Filmed on the Qualla Boundary and Cherokee Nation, ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught) explores expressions of reciprocity in the Cherokee world, brought to life through a story told by an elder and first language speaker. ᎤᏕᏲᏅ circles the intersection of tradition, language, land and a commitment to maintaining balance. This film was created in collaboration with independent artists from both Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Winner
Echo
Ellie avoids verbal communication because she hears an ECHO of -what she thinks to be- the thoughts of the speaker. She survives thanks to her landlady. Manu moves into the apartment across. Day by day, their routines echo each others.
The City that Lives in Me
The resumption of occupation of the city in the midst of the pandemic chaos is the guiding thread of the dance-documentary The City that Lives in Me, a celebration of the return of the on-site activities of the Castro Alves Theater Ballet. The documentary follows the artistic process of the dance company, revealing the backstage of one of the biggest theaters in Brazil.
The Goats of Monesiglio
Observational short documentary about the lives of a Punjabi family and an Italian family as they work together to look after a flock 300+ goats and produce traditional goat cheese. Through brief observations of everyday moments, viewers gain fleeting insights into the characters' lives. With the contemporary Italian dairy industry mainly staffed by Indian labourers, this film captures a microcosm of contemporary rural Italian life – while harkening back to a traditional way of life.
Aniksha
Aniksha is a young woman from the Indo-Mauritian diaspora. After her arranged marriage, she finds a job at a call centre, a booming industry in Mauritius. There she encounters her enigmatic supervisor and discovers a world of possibilities. This new world view places Aniksha between the choice of tradition or of a modern lifestyle.
Run Kalyani
RUN KALYANI is a poetic and realist drama about duties, dreams and desire. Kalyani lives with her ailing aunt in a rundown agraharam in India. Each day is the same as she carries on with her life of duty as a cook and carer. But each day is not the same too. As the romance of poetry ignites a passion, as the stories of other worlds stirs a desire, as sharks close in and death draws near, Run Kalyani builds into an intense crescendo of grief and grit, sorrow and strength.