DocLands 2023

ABOUT DOCLANDS

Presented by the California Film Institute, DocLands Documentary Film Festival brings compelling stories and the provocative insights behind them to Marin County, California. Expanding upon the exchange of ideas and inspiration through public screenings and engaged conversations, DocLands aims to bring diverse communities together for dialogue and build an active, inclusive, and fully supportive community around documentary film. DocLands is dedicated to initiating connections and partnerships that will illuminate and invigorate the business and art of non-fiction filmmakers.

DocLands Strands

ART OF IMPACT

Engages and sparks action by sharing stories that open our eyes to the global community and its disparate cultures, politics, personal narratives, and biographies.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Transports us outside to truly appreciate, explore, and ultimately compel us to save and conserve our environment and the wilds of our precious planet.

WONDERLANDS

Lifts our spirits through stories of joy, wonder, and possibility.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The California Film Institute and DocLands Film Festival are located in Marin County, California, on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary homelands of the Coast Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo peoples. This includes the Southern Pomo and Graton Rancheria Tribes. These tribes were removed or displaced from their lands. We recognize this history and the harm to present-day Coast Miwok, Pomo, and Wappo peoples and to their ancestors. The California Film Institute commits to moving forward from a place of authenticity and working with present-day tribes to elevate their stories, history, and present-day legacy through film.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

For the past several years, an eventful period by just about anybody’s standards, it hasn’t been hard to make the case that documentaries are more important than ever, and for that matter more popular than ever. The great thrill of DocLands is the privilege of curation: We know you count on us to bring you the best, and we take great pride in earning that trust. One might say that we at DocLands, and the California Film Institute, are your trusted curator.

Just as wonderful as it is seeing nonfiction filmmakers becoming more engaged and more creative, constantly expanding the boundaries of the form, so it is gathering some of their most extraordinary efforts to share with you. This year, in a program just compact enough, and just so judiciously selective, I’m tempted to call every film a highlight. Certainly each one is a special occasion, and taken together they add up to so much. I know I can promise you there’s no better way to brush up on the finer details of deep-sea mining, glaciology, Ugandan political history, sustainable fashion, and horse appreciation all in one place and within a span of five days.

The DocLands 2023 slate has much to offer in the way of emotional and intellectual sustenance. It includes chronicles of clear-eyed courage in the face of injustice — be it wrongful imprisonment, stolen sacred land, or systemic legal bias against victims of sexual assault. Artists at work are well represented, from otherworldly poet Nikki Giovanni to breathtaking wildlife photographer Jérémie Villet, and music lovers in particular have many treats in store. With Immediate Family, director Denny Tedesco follows up on his 2008 Mill Valley Film Festival favorite The Wrecking Crew!; Fazila Amiri’s And Still I Sing salutes the rising, odds-defying pop

stars of Afghanistan; and of course our opener, Alexandria Bombach’s It’s Only Life After All, delightfully reflects on the legacy of beloved folk-rock duo Indigo Girls. Not to mention all the other resourceful and inspiring individuals who take on life’s challenges with great creative ingenuity, in films such as The Arc of Oblivion, Invisible Beauty, Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory, The Nettle Dress, No Legs. All Heart., and OKAY! (The ASD Band Film), among still several others.

Climate is rightfully at the top of many agendas, and it’s energizing to see how that concern manifests in various ways. We’re proud to share a pair of deeply humanizing and place-specific portraits by Oscar ® -nominated directors: Katja Esson’s Razing Liberty Square takes a close personal look at the correlation between rising sea levels and gentrification in Miami, while Elaine McMillion Sheldon’s King Coal truly comprehends a mining community in Appalachia. Together they remind us: It’s a small world, but a wide one. Part of that privilege of curation has to do with preserving a sense of connection, remembering that we’re all in it together. With that in mind, I once again express my gratitude to you, to Joni Cooper, our DocLands Program Director, along with our talented programming team, and of course to the filmmakers themselves, who really are the stars of this show.

Mark Fishkin Executive Director | Founder California Film Institute

BOX OFFICE + FESTIVAL INFO

BOX OFFICE

SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER

1118 FOURTH STREET | SAN RAFAEL

TICKETS AVAILABLE

April 6: Noon for CAFILM Members (and at doclands.com)

April 10: Noon for General Public (and at doclands.com)

April 6 – May 9:

Doclands.com and during regular business hours at Smith Rafael Film Center

May 10 – 14:

60 min before first show until 15 min after start of last show and doclands.com

TICKET PRICES

$16.50 General | $14 CAFILM Members | $15 Senior

(65+) $8 Youth (12 & under) / Students w/ ID

QUESTIONS ABOUT TICKETING?

877.874.6833 | boxoffice@cafilm.org

ARRIVE EARLY

To guarantee admittance, ticket and pass holders must be in line 30 minutes prior to showtime. Doors typically open 30 minutes before showtime.

LINE A Badge and ticket holders with A printed on their badge & reserved seat ticket holders. LINE B is for all other ticket holders.

• Please do not sit in a reserved seat unless it has been arranged for you.

• Seat saving is not permitted.

• Outside food and beverages are not permitted.

• Digital devices must be turned off prior to the program introduction.

• The use of cameras and other recording equipment is strictly prohibited at all screenings and programs.

FESTIVAL GUIDELINES

Please review the California Film Institute’s Code of Conduct in advance of attending the Festival.

At the California Film Institute we appreciate, respect, and honor the vibrant diversity and viewpoints of our community of guests and staff. We hold steadfast a commitment to freedom of creative expression. We ask that everyone—artists, audiences, volunteers, press, industry, staff, board members, and beyond—maintain an environment that is welcoming to all by following our Code of Conduct.

ACCESSIBILITY

Please ask on-site staff for assistance with early seating and/or assisted listening devices. If you require effective communication in the form of an ASL interpreter, please contact us at doclands@cafilm.org at least 10 days prior to the screening you will be attending.

