2023 Selections – Lane Doc Fest

2023 LANE DOC FEST
Finalists and Winners

Congratulations to all the filmmakers....

2023 Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner...

Ilya Salkind

Born in Mexico City, Ilya Salkind was raised in the enchanting realm of motion pictures. Starting his career as a producer at a young age, Ilya has amassed an awe-inspiring filmography. Together with his father and grandfather, he helmed the production of the immensely successful box office hits “The Three Musketeers” (1973) and its sequel “The Four Musketeers: Milady’s Revenge” (1974). Notably, this was the first instance in the industry where a film and its sequel were shot simultaneously. For his remarkable work on “The Three Musketeers,” Ilya received a Golden Globe nomination.

Continuing his streak of success, Ilya ventured into the creation of the blockbuster “Superman” franchise, which went on to become one of the most triumphant in cinematic history. The Academy Award-winning “Superman” (1978) also holds the distinction of being the pioneering major Comic Book film adaptation. Under Ilya’s guidance, the film and its first two sequels captivated audiences worldwide, with “Superman II” (1980) earning the title of Best Science Fiction Film of the year from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. Expanding into television, Ilya achieved further triumphs with the show “Superboy” (1988) (1988-1992), which enjoyed four successful seasons comprising a total of 100 episodes.

Throughout his illustrious career, Ilya Salkind earned a reputation for discovering and nurturing new talent, including Christopher Reeve (Superman), Helen Slater (Supergirl), and Catherine Zeta-Jones and Benicio Del Toro in “Christopher Columbus: The Discovery,” where they starred alongside the iconic Marlon Brando. His upcoming venture, “Alexander the Great from Macedonia,” is set for a summer release in 2006 and targets a teen audience.

Presently, Ilya Salkind is actively involved in pre-production for the ambitious film “The Abominable Snowman.” This legendary creature has intrigued the public imagination for centuries, remaining one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries.

FESTIVAL SPECIAL AWARD

WINNER:

“In Honor of a Purple Heart” – Directed By: Eric Scott Johnson (United States)

This film is about a Vietnam Veteran and retired Police Officer, Jerry Smith has overcome countless obstacles to devote his life to the service of others. A child of the foster care system, and the cousin of Emmet Till, he has navigated circumstances of bias and racism to receive an education, play college sports, and serve his country as both a Vietnam Veteran and a Police Officer. Despite all of this, he continues to petition the US Government for the Purple Heart Award he was denied on the basis of his ethnicity, for an injury sustained in Vietnam.

BLACK HISTORY FEATURE

WINNER:

“American Justice on Trial: People v. Newton” – Andrew Abrahams, Herb Ferrette (United States)

In one of the “trials of the century” that still reverberates today, Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton faced the death penalty for killing a white policeman in a late-night car stop in 1967 Oakland. While Newton and his maverick attorneys boldly indicted racism in the courts and the country, and a groundbreaking jury led by a historic Black foreman deliberated Newton’s fate, the streets of Oakland and the nation were set to explode if the jury, as expected, returned a verdict of murder.

FINALIST:

• “Bloodlines of the Slave Trade” – Markie Hancock (United States)
• “Stonebreakers“- Valerio Ciriaci (United States)
• “The hidden children of colonization” – Dominique Regueme (France)
• “This is [Not] Who We Are” – Beret E Strong, Katrina Miller (United States)
• “When Houston Had The Blues” – Alan Swyer (United States)

BLACK HISTORY SHORT

WINNER:

“Revolution of Joy” – McKinnon Maddox (United States)

In one of the “trials of the century” that still reverberates today, Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton faced the death penalty for killing a white policeman in a late-night car stop in 1967 Oakland. While Newton and his maverick attorneys boldly indicted racism in the courts and the country, and a groundbreaking jury led by a historic Black foreman deliberated Newton’s fate, the streets of Oakland and the nation were set to explode if the jury, as expected, returned a verdict of murder.

