Passionate Pursuits

Passionate Pursuits – Stories of people with a passion so strong they live, practice, or focus more effort towards their goal than anything else they know. Seeing their stories might get YOU inspired!  (Multi-national / in English or w/English subtitles / 84 mins / Ages 8+ do to subtitles) 

FILMS AND FILM LINE-UP ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

BRAVE GIRL – Brave Girl is a young adventurer who is just beginning her journey of finding out what it takes to climb mountains. Even though she’s only 6, she has an unwavering ambition to climb the biggest mountains in the world, starting with the ones in her backyard in Wyoming. (2022 / 7.5 mins / USA / dir. Mark Pedri / in English)

JORDAN – When a tween mermaid enthusiast discovers an ailing water creature, she uses a magical wish to change the fate of their existence…and her own. JORDAN engages the genre of fantasy and cli-fi (climate fiction) to shape a fairytale where everyone has agency and representation. (2022 / 19.5 mins / USA / dir. Ebony Blanding / in English)

MATCH DAY – After watching her favorite team lose in dramatic fashion, a young soccer fan must navigate the stages of loss with the help of her recently divorced father.  (2022 / 13.5 mins / USA / dir. Clay Randal / in English)

THE PATH OF A THOUSAND GATES – Two monks are making their way in the pilgrimage road, inhabited by evil spirits. The younger one disobeys his mentor, leaves the right path and falls into enemies’ claws. He doesn’t even imagine what price he has to pay for the release. (2021 / 6 mins / Russian Federation / dir. Varvara Obedkova / no dialogue)

JUST HOLD ON – Mutton Bustin’ champion and future spy, 7-year-old Marlie McDonald is a symbol of resilience and vigor. Marlie was born with an aggressive brain tumor and spent her first few years in hospitals. Today, fearless Marlie is in long-term survival care and insists on riding sheep in her free time. (2020 / 7 mins / USA / dir. Rayka Zehtabchi, Sam Davis / in English)

PONY BOYS – Summer, 1967. Two Massachusetts boys – 9 and 11 — are desperate to visit Expo ’67 in Montreal — the largest World’s Fair ever. But their parents can’t take them. Then Mom comes up with the solution: hitch their pet Shetland pony King to a cart and drive 350 miles to Expo 67 — on their own — at 5 m.p.h.! For Tony and Jeff Whittemore, it becomes the adventure of a lifetime.  (2022 / 25 mins / USA / dir. Eric Stange / in English)

SQUIRREL (Eichhörnchen) – The squirrel mother is busy gathering nuts, so she doesn’t have any time to look after her kids… until she loses them!  (2022 / 3.5 mins / Germany / dir. Julia Ocker / no dialogue)

write your line – As a kid, Ben dreams of reaching the level of his favorite athletes, who have become legends today. During his ski descent, he finds himself sharing his ride with the greatest. This descent will go viral on the internet, provoking the craze of future generations, all curious to see such a sharing.  (2021 / 3 mins / France / dirs. Marc Augey & Andy Collet / in French w/English subtitles)

ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught) – ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught) explores expressions of reciprocity within Cherokee communities, brought to life through a story told by an elder and first language speaker. ᎤᏕᏲᏅ is a reflection on tradition, language, land, and a commitment to maintaining balance. This film was created in collaboration with independent artists from both Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. (2022 / 9 mins / USA / dir. Brit Hensel / in English & Tsalagi Gawonihisdi)