Last Night at Fearless Filmmakers
There was an awesome display of fearless filmmaking at the Oak Street Cinema last night (2/28/08) featuring the work of women directors from across the state. The unstoppable and gifted Bobby Marsden organized the screening as part of the Fearless Filmmakers series. More at www.fearlessfilmakers.com.
If you weren’t there, you missed something. Not only were these films rigorous and well made, but there was a tangible and positive energy-vibe created in the theater by the gathering of twelve talented filmmakers and an appreciative audience. This carried over to the after party, hosted by Fearless Filmmakers, where artists and audience mingled, ideas floated, smiles were sent and received, and warmth expressed.
Molly Worre screened “Will Work for You”, a finely filmed and edited short narrative about rejection, friendship, and renewal.
Melody Gilbert is working very hard (so what else is new?) on two new documentaries, “Fritz: The Walter Mondale Story”, and “Divorce Camp”. She showed clips from these two works in progress. There has never been a film about Walter Mondale and Melody Gilbert is the one to do it.
Jill Broadfoot presented the world premiere of her first film “The Pussycats”. It was either insanely entertaining or just insane (in the good sense of the word). Either way it was spontaneous, original, and fun. It presented the Pussycat philosophy of life which wrapped around my brain and won’t let go. The interior of that Winnebago still haunts me.
Kim (Walsh) Borgan is a certified Emergency Animal Rescue Services volunteer. She has made several trips to the Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina to help rescue and care for thousands of pets who were left behind. She is making a documentary of this experience and the surrounding issues, “Left Behind Without A Choice”, and shared a trailer of this promising work in progress.
Gayle Knutson screened the engaging and powerful life story of St. Olaf College Professor, Reidar Dittman, “Prisoner 32,232”. Dittman was involved in the Norwegian Resistance after the Nazi invasion of Norway and was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. This is his story.
Aleshia Mueller showed “Lady of the Woods”, an insightful portrait of Alma Christensen, a self taught botanist and expert on wild edibles.
Dawn Mikkelson and Melissa Koch are collaborating on a topical and heartfelt feature length documentary, “The Red Tail”, about the broken promises of a multi-national corporation and the discovery of family ties. They screened clips from this work in progress.
“Redefine” is a bone jarring and honest view into the lives of two different families moving forward in an effort to escape the cycle of domestic violence. These are images and people you will not forget. This documentary is directed by Molly Worre, Carrie Bush, and Carrie Volk.
“Come and Get Your Meat” is a casual and entertaining look at meat raffles by M.A. Rosko. Meat raffles you say? What the hell are meat raffles?
Carrie Volk has created an expressionistic portrait of a daughter and father in “Dad and Me”. This visually exquisite and intimate piece intercuts between the self revelations of a man and a young woman, who talk about a number of things including violence, depression and self worth. They seem miles apart, in their own separate visual/time/space abstractions, and we eventually learn they are daughter and father.
“Birds at Night” was a delightful visual treat. Artist and animator Bridget Riversmith used watercolors to create a lush animated dream like journey into the depths. It was a pleasure to watch and think about.
This was a night to remember – fearless women filmmakers and their films. J.B.