City without the Maori voice. A hikoi is being organized to protest the government's plan not to include Maori representation in the proposed Auckland Super City. On May 25, 2009, the Maori will march to create a better understanding of the proposed Super City without a diverse representation in the local government.
For more information on the hikoi, please visit: http://ihiaotearoa.wordpress.com/

Seed Grant Film Wins Two Regional Emmy's

2009-05-18T18:33:14Z

Article By Karen Gilmore

The National Geographic All Roads seed grant film "Bolinao 52" has won two regional Emmys in Northern California competition -- one for best News and Program Speciality for a Documentary and another for Best Musical Composition and Arrangement in the Craft Achievement category.

The Emmys were presented Saturday at an awards ceremony in San Francisco.

"Bolinao 52" received an All Roads seed grant in 2006 and was featured in the 2007 All Roads Film Festival. Duc Nguyen wrote, directed and co-produced the film along with Joanne Shen.

The film is the story of 100 Vietnamese people who boarded a wooden boat on a moonless summer night in 1988. Their plan was to leave Vietnam and find asylum in another country, but their mission was interrupted, and they drifted 37 days. When their boat was found by Filipino fishermen, only 52 had survived.

Congratulations Duc Nguyen and the entire cast and crew of "Bolinao 52!!"