Festival venues are wheelchair accessible. Streaming titles are accompanied by English-language closedcaptions, if open-captions are not already included with the program. We welcome and encourage your feedback. For any accessibility-related questions and/or additional needs, please email doclands@cafilm.org.

CONSENT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED

California Film Institute and its representatives may photograph, film, and/or otherwise record attendees at all Festival activities. By attending, you consent to such photography, filming, and/or recording and to any use in any and all media throughout the universe in perpetuity and without compensation for the use of your appearance, voice, and name for promotional and/ or advertising or any other purpose by California Film Institute and its affiliates and representatives.

SPONSORS

SIGNATURE

JENNIFER COSLETT Mac CREADY

NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS

FAMILY FOUNDATION

VICKIE SOULIER

MAJOR

SILVER

JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS

TERESA WOLF

PREMIER MEDIA

FESTIVAL

THE ACADEMY of INTEGRATED HUMANITIES and NEW MEDIA

CREATIVE PARTNERS

HOTELS

MAJOR MEDIA

OFFICIAL PRODUCTS + SERVICE PROVIDERS

PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS

San Rafael Marin County

OPENING NIGHT

IT’S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL

WEDNESDAY MAY 10 . 6:30 . RAFAEL 1

THURSDAY MAY 11

FRIDAY MAY 12

Nation vs. United States

OPENING NIGHT

IT’S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL

“Indigo Girls saved my life" is a common refrain heard from fans of the folkrock duo, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, who’ve been making music together for 40 years. Whether you’re a long-time devotee or discovering them for the first time, this intimate portrait will not disappoint. It details their outspoken support of LGBTQ+ rights and the discrimination they faced in the music industry as two of the few openly queer public figures in the early ’90s, as well as their thirty-year collaboration with Indigenous activist Winona LaDuke. Skillfully weaving a treasure trove of personal home movies and recordings together with introspective interviews and a rocking soundtrack, director Alexandria Bombach ( On Her Shoulders , DocLands 2018) delivers a timely and relevant look at the lives of two enduring icons.

–

Joanne Feinberg

FILM ONLY $30 GENERAL | $25 CAFILM MEMBERS

FILM + PARTY $50 GENERAL | $45 CAFILM MEMBERS

OPENING NIGHT PARTY | 9:00 - 11:00

ELK’S LODGE OF SAN RAFAEL - 1312 MISSION AVE, SAN RAFAEL

DIRECTOR

Alexandria Bombach

US 2023

123 min IN PERSON

Alexandria Bombach

Wednesday . May 10 . 6:30pm

Wonderlands

DOCLANDS HONORS: DAWN PORTER THE LADY BIRD DIARIES

The DocLands Honors Award is presented to a filmmaker or filmmaking team in recognition of exceptional storytelling within the documentary genre, artists whose films resonate universally, emphasizing our common humanity—no matter the subject. The 2023 DocLands Honors Award is presented to acclaimed filmmaker Dawn Porter ( Gideon’s Army , John Lewis: Good Trouble, The Way I See It) for her commitment to exploring both historic and current states of affairs. Known for her timely commentary on subjects with social and political relevance, Porter joins us for a conversation, where she will delve into her craft as a documentarian, focusing on the insightful perspective she brings to her films. Through her lens, she shares uncommon insight into some of the most remarkable American artists, politicians, humanitarians, and social justice activists of our times. Her most recent film The Lady Bird Diaries will also be screened.

DIRECTOR

Dawn Porter

US 2022

100 min

FILM ONLY $16.50 GENERAL | $14 CAFILM MEMBERS

FILM + RECEPTION $35 GENERAL | $30 CAFILM MEMBERS

Thursday . May 11 . 6:30pm

IN PERSON

Dawn Porter

Kim Reynolds (producer)

STRAND

Wonderlands

CALIFORNIA PREMIERE

Sponsored by

JENNIFER COSLETT

MacCREADY

SPECIAL SCREENING IMMEDIATE FAMILY

From Denny Tedesco, the award-winning director of The Wrecking Crew!, comes a new documentary charting the journey of a group of close friends who became the premiere studio band for the musical icons of the ’70s and beyond. They may not be as familiar as the stars they collaborated with, but you’ll find their names in the liner notes of many favorite albums of the singer-songwriter era. These five talented musicians — Danny “Kootch”

Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, and Steve Postell — musically clicked together and became the coveted session players for a new generation of hitmakers like James Taylor, Carole King, Warren

Zevon, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt, and Jackson Browne. This is the up-close-and-personal story of the artists who shunned the spotlight but loved being on the road and in the studio with their heroes, steering the course of musical history to this day. – Kelly

Clement

DIRECTOR

Denny Tedesco

US 2022

102 min

IN PERSON

Denny Tedesco

Leland Sklar

Russ Kunkel

STRAND

Wonderlands

FILM ONLY $25 GENERAL | $20 CAFILM MEMBERS

FILM + RECEPTION $45 GENERAL | $40 CAFILM MEMBERS

BAY AREA PREMIERE

RECEPTION in honor of the Bay Area premiere | 9:00 - 11:00

LOTUS CUISINE OF INDIA - 812 4TH STREET, SAN RAFAEL

SPONSORED BY

Saturday . May 13 . 6:30

CLOSING NIGHT FILM RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE

Oscar®-nominated director and German-born Miami resident Katja Esson exposes the impact of climate gentrification on a historic African-American community in Miami-Dade County. The demolition of Liberty Square, the oldest segregated public housing project in the US, is paving the way for a $300-million “revitalization” program as developers seek higher ground above rising sea levels. Esson highlights the struggles of three women advocating for their basic rights, and the community’s fears of being displaced once again. The developers hire a “community liaison” to calm concerns, but his reality shifts as he sees promises fall apart. This character-driven narrative weaves together with ensemble interviews, giving the effect of a Greek chorus echoing the history and concerns of Liberty Square residents at large. In Esson's poignant depiction of the harsh reality faced by today’s new American climate refugees, global warming, housing insecurity, and economic inequality converge.

