Documentary Shorts Selection

Sunday, March 10th at The Carnegie Institution for Science
3:00pm – 5:00pm

Get tickets to this event here

Tickets also available at the door


“33” | DC’s Game

Directed by David Ross, Lloyd Foster, Kavon Martez
USA / 2018 / 5:38 mins

A simple, yet original game, is the cornerstone for community in Washington, D.C.

“33” is unique form of basketball native to Washington, D.C. and the surrounding metropolitan area. The goal of “33” is to score 33 points against an unlimited amount of opponents. It’s a game of isolation, strategy, and effort. The game is responsible for the development of many D.C. basketball players who went on to play professionally. It requires a deep offensive and defensive understanding of the game, fostering the the next generation of elite players in Washington, D.C.

It’s also a game with an uncertain origin. Many Washingtonians suspect its beginnings can be traced back to Patrick Ewing during his time at Georgetown University. During this era, Georgetown became a national powerhouse and the pride of D.C. His jersey number also happened to be 33.

Regardless of its exact roots, all Washingtonians will agree, 33 is the game of D.C. and a central hub to the DMV culture.


Do We Belong?

Directed by Sofian Khan
USA / 2018 / 14 mins

In February 2017, just weeks after President Trump’s inauguration, Adam Purinton walked into a bar in Olathe, Kansas and shot Srinivas Kuchibhotla, a 32-year old Indian engineer who worked at Garmin.  The senseless murder was preceded by a verbal attack, during which Purinton shouted “get out of my country” and referred to Kuchibhotla as a terrorist.

Now, the victim’s widow, Sunayana Dumala, struggles to piece her life back together and find a message of hope as she moves forward.


Feel of Vision

Directed by Tucker Gragg and Austin Gardner
USA / 2018 / 26 mins

Lonnie Bedwell, a former Navy Petty Officer turned extreme adventure athlete, became the first blind person to ever whitewater kayak the entire length of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in a solo kayak. After losing his eyesight in a hunting accident in 1997, Lonnie described his blindness as a wall that prevented him from moving forward, from living a full life. However, as he tells it, kayaking acted as a door in the wall that opened up to the whole world. Today, Lonnie spends his time engaging fellow blind paddlers in the spray and white foam of the Ohioplye and Yellowstone wilderness. He’s driven to lead more men and women to the doorway so that they too can create their own vision of the life ahead of them.


Kwabena

Directed by Déwun Owusu
USA / 2018 / 9 mins

The short film ‘Kwabena’ drops you in the middle of a once in a lifetime experience. The award-winning Director of Photography Déwun Owusu captures and tells his own personal story about meeting a half-sibling for the first time on the other side of the world; Ghana, West Africa. Powered by mystery, revelation and raw emotion, ‘Kwabena’ expressively captures an extraordinary human experience that sticks with you long after the conclusion of the short.


Mum

Directed by Mariam Al Awadhi
UAE / 2018 / 9:29 mins

After 15 years of averting the source of her anxiety, Mariam at last walks the journey of voicing her avoided emotions regarding her non-Emirati mother, and the uneasiness she felt about her mixedbackground in the Emirati society.


STRIPPED

Directed by Jevon Boreland
Canada / 2018 / 16:45 mins

STRIPPED is the personal, untold story of Phylicia Carty, also known as MzLady Ice, whose life took her in the direction of becoming one of the most revolutionary urban exotic dancers in the Toronto adult entertainment industry. The enticing documentary showcases the struggles and triumphs that come with being a female stripperin a contemporary world that is now gaining mainstream acceptance.

A multi-award winning short film, STRIPPED has received a total of 4 awards, 9 nominations and 6 official selections in its ongoing film festival run.



The Swimmer

Directed by Thomas Beug
Ireland / 2017 / 11:31 mins

Stephen Redmond from West Cork was the first person ever to complete the world famous ‘Ocean’s Seven’ challenge, consisting of seven long-distance channel swims. This documentary looks at the beauty and the poetry of Stephen’s passion and touches on thelives of the people he loves and those he has lost. It delves into the peculiar, solitary psyche of an open-water swimmer who spends much of his time immersed in a world underwater. The film is set in the maritime lake Lough Hyne as well as off the Atlantic coast of Ireland at the iconic Fastnet Lighthouse. It features the poem, ‘A Swim in Co. Wicklow,’ written and performed by the Irish poet Derek Mahon.


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