Multi-Screening

Awful Dreams

A man’s plan for a quiet evening at home is shaken when a malevolent entity begins to stalk him. Not everything is as it seems in this horror short film directed by Sean Cruser. This film was made on a budget of 500 dollars!

L'EAU EST LA VIE (WATER IS LIFE): FROM STANDING ROCK TO THE SWAMP

LOGLINE On the banks of Louisiana, fierce Indigenous women are ready to fight—to stop the corporate blacksnake and preserve their way of life. They are risking everything to protect Mother Earth from the predatory fossil fuel companies that seek to poison it.

STORY SYNOPSIS L’EAU EST LA VIE: FROM STANDING ROCK TO THE SWAMP follows water protector Cherri Foytlin as she leads us on a no nonsense journey of Indigenous resistance to the Bayou Bridge Pipeline (BBP) in the swamps of Louisiana. At the film’s opening, viewers are introduced to the Atchafalaya Basin, which was once a Maroon colony--a critical hub of Indigenous and black resistance. Cherri recounts her first-hand experience with the environmental destruction caused by the BP oil spill and how it devastated a local crawfisher man and his way of life. This event caused Cherri to take a hard look in the mirror and ask herself--how did I contribute to this and what can I do to change it? It’s in that moment that the fire of resistance is ignited and Cherri’s life takes a sharp turn. This seed grows into the L’eau Est La Vie Indigenous resistance camp led by a council of Indigenous women, including Cherri Foytlin and Anne White Hat. As the documentary unfolds, we get an on the ground glimpse into the 100+ non-violent direct actions that laid the base for the strongest resistance in Louisiana history.

Imagine a badass environmental activist dressed in red, with matching painted finger and toe nails, climbing a pipeline crane 60 feet in the air to shutdown a worksite. Imagine a fierce Indigenous warrior making a powerful call for public support when the police have their boot on her back and their arms around her throat. Picture what’s possible when people decide to fight for their community and bend the arc of justice to the grassroots.

The backlash to Cherri’s work has been ongoing death threats and physical violence. And although that violence was meant to silence her, we hear from Cherri that it actually took away her fear and emboldened her organizing. This film delves into the complex reasons that compel organizers to risk everything, including their lives, to protect their communities from irreversible corporate harm.

"If our leaders won’t stand up to stop this pipeline and protect our water, then we the people of Louisiana will. We are building the L’eau Est La Vie camp to protect our water and our way of life from the Bayou Bridge pipeline." -L'eau Est La Vie (Water is Life) Camp Statement

The L’Eau Est La Vie (Water is Life) Camp is an Indigenous resistance camp fighting the Bayou Bridge pipeline from a place of love. Bayou Lafourche provides drinking water for 300,000 people. That drinking water will be contaminated when (not if) this pipeline leaks. The fight for water didn’t end in Standing Rock. The Bayou Bridge Pipeline is an extension of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) built by Energy Transfer Partners. We’ll hear from Patch, a water protector, who followed the black snake (pipeline) from his homeland in the Dakotas down to the swamps of Louisiana.

Next the film travels to the Black historical Freetown community of Saint James Parish in “Cancer Alley,” Louisiana. We meet Eve Butler and Sharon Lavigne, residents who are fighting back against industry and the Bayou Bridge Pipeline that’s trying to get into their already poisoned community. The film takes us to a march against a new chemical plant that wants to come in, Sharon’s daughter chokes up as she tells her community about her 3-year old child whose “nose doesn’t work” due to the overwhelming petrochemicals in the area. Saint James residents are plagued by environmental racism which manifests as debilitating cancer, birth defects, asthma and skin conditions. That’s why it’s critical that L’Eau Est La Vie Camp and the St. James community are fighting back together.

This documentary is grounded in Indigenous world views that, to the world’s detriment, have been historically marginalized or actively and violently erased. Through Cherri’s charisma, humor, and heart-felt facility with words, a multigenerational audience from diverse backgrounds can connect to her humanity and be pulled into the larger struggle for Indigenous Sovereignty. Cherri brings to the forefront the possibility of resistance, perseverance, and the power of what is possible, even in the midst of deep personal pain and a multinational corporation with billions of dollars and the backing of state forces.

The film reveals that this struggle is not over a singular pipeline. Rather, the pipeline is one piece of an ongoing legacy of colonization and slow genocide. At the heart of the struggle is a battle between people and profit. We learn from Cherri that to confront the multiple interconnected issues threatening our planet, we must be radical in our imagination and bold in our actions--and that most of all that the fight must be rooted in deep love.