– Michelle Svenson

DIRECTOR

Katja Esson US 2023 82 min

IN PERSON

Katja Esson

Samantha Quarterman

Ronald Baez

Aaron McKinney

STRAND

Art of Impact

US PREMIERE

AITAMAAKO'TAMISSKAPI NATOSI: BEFORE THE SUN

Logan Red Crow is a strong and spirited young Siksika woman who lives on her ancestral lands in Blackfoot Territory. Horses are a way of life for her tight-knit family, and Logan draws strength from her bond with the animals, as have many generations before her. She is determined to compete in the Indian Relay race, one of the most dangerous bareback horse races in the world. Although her family is supportive, she faces many challenges, like the lack of competitive events for women, and pressure from her father — who’s concerned for her safety and for her future — to quit racing and go to college. Director Banchi Hanuse guides this lyrical story with a sure hand, balancing the slower pace of ranch life with the intensity of training that builds to the excitement of race day. Throughout, Logan's singular focus on success in her sport is palpable and exhilarating.

– Joanne Feinberg

Preceded by: RANGE RIDER As wolves repopulate Washington State, and rural communities believe these wild carnivores are killing their cattle, can range rider Daniel Curry prove that coexistence between ranchers and wolves is possible? Colin Arisman, US 2023, 30 min

DIRECTOR

Banchi Hanuse

CANADA 2022

89 min

STRAND

The Great Outdoors

WEST COAST PREMIERE

Thursday . May 11 . 7:00

Sponsored by T. WOLF

AND STILL I SING

Here’s what happens when Afghanistan’s pop icon and activist Aryana Sayeed decides it’s time to advance the fight for equal rights by using music as a weapon. Noting that for 13 straight seasons Afghanistan’s answer to American Idol has never had a female winner, Sayeed commits to mentoring two young female frontrunners. Up-and-comers Zahra Elham and Sadiqa Madadgar vie for the top spot on the hit television talent show Afghan Star but see their dreams deferred and their world deeply shaken when the Taliban returns to power, reversing twenty years of progress for women’s rights. Afghan-Canadian filmmaker Fazila Amiri navigates suspense with sensitivity as the singers encounter death threats and try to escape Kabul during the American evacuation, exchanging their hope of stardom for a bitter exile.

– Kelly Clement

THE ARC OF OBLIVION

Amusing and eccentric, The Arc of Oblivion is both a philosophical and psychological exploration of how humans deal with impermanence. Trekking to various locations, including the Arctic and the Sahara, this documentary challenges viewers to rethink their understanding of time and memory—from photographs and fossils to libraries and salt mines. With ongoing commentary from filmmaker Ian Cheney's parents, it’s the construction of a wooden ark on his Maine property that serves as both a physical storage space for archival materials and a symbolic representation of humanity’s desire to retain meaning in an ever-changing world. The film features a vast array of people with unique specialties — as well as executive producer Werner Herzog, whose philosophical influence is felt throughout — sharing different perspectives on the challenges of being human. With memorable moments like a chilled-out Arctic walrus and a quirky musical number, Chaney’s project presents a thought-provoking and entertaining journey into the human condition. –

Michelle Svenson

DIRECTOR Ian Cheney US 2022

105 min

STRAND

Wonderlands

WEST COAST PREMIERE

BAD PRESS

When the Muscogee (Creek) Nation repeals the Free Press Act of 2015, fearless and irrepressible Mvskoke Media journalist Angel Ellis dives headfirst into a political battle to keep her fellow citizens informed and her government accountable. Even when harassed, intimidated, censored, and fired from her job, Ellis continues speaking truth to power, risking her reputation and livelihood on behalf of truth and transparency about issues that matter. Earning the 2023 Sundance US Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression, Bad Press directors Rebecca Landsberry-Baker ( Muscogee Creek ) and Joe Peeler deftly unspool a multi-faceted story full of suspense, intrigue, and humor — a story whose relevance reverberates well beyond the Indigenous communities depicted, as the free and open flow of information to the public is in peril across the United States.

– Joanne Feinberg

DIRECTORS

Rebecca Landsberry-Baker

Joe Peeler US 2023

98 min

IN PERSON

Joe Peeler Angel Ellis

STRAND

Art of Impact

BAY AREA PREMIERE

BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT

Bobi Wine (real name Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu) found fame first as a pop star in his native Uganda. But he became a global figure and advocate for democracy thanks to his work as a presidential aspirant and opposition leader seeking to end the tyranny of president Yoweri Museveni, now in power for 37 years. As this thrilling and detailed account of Wine’s personal and political struggle reveals, his ascendancy has come at great cost, with intimidation, violence, imprisonment, and the loss of colleagues. Employing his original protest songs as a cogent soundtrack, the film traces Wine's trajectory from the Kampala ghetto to becoming the country’s most potent avatar for hope and change, culminating in a turbulent run for the presidency in 2021. On the ground with Wine and his family for seven years, filmmakers Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayo emerge with a stunning chronicle of resilience, courage under fire, and democracy under threat.

– WIlfred Okiche

DIRECTORS

Christopher Sharp

Moses Bwayo

UK, UGANDA, US 2022

114 min STRAND

Art of Impact

BROTHER HORSE (HERMANO CABALLO)

This delightful family-friendly documentary introduces us to renowned Catalan wrangler Santi Serra, who has developed a unique equine training program based on forging bonds with animals by learning through play. Serra’s free-range technique builds genuine relationships by creating a common language rooted in trust and friendship. Goya® Award-winning Spanish director Marcel Barrena shows us Serra's day-to-day life at the farmhouse where he lives among the horses he trains, and where the love between them is palpable. In one particular trip to Morocco he discovers and spontaneously decides to rescue Mabrouk, a malnourished and badly injured horse on the verge of dying. Brother Horse is a story of one man with an exceptional gift for communication and friendship, who pursues a passion that has a lasting impact on both animals and humans.

