Short Block 6: All Smiles


All Among the Bison (Directed and Produced by Duncan McDowall, Sponsored by 1889.

Cody and Steve form an unlikely pair. Cody manages a herd of wild bison, and Steve leads individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities in outdoor recreation. When they met they asked themselves: what if we designed an adaptive bison viewing experience? For Cody and Steve, this is a natural association -- one that sparks awe, humility, and faith that an inclusive and biodiverse future is possible.


Iridescent (Directed by Keith Ladzinski, Produced by Tommy Joyce, Sponsored by 4 Ravens Gallery)

When it comes to the discovery and documentation of birds, Tim Laman is one of the best in the world. As he entered the final curation stages of his forthcoming book, Bird Planet, fellow bird lover and National Geographic photographer Keith Ladzinski reached out with an opportunity to go on safari in one of the world's birding hotspots, Brazil's Pantanal region. It had been on Tim's bucket list for years but he had yet to visit, so he jumped at the chance to photograph some of South America's best birds.


Finally I Sea (Directed by Alice Geary, Produced by Peter Venn and Alice Geary, Sponsored by Bedrock Sandals)

Finally I Sea is the intimate story of a nine-year-old girl on a journey to see the sea for the very first time. Growing up in central London, Fajita has dreamt of a fun day at the seaside ever since she can remember, but barriers such as cost mean that she has never been able to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Witness the pure emotions and reactions of Fajita and her friends as they finally get to experience a beautiful day on the coast.


Born Curious (Directed by Julia de Guzman, Sponsored by Montana Folk School)

Shot in New York City, Born Curious explores the life of the explorer. It is in turns comedic and lyrical, tense and heartwarming. It will inspire even the most timid among us to live braver and bolder every day.


sym*bee*o*sis (Produced by Neil Losin and Nathan Dappen, Sponsored by National Wildlife Federation)

In sym*bee*o*sis, scientists discover that the alliance between bees and plants actually depends on an unexpected third partner: microbes! But the chemicals we use in agriculture are putting this ancient partnership at risk.


Bridging Fragments (Directed and Produced by Sonny DePasquale)

Bridging Fragments explores the stressors in a tropical rainforest off the coast of Costa Rica, where the Sloth Conservation Foundation is helping the local wildlife navigate a disconnected world. Urbanization and deforestation are fracturing the wildlife corridors that preserve biodiversity in tropical rainforests, putting many species at risk, including the world's slowest mammal: the sloth.


4/22 and 4/23 Screenings followed by a Q&A with Bridging Fragments director Sonny DePasquale and Born Curious director Julia Guzman!