Encounters With

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation suffers the highest rates of alcoholism, infant mortality, teen suicide, and fetal alcohol syndrome in the United States, despite the fact that alcohol has been outlawed on this South Dakota reservation for over 120 years. Just across the state line, four convenience stores in the small town of Whiteclay, Nebraska, sell over 4 million cans of beer every year. On August 13, 2013, tribal members voted on whether to legalize alcohol. This is the story of four men living on the streets of Whiteclay and their struggles with alcoholism in the weeks leading up to the tribe's historic vote.

Hossein and Shaima have loved each other since childhood. As teenagers they were separated by war. They meet again in Kabul in the late 90s. Poverty forces Hossein to fight in the war. A shell splinter leaves him paralyzed. Shaima is sold into marriage with a man 40 years her senior and falls pregnant. Since Shaima's husband still owes half the dowry to her father he brings her back into the constraining patriarchal fold of the family, where she lives with her 5-year-old daughter. This situation doesn't prevent the two from seeing each other, even though this means going against their families' hard rules. In constant fear of revenge on the part of the male members of both families, they struggle to hold on to their love.

The Lynching of Louie Sam is a gripping story that captures the conflict between Natives and non-natives, Canadians and Americans and highlights the different approaches to Native people in the two countries.

My KoAloha Story is a Made in Hawaii 'talk story' style documentary-music film about a family owned ukulele business and their special brand of old school Aloha. What was once a failed plastics business in the midst of bankruptcy is transformed into one of the most highly regarded and beloved ukulele companies in the world, KoAloha Ukulele. The KoAloha Story is a story of Ohana, family, and how a tiny ukulele has the power to change lives and bring people closer together. With music by ukulele masters Daniel Ho, Gordon Mark, and Herb Ohta, Jr. and original songs composed and performed by inventor Alvin 'Pops' Oakum. Directed by Gary San Angel with animated story by Rocky Kev.

A film about the construction of movie dreams, narrates the journey of a filmmaker through real spaces, that were filming locations.

PONEVEZH is an unprecedented glimpse into the best ultra-orthodox seminary in the world. We discover that amidst the constant prayer and scholarly study, are fragile confused young men, with hopes, dreams and worries often not so foreign from our own. In a sea 0f 1200 scholars, it's easy to lose yourself