FINALIST:

• “The Soul of Things” – Douglas Soares, Felpe Herzog (Brazil)
• “A Legacy Lost & Found: Segregation in Recreation” – Dr. Tammy L. Holmes (United States)
• “Disrupting Silence“ – Rico Veliz (United States)
• “If There Is No Struggle” – Jared Katsiane (United States)
• “Kingdom” – Shawn Antoine II (United States)

HUMANITY FEATURE

WINNER:

“Paper City” – Adrian Francis (Australia)

Just after midnight on March 10, 1945, the US launched a massive air raid on Tokyo, unleashing a firestorm on this dense area of wooden and paper houses. By sunrise, more than 100,000 people were dead, and a quarter of the city destroyed—the most destructive air raid in history. Unlike their loved ones, Mr Hoshino, Mrs Kiyooka and Mr Tsukiyama emerged alive. For years they have campaigned for a public memorial, a museum, and some token compensation for civilians who lost everything. But the Japanese government has refused to formally acknowledge their appeals, and after seven decades, they find themselves cast aside—while former soldiers have been treated generously by the state. PAPER CITY follows the survivors as they launch a final campaign to leave behind a record of this forgotten tragedy—before the last of them passes away. Weaving harrowing testimonies, rarely-seen archive, and modern-day advocacy, it’s an exploration of trauma, remembrance and the state’s role in gatekeeping accounts of history.

Director Biography – Adrian Francis

FINALIST:

• “Baseball Harmony” – Joo-il Gwak, Amy Hutchinson (United States)
• “Beloved” – Yaser Talebi (Iran)
• “Between Revolutions” – Vlad Petri (Romania)
• “Dear Audrey” – Jeremiah Hayes (Canada)
• “Eternal Spring” – Jason Loftus (Canada)
• “Light Falls Vertical” – Efthymia Zymvragaki (Spain)
• “Paper City” – Adrian Francis (Australia)

HUMANITY SHORT

WINNER:

“Follow Me” – Lubomir Levitski (Ukraine)

This film was made by famous Ukrainian director Lubomir Levitski, talks about the unique rescue operation with drones which was carried out by the Ukrainian military during the brutal battles near Izyum. Real participants of that operation speak their story to the camera, so that the whole world would learn about the incredible feat and creative approach of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in rescuing civilians.

FINALIST:

• “Abyssal” – Alejandro Alonso (France)
• “Carpenter” – Xelil Sehragerd (Iran)
• “Follow Me” – Lubomir Levitski (Ukraine)
• “Honour Me” – Alex Tweddle (United Kingdom)
• “I Won’t Remain Alone” – Yaser Talebi (Iran)
• “Joe Buffalo” – Amar Chebib (Canada)
• “The Hospital That Was Taken Hostage” – Anna Tsyhyma (Ukraine)
• “The Silent Shore” – Nathalie Giraud, Timothée Corteggiani (France)
• “Ukraine’s Soul – A Tribute to Heroes” – Marcelle Abela (United State)

EQUALITY FEATURE

WINNER:

“Sew to Say” – Rakel Aguirre (United Kingdom)

Thalia is an artist and banner maker who, in the early 80s, joined a women-only peace camp to stand against nuclear weapons through non-violent action.

42 years ago, in the summer of 1981, a group of 36 women left their homes and marched from Cardiff, the capital of Wales, to Greenham Common near London to protest against the American Cruise missiles that were going to be deployed in the UK as part of the Cold War response.

In fear of nuclear war, the group decided to stay and started a peace camp to protest against the storage of nuclear weapons at the base. The peace camp became women-only and soon transformed into a public space for women’s voices attracting hundreds of thousands of women over two decades.

Thalia, one of the original marchers and founders of the camp, shares the untold story of the longest feminist protest in British history and reflects on how collective action changed the lives of the women of Greenham and inspired several generations.

FINALIST:
• “Elis & Tom” – Roberto Oliveira (Brazil)
• “The Last 5 Minutes” – Shahram Maslakhi (Iran)

EQUALITY SHORT

WINNER:

“The Panola Project” – Rachael DeCruz and Jeremy S. Levine (United States)

Highlighting the heroic efforts of Dorothy Oliver to keep her small town of Panola, Alabama safe during the pandemic. A chronicle of how an often-overlooked rural Black community came together in creative ways to survive.

FINALIST:
• “Kings of Taiwan” – Syrus Sadvandi (Taiwan)
• “The Exchange Girl” – George Larkin (United States)

SOCIAL JUSTICE FEATURE

WINNER:

“Bad Press” – Rebecca Landsberry-Baker, Joe Peeler (United States)

When the Muscogee Nation suddenly begins censoring their free press, a rogue reporter fights to expose her government’s corruption in a historic battle that will have ramifications for all of Indian Country.