– Kelly Clement

DIRECTOR

Marcel Barrena Spain 2022 73 min

NORTH

PREMIERE Sponsored by T. WOLF

COLDWATER KITCHEN

Beloved chef Jimmy Lee Hill heads up a gourmet culinary training program at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan. Nearing retirement after 30 years, his goal is unchanged: offering tender but tough tutelage that gives inmates a set of skills they can use outside prison to help them stay outside. Three of those men are tested: “Dink” Dawson immediately finds work in a kitchen, with all its challenges; after his release, Ernest Davis feels like he’s still tethered to the system; and Bradley Leonard, a recovering addict and experienced line cook, copes with personal demons from within prison walls. Skirting talking-head interviews in favor of a fly-on-the-wall narrative, directors Brian Kaufman and Mark Kurlyandchik use intimate camera work and compelling voiceovers to present endearing portraits of four men at the decision points that will determine the courses of their lives. –

David Riedel

Saturday . May 13 . 11:30am

DIRECTORS

Brian Kaufman

Mark Kurlyandchik

US 2022 90 min

IN PERSON

Brian Kaufman STRAND

DEEP RISING

Narrated by Jason Momoa and framed around the launch of mining startup The Metals Company, then known as DeepGreen, the new film from Matthieu Rytz ( Anote's Ark , DocLands 2018) explores how the so-called “green revolution,” for all its benefit, might come at a huge cost — to the environment. With DeepGreen set to mine the ocean floor for minerals necessary to electric-vehicle batteries, the film shines a light on the uneasy intersection of science, politics, and commerce. The metals driving the seabed-mining race are crucial to the fragile deep-sea ecosystem, which of course supports ecosystems everywhere else on the planet; their removal undoubtedly will cause unpredictable damage. The film powerfully juxtaposes shots of massive mining machines with stunning images of the beautiful, surreal, often ephemeral creatures living at the ocean floor. Even in deftly revealing the global scale of this unfolding dilemma, the filmmakers somehow manage to leave us with glimmers of real hope.

– Celia C. Peters

DIRECTOR

The Great Outdoors

Sponsored by T. WOLF

Matthieu Rytz US 2022 93 min STRAND

FASHION REIMAGINED

Award-winning fashion designer Amy Powney reclaims her eco-activist roots and embarks on an urgent quest to make Mother of Pearl a sustainable brand. Her team searches the globe for ethical partners in every phase of clothing manufacture, sparking a revolution to greatly reduce ecological harm while redefining style. For their No Frills collection, Powney and Brand Manager Chloe Marks intend to build a completely sustainable production chain from seed to shirt. Director Becky Hutner follows their journey through the many obstacles raised by fast fashion, a system of global capitalism at its most devastating. Connecting with like-minded pioneers in production helps bring No Frills to life, but are consumers ready for sustainable fashion? And is there any time left for business as usual? Fashion Reimagined shows that we can and do make choices wherever we are, and we can and must be the change.

–

Carol Harada

DIRECTOR

Becky Hutner

UK, US 2022 100 min STRAND

Wonderlands

BAY AREA PREMIERE

GOING TO MARS: THE NIKKI GIOVANNI PROJECT

Nikki Giovanni probably doesn’t come to mind when one thinks of Afrofuturism, but maybe she should. Directors Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson give us a visually poetic and emotionally profound look at the iconic poet’s cosmic perspective on the future, which reaches through the present to draw on history and center Black women. The winner of the 2023 Sundance US Grand Jury Prize for Documentary, their film revisits Giovanni’s enduring career as a fiery poet and activist, as well as her rich (and at times terrifying) life, all of which forged the legendary cultural superstar she is today. Through observations, conversations, recitations, and memories, Giovanni reveals herself as a beautifully complex poet and a straightno-chaser truth-teller. Her soft-spoken, baby-faced young self is no less strident than her somewhat more experienced incarnation, and her work remains a gleaming and resonant cultural treasure — much like the solid gold artifacts put on space missions to explain humanity to alien races.

– Celia C. Peters

DIRECTORS

Joe Brewster

Michèle Stephenson US 2023

102 min

IN PERSON

Joe Brewster

Michèle Stephenson

STRAND

Wonderlands

WEST COAST PREMIERE

Sponsored by T. WOLF Saturday

INTO THE ICE

The Greenland ice sheet is the second largest body of ice in the world, and as we now know that ice is melting at an alarming rate with major global consequences. But how quickly are sea levels rising, and how much time do we have left to change course? Lars Ostenfeld’s film speaks directly to this overriding crisis of our time, but Into the Ice is so much more than just a climate report. It’s also a visually stunning adventure, following three of the world’s leading glaciologists as they explore the deep secrets of our future and gather the scientific evidence we need to understand it. Accompanying the scientists as they charge boldly into treacherous winds, icy wastelands, and the depths of glacier moulins (vast icy holes seemingly without end), this beautifully immersive film captures the sense of being there — while there’s still a there to be.

– Kelly Clement

Lars Ostenfeld

Denmark, Germany 2022 85 min STRAND

The Great Outdoors

DIRECTOR

WEST COAST PREMIERE Sponsored by T. WOLF

INVISIBLE BEAUTY

Behold the beautiful story of a pioneering Black model, modeling agency founder, and influential fashion-industry diversity advocate. Bethann Hardison, co-directing with Frédéric Tcheng, reflects on her own extraordinary legacy. Her journey began as an assistant to fashion designers but she was quickly pulled onto the runway to model. Over the course of her decades-long career, Hardison successfully used her influence, savvy, and community-building skills to create a place for models of color on fashion’s top runways by repeatedly holding her industry responsible for representing all shades of beauty. As a result of her relentless work, she has literally changed the face of fashion. An “insider with a radical’s heart,” Hardison remains front and center as an industry expert, mentor, model, and elder.

