Films

A suspenseful look at the lengths people will go to gain freedom, BEYOND UTOPIA follows various individuals as they attempt to flee North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on Earth, a land they grew up believing was a paradise. 

At the film’s core are a mother desperate to reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind; a family of five—including small children and an elderly grandmother—embarking on a treacherous journey across the Yalu River and into the hostile mountains of China; and a man of God on a mission to help these desperate souls. 

Far more than a political commentary, this film offers a singular, illuminating, and unforgettable experience that shines a light on what’s often forgotten: the North Korean people.

Private Bradley Manning was sentenced to 35 years at the maximum-security U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth for leaking classified military information to WikiLeaks. As one of the final acts of his presidency, Barack Obama commuted Manning's sentence, and on May 15th, 2017, Manning, now known as Chelsea, walked out of prison. An intimate and cinematic portrait of one of the most controversial figures in our recent history, XY Chelsea follows Manning as she transitions to living as a free woman.

Set in a real maximum-security prison in Indiana, O.G. (2018) tells the story of Louis Menkins, who, 24 years after committing a violent crime, finds himself on the cusp of release from prison. Anxious about the uncertainty of his future on the outside, he is also faced with a tough decision to put his own release at risk in order to protect Beecher, a recently arrived young inmate, from growing gang controversies. Jeffrey Wright delivers a sensational performance as Louis Menkins, while Theothus Carter, a young man incarcerated with a 65-year sentence, plays Beecher without any former training in acting. More than 120 incarcerated men participated in the film as cast and background, as well as dozens of guards who work at the prison.

New Yorker Article

IT’S A HARD TRUTH AIN’T IT (2018) is an affecting and enlightening glimpse at the lives of thirteen incarcerated men imprisoned at the Pendelton Correctional Facility in Indiana. Having learned filmmaking from Director Madeleine Sackler, these unusual first-time filmmakers tell their own stories from childhood to prison, blending interviews, verité and animation to paint rich and authentic portraits never seen before by anyone outside of these prison walls. The result is a complex and vivid tapestry of individual experiences that, when woven together, elucidate the shared narratives of the 2.2 million people currently in prison in the United States.   

Village Voice Review

INVENTING TOMORROW (2018) follows six young scientists from Indonesia, Hawaii, India and Mexico as they tackle some of the most complex environmental issues facing humanity today – right in their own backyards. Each student is preparing original scientific research that he or she will defend at ISEF, the world’s largest international science and engineering fair. Framed against the backdrop of the severe environmental threats we now face, these stories present a global view of our planetary crisis through the eyes of the generation that will be affected by it most.  

Sundance Review

TROPHY (2017) explores the complexity of wildlife conservation and commodification at a time when endangered African species such as elephants, rhinos and lions march ever closer to extinction. Can the controversial practices of hunting and breeding actually help the numbers thrive? Can assigning a value to an animal possibly help conserve it? What gives humans the right to own animals and to decide whether they live or die? And is there any real future for a “natural” world in our rapidly developing, capitalist world?

Roger Ebert Review

SATURDAY CHURCH (2017) tells the story of 14-year-old Ulysses, a shy and effeminate boy, who finds himself coping with new responsibilities as “man of the house” after the death of his father. Living alongside his mother, younger brother, and conservative aunt, Ulysses secretly struggles with his own gender identity. His journey takes a turn when he discovers his real passion by spending time with a vibrant transgender community. Leading a double life, Ulysses must find the courage to be who he truly is without losing the family he loves dearly.

New York Times Review

THE EAGLE HUNTRESS (2016) follows Aisholopan, a 13-year-old girl, as she trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her Kazakh family to become an eagle hunter and rises to the pinnacle of a tradition that has been handed down from father to son for centuries. Set against the breathtaking expanse of the Mongolian steppe, this film features some of the most awe-inspiring cinematography ever captured in a documentary, giving this intimate tale of a young girl’s quest the dramatic force of an epic narrative film. 

New York Times Review