The fight for water and life continues in the Bayous of Louisiana! Come along on the journey.

Let's Eat

Let’s Eat follows the story of an immigrant mother and her daughter as they navigate through the beauty and challenges of life. Despite the difficulties they face, the warmth and love of family provides comfort and closeness, and cooking becomes a symbol of their unconditional love for one another.

Takaya: Lone Wolf

When a lone wolf is a small uninhabited archipelago just off the coast of the city of Victoria, British Columbia, local resident and renowned wildlife photographer Cheryl Alexander goes in for a closer look. What follows is a seven-year relationship that pushes the boundaries of his world—and ours. Takaya: Lone Wolf recounts the inspirational story of one animal’s resilience, adaptation, and survival as he takes on the odds. Through Cheryl’s extraordinary connection and commitment, this special documentary reveals that humans can in fact co-exist with apex carnivores that are often perceived as a lethal threat. Amid widespread rumours and theories, Cheryl uncovers hidden clues and never-before-seen footage that detail where Takaya came from, how he got to the island, and how he’s adapted to his new landscape. And, meeting with leading experts to help decipher his remarkable behaviour, she is determined to expose the deeper lessons that this majestic hunter has to teach us all.

UMBILICAL

'Umbilical' is a dramatic Short Film about separation and connection. It tells the story of Arthur, a short fused ex-convict seeking answers about the origin of his twin brother Charlie's most recent successful novel “Lost Cause”. Through a deep and inevitable conversation, Arthur learns no matter how hard we try we will always end up hurting the ones we love.

When All That's Left is Love

When All That’s Left is Love is the emotionally gripping story of a wife’s determination to care for her Alzheimer’s-stricken husband in their home. With unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access, the film reveals the toll that the disease takes on families coping with Alzheimer's, while also showcasing the power of love that sustains both patients and caregivers.

McDougal & Sons

Here at McDougal & Sons, we're here to listen to you, fight for you, and plead guilty for you. Call us at 555-431-6892.

CHEN

‘CHEN’ tells the story of Chinese Australian dancer Chengwu Guo. Who at the age of 10 was thrown into the strict and rigorous training world of the Beijing Dance Academy. Whilst enduring long periods of time away from his family and being subjected to harsh training methods, Chen was moulded into a highly talented and daring artist. After winning a prestigious competition he migrated to Australia at the age of 16, quickly rising through the ranks to become one of Australia’s most highly acclaimed principal dancers. Now after meeting his partner Ako (also principal dancer of the Australian Ballet) and riding a continual wave of success he must face one of his greatest challenges yet; A career threatening injury that could force him to quit performing forever. Will this injury stop Chen, one of Australia’s best dancers, from reaching his physical and artistic peak?

18ft: Madness

The 18ft skiff is one of the most insane types of sailing boat ever to hit the water, and for over 100 years, has been the pinnacle of small boat racing and has attracted some of the best and craziest sailors in the world to it. Watch as the fleet descend on one of the most idyllic sailing locations in the world and embody the true spirit of sailing these boats.

Attack

A troubled young woman finally stands up for herself, discovering not only what she is capable of but awakening something within.

The Last House Standing

Hope is not a survival strategy. Every year millions of people suffer the wrath of Mother Nature, as infrastructure is demolished, houses are flooded and swept away, and lives are lost. The Last House Standing is a documentary film that explores why we continue to place cost over safety while the technology exists to build homes capable of withstanding hurricanes, fires, and tornadoes. What does it take to build the last house standing?

THE SOUL OF ICELAND

This was the second time I have been to Iceland. I stayed there for 10 days and I travelled over 4000 km through the land and around the coast. There are no words to describe the beauty of this country. I hope this film can genuinely convey the awe I felt when I was there.

Total

A gas station attendant meets a young electric car driver...

Welcome to Hell

In this animated sketch comedy short written by Kath Dunham and Claire Sise, the devil interviews Hell's newest arrival.

What doesn't kill you, doesn't kill you

In 2017 professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones was caught a life-threatening avalanche in the Utah backcountry while snowboarding with friends. His legs were crushed along with his ability to snowboard. This is the story of his hard road to recovery as he finds a new passion in mountain biking that helps him on his journey back to the mountains.