– Celia C. Peters

Preceded by: WALKING TWO WORLDS As they seek to defend their sacred homelands in the Arctic, 19-year-old Quannah Chasinghorse and her mother Jody Potts-Joseph also work to break the barriers of Indigenous representation. Maia Wikler, US 2022, 29 min

DIRECTORS

Bethann Hardison

Frédéric Tcheng US 2022

114 min

FILM + RECEPTION $35 GENERAL | $30 CAFILM MEMBERS

RECEPTION | 9:00 - 11:00

MARK FISHKIN ROOM - SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER

IN PERSON

Bethann Hardison

Frédéric Tcheng STRAND

KING COAL

Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon thoughtfully constructs a lyrical montage of her homeland, Central Appalachia. There, through artful cinematography and innovative use of beatbox and breath art, combined with the gentle guidance of poetic narration, we’re encouraged to contemplate the place-specific cultural significance of the dominant nonrenewable fossil fuel. Vérité shots reveal glorifying coal-themed events — such as shoveling contests, beauty pageants, coal festivals, and a retired miner’s classroom presentation — from which collective identity coheres. Yet for all its local celebrity, the industry is in decline. The filmmaker, whose family has depended on coal for generations, captures the struggles of communities grappling with its waning influence. Through this stunning hybrid film, Sheldon guides us through the complexity of a region and a way of life in transition, leaving us with a deeper understanding of how coal shaped Appalachian America.

– Michelle Svenson

DIRECTOR

Elaine McMillion

Sheldon US 2023

85 min

IN PERSON

Elaine McMillion

Sheldon STRAND

The Great Outdoors

LAKOTA NATION VS. UNITED STATES

Executive produced by Mark Ruffalo and Marisa Tomei, this sweeping cinematic epic is a First People’s account of the Lakota Nation’s quest for sovereignty, self-determination, and reclamation of sacred land usurped by the US government in violation of an important treaty. Filmmakers Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli bring to light the Lakota's legal battles, including the landmark 1980 Supreme Court case affirming that the Black Hills (site of Mount Rushmore) were taken from them, necessitating compensation. That money has been refused, as the land never was for sale. Written and narrated by poet Layli Long Soldier, the film poignantly and sometimes chillingly combines interviews with Lakota leaders, community members, and Native American civil rights activists, set against a mesmerizing score by 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning Navajo composer Raven Chacon. This essential chronicle of the “land back” movement is also a powerful and immensely informative call to action.

– Michelle Svenson

FILM + RECEPTION $35

GENERAL | $30 CAFILM MEMBERS

RECEPTION | 9:00 - 11:00

MARK FISHKIN ROOM - SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER

DIRECTORS

Jesse Short Bull

Laura Tomaselli

US 2022

120 min

IN PERSON

Jesse Short Bull

Sarah Eagle Heart

STRAND

Art of Impact

Sponsored by T. WOLF

LOVELY JACKSON

Raw and revealing, Lovely Jackson recounts the story –– in his own voice ––of Rickey Jackson, an innocent Ohio man who spent 39 years in prison on the basis of coerced testimony. Eschewing the usual talking-heads tableau of most true-crime docs, director Matt Waldeck treats this story with an eye for introspection. Co-written by Waldeck and Jackson himself, the film offers a window into the broken process that led to Jackson’s conviction at age 18 and decades of clinging to the truth of innocence until his exoneration.

Black-and-white re-enactments and dream sequences blend with Jackson’s own voice to give viewers a passenger seat on his wrenching but ultimately miraculous journey. This is an all too familiar story, but told in an unfamiliar form, with Waldeck’s heartfelt and sensitive approach making it a standout.

– Zaki Hasan

Matt Waldeck US 2022 104 min IN PERSON

Matt Waldeck

Rickey Jackson

Sponsored by T. WOLF

Art of Impact

BAY AREA PREMIERE

MOM & DAD’S NIPPLE FACTORY

Filmmaker Justin Johnson (a.k.a. Justinsuperstar) has a secret. In a tucked-away back room of his conservative Christian parents’ home, his father meticulously creates…prosthetic nipples. After recovering from her mastectomy, Justin’s outgoing mother, Randi, found it emotionally painful to look at her nipple-less chest. When doctors couldn’t provide a convincing solution to Randi’s problem, her husband, Brian, got to work. After painstaking research and a lot of trial and error, he achieved results which impressed not only Randi but also the doctors and eventually thousands of other breast cancer survivors as well. It wasn’t until Justin pulled back the curtain on their industrious backroom factory that he found a deep appreciation for his parents' love. His resulting film, a 2021 DocPitch Finalist, is as much an homage to all underdog fathers as it is to resilient and loving mothers everywhere.

– Michelle Svenson

DIRECTOR

Justinsuperstar US 2022 81 min

IN PERSON

Justinsuperstar

Randi Johnson

Jason Cohen

STRAND

Wonderlands

WEST COAST PREMIERE

THE NETTLE DRESS

Unfolding like a magical, modern-day fairytale, this beautiful and intimate story follows the seven-year endeavor by textile artist Allan Brown to weave a hand-spun dress from stinging nettles foraged in the woods surrounding his home. After the death of his beloved wife, Brown’s deep dive into the age-old craft of spinning results in a stunning garment infused with devotion and redemption. Director Dylan Howitt’s longitudinal study of his creative process has a hand-crafted feel, with gorgeous cinematography, lush sound design, and a meditative pace that takes the viewer through a literal labor of love. We follow along for walks through the forest with his faithful dog Bonnie, watch as he transforms painful stinging nettles into beautiful supple cloth, and witness the formation of a dress that will be worn by his daughter — bringing us full circle on an exquisite journey through loss, grief, and healing.