FINALIST:

• “Bad Press” – Rebecca Landsberry-Baker, Joe Peeler (United States)
• “Belki Sibe” – Alexis Daloumis (Greece)
• “Don’t Worry About the India” – Arjun Jr, Nama Filmcollective (India)
• “I Didn’t See You There” – Reid Davenport (United States)
• “I Wait Around the Corner” – Neslihan Kultur (Turkey)
• “It’s Only Life After All” – Alexandria Bombach (United States)
• “Nafkot – Yearning” – Malka Shabtay (Israel)
• “Reimagining Safety” – Matthew Solomon (United States)
• “The 50” – Brenton Gieser (United States)
• “The Woman of Stars and Mountains” – Santiago Esteinou (Mexico)“Belki Sibe” – Alexis Daloumis (Greece)
• “Don’t Worry About the India” – Arjun Jr, Nama Filmcollective (India)
• “I Didn’t See You There” – Reid Davenport (United States)
• “I Wait Around the Corner” – Neslihan Kultur (Turkey)
• “It’s Only Life After All” – Alexandria Bombach (United States)
• “Nafkot – Yearning” – Malka Shabtay (Israel)
• “Reimagining Safety” – Matthew Solomon (United States)
• “The 50” – Brenton Gieser (United States)
• “The Woman of Stars and Mountains” – Santiago Esteinou (Mexico)

SOCIAL JUSTICE SHORT

WINNER:

“Day Without Hate” – Connor Tieulie (United States)

Day Without Hate is a student-led initiative promoting peace, nonviolence, and mental health care in our schools and communities. Founded in Arvada, Colorado after the rise of school shootings, Day Without Hate’s efforts were awarded “The Global Call to Action” from the Nobel Peace Laureates-led nonprofit, PeaceJam. Day Without Hate has been recognized annually in May by Proclamations from the Governor of Colorado and mayors of Denver and Arvada. This short film highlights 15 years of students’ progress toward mental health care, anti-bullying, and nonviolence initiatives.

FINALIST:

• “Day Without Hate” – Connor Tieulie (United States)
• “Dream Chaser” – Liam Hughes (United States)
• “Here, Hopefully” – Hao Zhou (United States)
• “I Didn’t See You There” – Reid Davenport (United States)
• “Impossible” – Denys Zakharov (Ukraine)
• “In Honor of a Purple Heart” – Eric Scott Johnson (United States)
• “Meantime” – Michael T Workman (United States)
• “Remembering Nearfield” – Sean Alexander Carney (United Kingdom)
• “The Art of Giving” – Mickael Couturier (Indonesia)
• “Zahreela – The Second Poisoning” – Dilu Maliackal (India)

ENVIRONMENT FEATURE

WINNER:

“Delikado” – Karl Malakunas (United States)

Within the idyllic Philippine tourist destination of Palawan, forests and wildlife are being destroyed by illegal loggers and President Duterte’s cronies. Despite extreme mortal danger, a small troop of environmental crusaders risk their lives to catch the culprits in the act and prevent the thieving and destruction of their homeland.

FINALIST:

• “Light chaser：Going” – Baojiu Li (China)
• “Majesty of Zagros” – Behnam Rezaei (Iran)
• “Outlaw Gardeners” – Angelo Camba (Italy)
• “The North Drift” – Steffen Krones (Germany)
• “Veranada” – Dominique Chaumont (Canada)

ENVIRONMENT SHORT

WINNER:

“What They’ve Been Taught” – Brit Hensel (United States)

Filmed on the Qualla Boundary and Cherokee Nation, 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.

FINALIST:

• “Between Earth & Sky” – Andrew Nadkarni (United States)
• “Joy” – Aner Etxebarria Moral (Uganda)
• “Return Rate” – Matheus Vieira (Brazil)
• “What They’ve Been Taught” – Brit Hensel (United States)

BEST STUDENT FILM

WINNER:

• “I Am More Dangerous Dead” – Majiye Uchibeke (United States)
• “Missing in the Midwest” – Harper Brock and Hailee Williams (United States)
• “Prayer of The Birds” – Yevgeniya Regent (Ukraine)
• “Resurgence” – Krushan Naik (US)

FINALIST:

• “Big Trash Small Town” – Supavit Sirisawadwattana (Thailand)
• “I’m A Writer” – Ruby Walker (Australia)
• “My Friend, David” – Alexandra Bree Carson (United States)
• “Native Americans, same roots with Chinese” – Guo Xinwei Guo (Ecuador)
• “Nicole” – Chadi Bennani (Canada)
• “Samira” – Anna Anat Gofman Banai (Israel)
• “Sisyphuses” – Donghyeok Lee (South Korea)