constant/Fleeting

by Ondrea Barbe

Barbe’s relationship with her dying mother is prismatic and impossible to hold––like the morning sunlight that breaks suddenly (one might say miraculously) through the heavy curtain of a Nor Cal fog to play on the surface of her camera. Indeed, one can see Constant/Fleeting as a kind of allegorical story about Mother as Sun––a once life-giving star that becomes obscured by fear and disease. However, there is triumph in this parable as the star is finally able to shed her gloom and bring loving light to those who orbit gently around her. In this way, Constant/Fleeting is more than a mother/daughter documentary––it is a filmic guide to end-of-life miracles.

The Spirit of Japan

Director- Joseph Overbey Editor- Tom Bayles

The Spirit of Japan is the story of the Wakamatsu family, who have been making the traditional Japanese distilled spirit, shochu, at their Yamatozakura Distillery in Kagoshima Prefecture since the 1850s. We follow 5th generation toji (master brewer/distiller) Tekkan Wakamatsu as he takes the traditions passed down by his father Kazunari Wakamatsu and strives to adapt to a changing world. The film follows Tekkan, while he endeavors and struggles to balance the rigors of making handmade shochu, running the family business, and maintaining a healthy family life. In a world of mass consumerism and commodification, the Wakamatsu family have maintained the 500 year old tradition of brewing and distilling sweet potato shochu by hand. The Spirit of Japan offers a rarified and intimate cinematic portrait of shochu making and family life in a modern, rural Japan.

Who Will Feed Us?

by Graham Meriwether

The population of the Earth is quickly rising- billions and billions of people. The way in which we farm-- what we farm--- why we farm--- are all going to be vital questions for humanity's ability to feed itself in the years ahead. I've spent the past 12 years traveling America and talking with farmers, sleeping on their couches and in spare bedrooms, I've even moved from the city to a rural area. We will be going to farms across America, and the world, to talk to farmers who are tackling the virtuous task of feeding. We will look at the geopolitical state of agricultural economics- including the monopoly cartels in agribusiness, to the small scale homesteader, who just wants to feed herself.

Production- Scott Anger

Scott Anger is an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist and photographer whose work focuses on stories around international conflict, food security and the natural environment. Assignments have taken him to more than 50 countries over the past 30 years. Much of his recent work examines U.S. policy challenges in the Middle East from the front lines in Iraq and Syria.

As the first director of video at The Los Angeles Times, Scott developed editorial video strategy for the organization and led a staff of full-time video journalists. After leaving the newspaper, he served as the managing director of The Lost Bird Project, an art-focused, environmental non-profit organization based in New York City.

Scott started his career as an independent photojournalist working on assignment for publications such as TIME, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, National Geographic Traveller, US News & World Report, The Washington Post, The Associated Press and The Fresno Bee.  Along with his photography he produced audio stories for KQED, National Public Radio, Public Radio International and the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Distribution- Peter Broderick

Peter Broderick is President of Paradigm Consulting, which helps filmmakers and media companies develop strategies to maximize distribution, audience, and revenues.

In addition to advising on sales and marketing, Paradigm Consulting specializes in state-of-the-art distribution techniques—including innovative theatrical service deals, hybrid video strategies (mixing retail and direct sales online), and new approaches to global distribution.

Broderick was President of Next Wave Films, which supplied finishing funds and other vital support to filmmakers from the US and abroad. He helped launch the careers of such exceptionally talented directors as Christopher Nolan, Joe Carnahan, and Amir Bar-Lev. In January 1999, Broderick established Next Wave Films’ Agenda 2000, the world’s first initiative devoted to financing digital features.

A key player in the growth of the ultra-low budget feature movement, Broderick became one of the most influential advocates of digital moviemaking. He has given presentations on digital production at festivals worldwide and written articles for Scientific American, The New York Times, and The Economist. In 2004 Broderick launched Films to See Before You Vote, harnessing the power of film to impact the US presidential election. He is a graduate of Brown University, Cambridge University, and Yale Law School.