Joanne Feinberg

DIRECTOR

Dylan Howitt

UK 2022

68 min

IN PERSON

Dylan Howitt

Allan Brown

STRAND

Wonderlands

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

NO LEGS. ALL HEART.

The Race Across America (RAAM) is a grueling 12-day, 3,082-mile bike race from California to Maryland. Riders combat physical and mental breakdowns, severe sleep deprivation, harsh weather, and hallucinations. In a normal year, 50% of the participants don't finish. But André Kajlich aims to be the first double amputee to complete this arduous endeavor on an adapted bike that lets him pedal with his arms. It takes three years and four attempts for Kajlich to qualify for RAAM, while he battles self-doubt as well as his wife's concerns about the toll of this punishing race. What will happen if he injures himself again? Pablo Durana's directorial debut explores Kajlich’s seemingly superhuman achievements, while also providing insight into his troubled past and struggles to overcome addiction. Throughout, his enduring spirit rises to challenges many others consider impossible, offering inspiration to pursue life’s passions despite the obstacles.

–

Joanne Feinberg

Preceded by: WALKING ON CLOUDS Rafael Bridi’s truly awe-inspiring feat – balancing 6,236 feet in the air on an inch-wide slackline – earns him a place in the Guinness World Records. Renan Kamizi, Brazil 2021, 7 min

DIRECTOR

Pablo Durana US 2023 89 min

Saturday . May 13 . 1:00

IN PERSON

Pablo Durana

STRAND

The Great Outdoors

WEST COAST PREMIERE

Sponsored by JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS

OKAY! (THE ASD BAND FILM)

Far from a simple rock doc, OKAY! is packed with pathos and punchlines as the ASD Band (for autism spectrum disorder) plans its first public performance in February ’22. The band members — a quartet of Toronto-based musicians, all on the autism spectrum –– offer plenty of on-camera commentary regarding their respective struggles, which should prove educational for many. But this documentary distinguishes itself by going deeper than that. Director Mark Bone weaves together story threads (and Toronto locations) in a way that allows the audience to feel invested in the jitters experienced by its four underdog heroes as the big date for their big show approaches. With a compelling story and interesting leads, not to mention plenty of catchy tunes that’ll likely be bopping around inside viewers’ heads long after the credits have rolled, this one’s more than just okay.

– Zaki Hasan

Mark Bone Canada 2022 86 min

Wonderlands

DIRECTOR

BAY AREA PREMIERE

PATRICK AND THE WHALE

Veteran director of wildlife films Mark Fletcher brings his experience to an undersea adventure with marine videographer, whale enthusiast, and Discovery series host Patrick Dykstra as he attempts to reconnect with a female sperm whale he calls “Dolores.” Dykstra is convinced the sperm whales are eager to communicate with humans; his quest yields a ravishing visual experience that pairs outstanding underwater footage with a throbbing curiosity to better understand between-species relationships. But while attempting to capture exclusive footage of whale behavior, Dykstra undergoes something of a change of heart: His emotional attachment to the whale leads to a renewed reckoning within himself about the ethical implications of conducting research on unsuspecting animals. Thus Patrick and the Whale becomes more complex and challenging than a mere wildlife-science profile, posing interesting questions about exploration, ethics, and emotional connections.

– Wilfred Okiche

Preceded by: A DISAPPEARING FOREST California kelp forests are vanishing at an alarming rate and Grant Downie, a sea urchin diver, dedicates his life to bringing them back. Tyler Schiffman, US 2023, 9 min

DIRECTOR

Mark Fletcher

Austria 2022

72 min

STRAND

The Great Outdoors

by

Sponsored

JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS

A BAFFIN VACATION

Directors Sarah McNair-Landry

Erik Boomer

A DISAPPEARING FOREST

Director Tyler Schiffman

RANGE RIDER

Director Colin Arisman

WALKING ON CLOUDS

Director Renan Kamizi

WALKING TWO WORLDS

Director Maia Wikler

SHORTS

A BAFFIN VACATION Directors Sarah McNair-Landry, Erik Boomer (Canada 2023) 12 min. Traveling throughout the remote landscape of Baffin Island with its stunning cliffs and whitewater rivers, Erik Boomer and Sarah McNair-Landry take you on an Arctic adventure you won’t soon forget. Shown with YUKON, A WHITE DREAM.

A DISAPPEARING FOREST Director Tyler Schiffman (US 2023) 9 min. California kelp forests are vanishing at an alarming rate and Grant Downie, a sea urchin diver, dedicates his life to bringing them back. Shown with PATRICK AND THE WHALE

RANGE RIDER Director Colin Arisman (US 2023) 30 min. As wolves repopulate Washington State, and rural communities believe these wild carnivores are killing their cattle, can range rider Daniel Curry prove that coexistence between ranchers and wolves is possible? Shown with AITAMAAKO’TAMISSKAPI NATOSI

Sponsored by T. WOLF

WALKING ON CLOUDS Director Renan Kamizi (Brazil 2021) 7 min. Rafael Bridi’s truly awe-inspiring feat – balancing 6,236 feet in the air on an inch-wide slackline – earns him a place in the Guinness World Records. Shown with NO LEGS. ALL HEART.

WALKING TWO WORLDS Director Maia Wikler (US 2022) 29 min. As they seek to defend their sacred homelands in the Arctic, 19-year-old Quannah Chasinghorse and her mother Jody Potts-Joseph also work to break the barriers of Indigenous representation in the high-fashion world. Shown with INVISIBLE BEAUTY

VICTIM/SUSPECT

It's estimated nearly half a million sexual assaults occur each year in the U.S. Yet less than one third get reported, only 1% prosecuted. Why so little justice for such crimes? One alarming answer is offered in this latest film by Nancy Schwartzman, whose prior Roll Red Roll explored similar terrain. She follows journalist Rae de Leon’s investigation of numerous instances where young women reporting sexual crimes were not only disbelieved by police but arrested and tried for “false reporting”— even as evidence supporting their claims was withheld or misrepresented to them. When officers treat a victim as a suspect, is it out of cultural bias? To protect the accused? Or simply to lighten their own caseloads? The answers are complicated. But it’s clear that in this realm, the system too often compounds trauma and shame by blaming the victim.

– Dennis Harvey

Rachel de Leon Amanda Pike

YUKON, A WHITE DREAM

With endless patience and tracking skills acquired over years, French wildlife photographer Jérémie Villet embarks on the difficult journey of photographing mountain goats in Canada’s Yukon, an area not known for mountain goats but certainly known for bitterly cold temperatures in snowcapped conditions. Fighting frostbite, frozen camera buttons, and various torments from the elements, Villet searches diligently for his subject in order to capture the perfect shot: a white animal against a white background, with color gradations so subtle it looks as if animal and environment have merged. Director Mathieu Le Lay, enduring the same conditions as Villet, follows his subject with a similar energy, weathering blizzards and slopes so steep they’re nearly impossible to traverse. At times the film archives a dreamlike quality, with falling snow shimmering against night skies and luminous but bitterly cold mornings. Yukon , A White Dream documents the toll perfection takes and the beauty that results.

– David Riedel

DIRECTOR

Mathieu Le Lay

France 2021

53 min

STRAND

The Great Outdoors

WEST COAST PREMIERE

Preceded by: A BAFFIN VACATION Traveling throughout the remote landscape of Baffin Island with its stunning cliffs and whitewater rivers, Erik Boomer and Sarah McNair-Landry take you on an Arctic adventure you won't soon forget. Sarah McNair-Landry, Erik Boomer, Canada 2023, 12 min

Sponsored by JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS Sunday

COACH EMILY

Director: Pallavi Somusetty

Producer: Debra Wilson

GET YOUR 10S

Directors: Johnny Symons

Rashaad Newsome

MAI AMERICAN

Director: Kevin Truong

ORQUÍDEA

Director: Emily Cohen Ibañez

Producer: Sara Dosa

REMAINING NATIVE

Director: Paige Bethmann

DOCPITCH

CAST YOUR VOTE IN SUPPORT OF DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING

$100,000 in cash awards to feature documentary projects currently in production

YOUR VOICE COUNTS!

Your vote will help determine which project will receive the $45,000 Audience Award — the additional $55,000 will be awarded to the remaining four film teams through a juried selection. All funds for use toward the continued development and production of their film.

In addition, Pinwheel is excited to partner with DocPitch to offer 40 hours of marketing agency services (worth $7,000) to the 2023 DocPitch Industry Award winner.

DOCPITCH AWARDS

FUNDING PROVIDED BY NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS

FAMILY FOUNDATION RESONANCE

PHILANTHROPIES

VOTING OPENS Thursday, April 27 | 10:00am Pacific Time

VOTING CLOSES Thursday, May 11 | Midnight Pacific Time

WINNERS ANNOUNCED Sunday, May 14

Sponsored by

VOTE at doclands.com/docpitch

DOCTALK REIMAGINING ACTIVISM IN FILM

Activism in film can be conveyed through many forms. Some filmmakers may choose to use current events or individuals to bring unresolved issues to light, while others decide history speaks for itself. Many filmmakers choose traditional documentary form to impart issues that are close to their hearts, while others lean toward more subtle or hybrid filmic measures to spark an audience to action. Whatever the form, these filmmakers are reimagining a different world through their immense creativity in film.

PARTICIPANTS : Fazila Amiri ( And Still I Sing ), Katja Esson ( Razing Liberty Square ), Joe Brewster , Michèle Stephenson ( Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project ), Justinsuperstar ( Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory ), Elaine McMillion Sheldon ( King Coa l)

FREE | TICKET REQUIRED | LIMITED SPACE

Sunday . May 14 . 10:30am

Mark Fishkin Room . Smith Rafael Film Center

With membership to the California Film Institute every night is an Occasion

The California Film Institute relies on the support of our wonderful members to run the Mill Valley Film Festival, show amazing films year-round at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, and promote exceptional independent filmmakers in our community. Become a CAFILM member to keep the magic going all year long with free screenings of upcoming films, access to exclusive member events, and our lowest ticket prices on films and events!

ASSOCIATE

Perfect for the solo film lover, who loves watching films at the Smith Rafael Film Center or online, and receiving invitations to our exclusive member screenings. $80

FILM FAN

All of the perks of Associate membership, but for two! Perfect for couples or two friends who love to see amazing films together. $130

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE

For the festival fan, Director’s Circle members receive even earlier access to MVFF tickets and a place in our early entry line, along with all the perks of Film Fan membership. $345

PREMIER PATRON

Premier Patrons receive all of the benefits of Director’s Circle, plus earliest access to film tickets, invitations to exclusive events, and entry into the MVFF Filmmaker Lounge.

$680

CINEMA BENEFACTOR

Get behind-the-scenes access! With all of the Premier Patron perks, plus invitations to even more events, free tickets to films, and complimentary concession coupons at the Rafael Film Center. $1,300

DONOR CIRCLE

Want even more? Explore our All-Access levels in the Donor’s Circle. By joining the vibrant Donor Circle community you will deepen your knowledge and appreciation of independent film through exclusive access and opportunities, while supporting a world-class independent film nonprofit organization.

Your involvement at the Donor Circle level enables CAFILM to provide a platform for internationally acclaimed, established and emerging filmmakers to share their stories with our community, offer free programs to thousands of diverse Bay Area students each year, deliver tangible results in gender equity in film, support the sustainability, maintenance, and programming of a historic art house theater, and champion independent filmmakers to make impact nationwide.

To learn more about our Donor Circle levels visit cafilm.org/donor

Photo: Tommy Lau

The DocLands Education program provides free live and virtual field trips for students around the Bay Area and across the country to attend the 7th annual DocLands Documentary Film Festival.

THE PROGRAM INCLUDES:

• In-theater and online documentary film screenings for grades 5-12

• Live Q&As with filmmakers and film subjects

• Curriculum resources for teachers and students, including lesson plans, discussion guides, and activity toolkits

• In-person and virtual Filmmakers Go to School visits to classrooms Sponsored by

Photo: Tommy Lau

THE 2023 DOCLANDS EDUCATION FILM LINE-UP INCLUDES:

I learned that there are a lot of amazing things about the world.

— Student, Aptos Middle School, DocLands Education attendee

This program is so important for the enrichment of our students, and I was very pleased with how easy it was for all of my students to participate.

— Teacher, Holy Names High School, DocLands Education attendee

DocLands Education programs are open to school groups only. To register, visit cfieducation.org/doclands-education To get your school involved, email education@cafilm.org

DocLands Education is made possible through generous support from NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION | PROJECT NO. 9 | MARIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

DOCLANDS STAFF

MARK FISHKIN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | FOUNDER | CAFILM

LIANA BENDER

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

BEAU BLANCHARD

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL GIVING

CHRISTINE FUJIKI

OPERATIONS + COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

DERRICK DOVER

MEMBERSHIP MANAGER

JONI COOPER

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING

JOANNE FEINBERG

SENIOR PROGRAMMER

KELLY CLEMENT

PROGRAMMER

MICHELLE SVENSON

PROGRAMMER

STERLING HEDGPETH

PROGRAMMING MANAGER

JOANNE PARSONT

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

SHAKIRA REFOS

EDUCATION OUTREACH MANAGER

DIANA SÁNCHEZ MACIEL

EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGER

MAUREEN GALLIANI STEWARDSHIP MANAGER

DAVE FEIFERIS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

KAITLYN RYAN

OPERATIONS MANAGER

AILEEN FOWLER

GUEST SERVICES MANAGER

YVONNE FOX

SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER

DAN ZASTROW TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

ANGY FONSECA

HOUSE MANAGER

CICILY SINGH

HOUSE MANAGER

SAV SINGH LINE MANAGER

MICHAEL KIRBY LINE MANAGER

GRIFFIN COUILLARD PROJECTIONIST

NORMAN JOHNSTON PROJECTIONIST

LAURA AUSTIN

FINANCE MANAGER

NORMAN MELLO

IT MANAGER

MICHELE THARP

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

SHELLEY SPICER

DIRECTOR OF PUBLICITY + MEDIA RELATIONS

SHAYNA YASUHARA

MARKETING + AUDIENCE

ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

COURTNEY BUFFINGTON

DESIGN + BRAND MANAGER

KALA SHAH

COMMUNITY OUTREACH MANAGER

BRIAN LEHMAN

PUBLICATIONS

JONATHAN KIEFER

PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR

CAFILM

BOARD of DIRECTORS

AMY KEROES

JACQUI LOPEZ

JENNIFER COSLETT MACCREADY (BOARD CHAIR)

KURT MOBLEY

CATHY NOURAFSHAN

MAGGIE O’DONNELL (PRESIDENT)

JONATHAN PARKER

(CO -VICE PRESIDENT)

SUSAN SCHWARTZ

DR. JOEL SKLAR (CO -VICE PRESIDENT)

JANN STANLEY

ZACH ZEISLER

RITA CAHILL

MARK FISHKIN

LOIS KOHL SHORE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MARK FISHKIN

EMERITUS BOARD

ANN BREBNER (1923-2017)

RITA CAHILL

SID GANIS

BRUCE KATZ (1947-2022)

GARY MEYER

GORDON RADLEY

HONORARY

ADVISORY BOARD

HONORABLE BARBARA BOXER

STEWART BOXER

DRUSIE DAVIS

JEFF FISHER

PETER FLAXMAN

ROBERT GREBER

LINDA GRUBER

PEGGY HAAS

MICHAEL KLEIN

ROXANNE KLEIN

KC LAUCK

ANDREW MCGUIRE

MARY POLAND

ERIC SCHWARTZ

WELLINGTON BOWLER

RICHARD J. IDELL (SECRETARY)

DANIEL KENYON

CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH

HENRY TIMNICK

FOUNDING BOARD

MICHAEL SCHWARTZ

EVENT PARTNERS

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

ALCHEMIA

FIBERSHED

OCEANIC PRESERVATION

SOCIETY

ALLIANCE FOR FELIX COVE

THE HELIX SCHOOL

RACE ACROSS AMERICA

AMERICAN INDIAN FILM INSTITUTE

LIFEHOUSE AGENCY

THE REDFORD CENTER

ATELIER YARNS

McMULLEN BOUTIQUE

AUTISTRY STUDIOS

THE MAGIC FLUTE

REVEAL, CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

BAY AREA TELEVISION ARCHIVE

MARIN AMERICAN INDIAN ALLIANCE

ROCO FILMS

BREAD AND ROSES

MEINOLF WEAVING SCHOOL

SCHOOL OF ROCK

CEDARS

MT. TAMALPAIS COLLEGE

SUNRISE HORSE RESCUE

CHALLENGED ATHLETES

FOUNDATION

CONNECTED HORSE

MULTICULTURAL CENTER OF MARIN

SWEETWATER MUSIC HALL

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

INNOCENCE PROJECT

OAK HILL SCHOOL

UC BERKELEY ART MUSEUM

AND PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE