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elondocs students gain industry insight as Full Frame Fellows

Tommy Kopetskie — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:07:38 +0000

Nicole Triche (from left), professor of cinema and television arts, joins elondocs students Trista Panagakos, Sandy Orozco-Rosaldo, Kaitlyn Dicataldo, Alice Morrissey, Julia Chan and Ashley Metzger at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, where they participated as Full Frame Fellows. Photo by Aaron Chan.

With an hour after watching “T�� Oldest Person in the World” open the , ��޹��Ʒ students were talking with the film’s director, Sam Green, at the festival’s opening night party. It is a moment that captures the access and immersion of the students’ experience as Full Frame Fellows.

Each spring, elondocs students participate in the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival as Fellows, joining one of the nation’s leading documentary gatherings. Accompanied by Nicole Triche, professor of cinema and television arts, 11 Elon students spent four days last week attending film screenings, panels and social events, interacting with filmmakers and networking with industry professionals.

Evan Lukacs (from left), Morrissey and Sean Greenberg were among the elondocs students who traveled to the Durham film festival.

Throughout the festival, students attended screenings at the Carolina Theatre and Durham Convention Center, moving between venues to experience a wide range of films and engage in conversations with filmmakers and audiences. For many, the opportunity to interact directly with filmmakers – including conversations with Green – offered a deeper understanding of how documentaries are conceived, structured and brought to life.

“T�� Full Frame Fellows experience gives students a chance to see documentary as both an art form and a profession,” said Triche, who serves as faculty director of elondocs. “T��y are engaging with filmmakers, hearing how stories come together, which will help them with their own projects.”

Inside packed theaters, students experienced the collective energy of audiences engaging with documentary storytelling in real time.

“One of the most important takeaways was the fact that people are still excited and engaging with documentary as an art form,” said Trista Panagakos ’28, a journalism major from Staten Island, New York. “It brings me hope for my future when I see a theater full of people enjoying a documentary.”

For Sandy Orozco-Rosaldo ’28, a double major in cinema and television arts and strategic communications from Burlington, the experience also highlighted the power of cultural representation on screen.

“A personal highlight for me was seeing parts of my Mexican culture represented in a different light,” Orozco-Rosaldo said. “T�� film ‘Jaripeo’ by Efrain Mojica and Rebecca Zweig was something I had never seen in a cultural sense and in a cinematography sense, both beautifully executed.”

Orozco-Rosaldo also said the festival expanded her understanding of the documentary landscape.

“I learned how vast of a documentary community there is here in North Carolina and beyond. I feel confident that there are people out there waiting to see great works not so far from my home and campus.”
– Sandy Orozco-Rosaldo ’28

Beyond the screenings and formal events, the fellowship also fostered connections within the elondocs cohort, as students reflected on films and shared insights throughout the experience.

“I really enjoyed spending time with the elondocs cohort,” Panagakos said. “Many of us drove to and from Full Frame together and watched the same movies. This brought us closer and allowed us to break down films together and experience each other outside of our meetings.”

The trio of Metzger (from left), Orozco-Rosaldo and Panagakos enjoy a moment together while attending the 2026 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.

For Triche, that connection between academic preparation and professional exposure is central to the program’s mission.

“When students can see themselves in these spaces, engaging with filmmakers and contributing to the conversation, it helps make their goals feel tangible,” she said.

In addition to Orozco-Rosaldo and Panagakos, other Elon students in attendance included Evan Lukacs, Mary Finch, Julia Chan, Lily Gooding, Kaitlyn Dicataldo, Ashley Metzger, Alice Morrissey, Amalia Zucker and Sean Greenberg.

The 2026 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival featured 49 films from 31 countries, selected from more than 1,100 submissions.

Lumiere Rostick ’20 brings ‘Crime & Parody’ to RiverRun, exploring satire and free speech

Tommy Kopetskie — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:03:29 +0000

Lumiere Rostick ’20, co-producer of “Crime & Parody,” helped shape the documentary’s narrative and story structure as it followed a satire-driven legal case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. “Crime & Parody” is screening at the upcoming RiverRun International Film Festival, continuing its run on the festival circuit. Photo courtesy of Kyiana Small.

What began as a joke – a parody social media page poking fun at a local police department – spiraled into a high-stakes legal battle and ultimately the subject of “Crime & Parody,” a new documentary co-produced by Elon graduate .

The film will screen at the 28th RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem on Saturday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. and again on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. .

Rostick’s professional path has included work on the FX documentary series “Children of the Underground,” traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide. Photo courtesy of Gabby Piamonte.

At its center, “Crime & Parody” follows amateur comedian Anthony Novak, whose satirical Facebook page led to a police raid, criminal charges and a broader fight over First Amendment rights in the United States. As the case unfolds – eventually reaching the U.S. Supreme Court – the film expands beyond satire to examine deeper questions around qualified immunity and accountability, weaving in the story of Omar Arrington-Bey, a suburban Cleveland man who died while in police custody, and the lasting impact of police violence.

As a co-producer, Rostick contributed throughout the filmmaking process, from reviewing transcripts and shaping story structure to providing feedback across multiple cuts. Their work with director Will Thwaites evolved over several years, with Rostick helping strengthen the film’s narrative by encouraging the inclusion of additional perspectives that deepen its emotional and societal impact.

“’Crime & Parody’ is an important thought piece wrapped up in a good time,” said Rostick, who was a cinema and television arts and strategic communications double major. “You’ll laugh, reflect, question authority and feel something along the way. At a time when free expression and free speech are being threatened at every turn, the film offers the story of an unlikely hero fighting back.”

Rostick said their time at Elon – including work with Cinelon and mentorship from faculty – helped define their path into documentary filmmaking. Photo courtesy of Kyiana Small.

The film’s balance of humor and impact is what drew Rostick deeper into the work. Initially attracted to the opportunity to collaborate on an independent project, they said the film ultimately became something more – a chance to move beyond entertainment and contribute to meaningful dialogue.

“This felt like the first opportunity for my work in documentary film to leave a greater impact,” they said.

Rostick, who was an Odyssey Program scholar at Elon, said their foundation in film was shaped during their time at Elon. Through Cinelon, they gained extensive hands-on production experience and developed the work ethic that carried into professional opportunities. This includes traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide supporting “Children of the Underground,” a five-episode documentary series from FX.

The Elon graduate also credits Nicole Triche, professor of cinema and television arts, with helping define their path. Triche’s documentary course introduced Rostick to the craft and ultimately led them to pursue a career in nonfiction filmmaking – and to an early PBS project that first connected them with Thwaites.

“Crime & Parody” has already built momentum on the festival circuit, premiering at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and screening at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival, where Thwaites earned Best Director honors.

Now, at RiverRun, the documentary will continue to reach new audiences, inviting viewers to consider not just the absurdity of one man’s arrest, but the broader implications for free speech, justice and accountability in America.

Alex Luchsinger’s documentary wins Audience Choice Award

Tommy Kopetskie — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:23:46 +0000

“Forward,” a short-form documentary by Alex Luchsinger, associate professor of journalism, was honored with the Audience Choice Award at the , earning top recognition from audiences for its powerful portrait of resilience, service and healing. The film follows U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Ashley Christman as she navigates a stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer diagnosis while continuing to serve in the Marine Corps and remain fully present for her wife and young son.

Associate Professor of Journalism Alex Luchsinger spent a year documenting U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Ashley Christman’s battle with stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer, resulting in the new short-form documentary titled “Forward.” The film has garnered recognition across the country.

The documentary takes viewers inside Christman’s journey as she searches for healing through medical treatment, physical training and surf therapy, showing both the heavy moments and the hope that carry her forward. Along the way, the film connects with military, LGBTQ+ and cancer communities through a story rooted in perseverance and purpose. In related news, “Forward” was recently recognized in the 2026 BEA Festival of Media Arts.

For Luchsinger, the film’s reception at the South Carolina festival underscored the responsibility he felt in telling Christman’s story.

“As a Marine, you’re taught to serve something bigger than yourself, and that mindset stays with me as a filmmaker,” Luchsinger said. “This film isn’t about me telling a story – it’s about honoring Ashley’s courage and telling her family’s story with care. To have audiences connect with that and choose ‘Forward’ means a great deal, especially within a film community that values stories of service, resilience and hope.”

Luchsinger and his film “Forward” recently earned an Award of Excellence at the 2026 BEA Festival of Media Arts.

That commitment to care extended to the film’s entire creative team. Luchsinger worked closely with Assistant Professor of Cinema and Television Arts Max Negin and cinematographer Drew Glickman to bring Christman’s story to the screen. The journalism professor spent more than a year documenting her experience, building trust with Christman and her family to ensure the story was told with authenticity and compassion.

Christman accepted the award in Beaufort on Luchsinger’s behalf and shared how deeply the film – and the festival experience – resonated with her and her family. To view her acceptance speech, .

“This week has been an emotional wave that leaves me almost at a loss for words,” Christman said. “T��re’s something powerful about experiencing the full spectrum of life – the heartbreak, the joy, the laughter, the tears. To feel all of that through the work of the artists and filmmakers in this room has been incredibly moving.”

She also praised Luchsinger’s approach to telling her story with empathy. “(Alex) bore witness to our story – my family’s story – with such love and compassion, and that means so much to us,” Christman said.

Christman speaks with audience members at the 2026 Beaufort International Film Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival.

Christman also reflected on how the project began and why she felt compelled to share her story. She explained that the film grew out of Luchsinger’s interest in exploring the healing power of the ocean, shaped in part by his own experience transitioning from military service. Through connections with the Jimmy Miller Foundation, Luchsinger was introduced to Christman and her family, laying the groundwork for the documentary.

“I also want to say thank you to Drew Glickman — an amazing videographer, incredibly talented — who felt like part of our family while capturing our life,” she said.

The film’s impact was felt throughout the festival, including during the presentation of the Audience Choice Award by Barry Wilson, a longtime festival supporter. In his award introduction, Wilson reflected on the festival’s role as a place “where stories are honored, artists are celebrated, and our community comes together.”

“To the filmmakers here today, thank you for trusting this stage with your work,” he said. “Your creativity gives this festival its heart, and today, one film captured the hearts of the audience in a special way.”

That one film was “Forward.”

��޹��Ʒ the Beaufort International Film Festival

The Beaufort International Film Festival is an annual film event held in Beaufort, South Carolina, typically each February. Founded in 2007 and produced by the nonprofit Beaufort Film Society, the festival screens independent feature films, shorts, documentaries, animation and screenplays from around the world. The festival brings filmmakers and audiences together through screenings, educational forums and community events, and is recognized as one of the fastest-growing film festivals in the Southeast.

Sean Dolan ’13 receives elondocs Emerging Documentarian Award

Tommy Kopetskie — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 21:40:29 +0000

Following a screening of three episodes he shot, edited and produced, Elon alumnus was presented on Nov. 19 with the elondocs Emerging Documentarian Award.

Following the presentation of his elondocs Emerging Documentarian Award, Elon alumnus Sean Dolan ’13 spends a moment with Associate Professor Nicole Triche. Photo by Eva Fragner ’25.

Based in New York, Dolan is a producer, cinematographer and editor for Overtime, a sports media company that merges sports, culture and social media. Prior to this role, the media arts and entertainment major – a precursor to Elon’s cinema and television arts major – worked as a producer for Fly on the Wall Productions, Gallery Media Group and Sports Illustrated.

“T�� range of his post-grad work, combined with his ongoing commitment to Elon students, made him the perfect candidate for this year’s elondocs Emerging Documentarian Award,” said Nicole Triche, associate professor of cinema and television arts and faculty director of elondocs.

After the screening of Dolan’s work in Turner Theatre, students and faculty engaged in a lively Q&A session. Topics included Dolan’s experiences at Elon, insights into the evolving communications industry, and advice on building a strong portfolio before graduation.

“Get involved in any way possible, create as much content as you can, and show your style through your work,” Dolan said. “Even recording your friend playing a sport or playing an instrument puts you at an advantage.”

Dolan reflected on his time at Elon, emphasizing his hands-on approach to learning. From participating in student films with elondocs to interning at professional broadcasting and production companies, he honed his storytelling skills from the ground up. He attributed much of his success to his ability to connect with people and bring their stories to life, in addition to technical expertise.

“I have always had an interest in the communications field, but viewing Dolan’s impressive work and hearing him speak of elondocs’ profound impact on him made me want to get involved in a new realm of it,” said Devon Sweeney ’25, a strategic communications major and Communications Fellow.

Short documentary by Samantha Katz ’24 earns more than just a grade

Tommy Kopetskie — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:16:20 +0000

The impact of Samantha Katz’s final project for her Documentary & Nonfiction Aesthetics class will stretch far beyond a single letter grade.

Samantha Katz ’24, a cinema and television arts major, earned the top prize in a local college film contest sponsored by the Greensboro Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

During the spring semester, Associate Professor Doug Kass allowed his cinema and television arts class free rein to create a film on any topic – in any documentary style of their choice. At the same time, he also encouraged students to consider entering a local college film contest sponsored by the . The competition aimed to celebrate the stories of African Americans and how they have made an impact in Guilford County communities.

These prompts led Katz, who graduated in late May, to create , founder of the Black Suit Initiative, a leadership and community engagement nonprofit organization for middle and high school young men. Fittingly, at the completion of their first year, participants receive a black suit. Katz’s short documentary won the film contest, earning the challenge’s $1,000 top prize, and will be shared in Guilford County schools as part of future Black History Month celebrations.

“I’m extremely honored to have been recognized for my work,” said Katz, a native of Hopedale, Massachusetts. “When I initially submitted the project, I was just happy to share something that could be of value to the community at large and support the Black Suit Initiative. To me, this recognition tells me I’m on the right track with my goals post-grad and that I should stick to my passions of highlighting the voices of those who have an invaluable and impactful story to share.”

Kass is effusive in his praise of his former student and her work, noting the depth and quality of Katz’s finished project. He explained that it was an exhaustive process that involved several rounds of revisions and feedback.

“Samantha’s documentary is a mature piece of work that shows the culmination of all the techniques and methods she’s mastered in the cinema and television arts major,” he said. “This is her very last film project at Elon, and it was a winner. Samantha is also a winner, and it’s a great way to go out.”

The Elon professor, an award-winning filmmaker himself, credited Katz for giving herself the time and space to commit to a story that she felt strongly about. And he is pleased that the project will be used in classrooms to inspire young people to become engaged in their communities.

“This is the kind of work we hope our students will do, but it’s often hard to make happen, and happen with such success and quality,” Kass said. “I always tell students that the process of filmmaking is the process of solving problems. There are always challenges and Samantha encountered many, including scheduling, a faulty sound recording, and a difficult deadline. The best filmmakers turn their problems into plusses, and the work gets better in unexpected ways. That’s exactly what happened here.”

According to a contest news release, the videos were judged on storytelling, content, production quality, creativity, technical proficiency, and how well the video reached its target audience. Like Kass, the contest’s judges were equally impressed with Katz’s work.

“This story was captivating from the start,” said Kara Peters, a WXII news anchor who served as a contest judge. “From the shots of community service to the pictures and hearing firsthand from the men who have gone through the Black Suit Initiative, this was well done!”

Naomi Washington ’24 (left) and Katz were both recognized for their entries in the film contest. Photo courtesy of Nagatha Tonkins.

Coincidently, Katz first learned of the Black Suit Initiative and Ross from Nagatha Tonkins, former internship director for the School of Communications and member of the Greensboro Alumnae chapter. Katz said she felt immediately “connected to Ross’ mission to encourage youth to be the best versions of themselves and overall make a positive difference in the community.”

The recent Elon graduate is especially proud of how the documentary provided her a platform to share the backstory of several Black Suit Initiative graduates.

“Hearing these young men share how the Black Suit Initiative has strengthened their character and prepared them for a world post-high school is so powerful,” she said. “You can also sense the care and compassion Ross has for the young men.”

During the editing and post-production process, Katz worked tirelessly to balance the graduates’ personal anecdotes with the key information about the program. She worked through this challenge with classmates, sharing several rough cuts with fellow students and Kass. Their insights helped pull the project together, she explained.

“I couldn’t have done this project without the help of Professor Kass,” said Katz, recalling the numerous conversations they had in person and via email. “He’s been a great mentor and collaborator on this project through the many phases it has gone through. With his guidance I’ve learned a lot about how to critically look at my work to craft the best final product possible.”

Katz (top left) was a member of elondocs, a yearlong documentary film production program offered by the School of Communications. The program is directed by Nicole Triche (bottom left), associate professor of cinema and television arts.

But Kass was quick to deflect credit, instead focusing on Katz and her love of filmmaking. Additionally, he noted that Katz benefitted from working closely with Associate Professor Nicole Triche, where she gained great perspective through the elondocs documentary program and her Advanced Documentary and Nonfiction Production class.

“Samantha is a terrific student of documentary,” Kass said. “She watched closely and analytically the films that were assigned and recommended to her. Above all, she understood the importance of revision and re-editing through multiple drafts. Samantha was very attentive and diligent, and she trusted the process.”

Katz was not the only award recipient in the film contest with an Elon connection. Naomi Washington ’24, a journalism major, received a $300 honorable mention award for her , coordinator for Future Hope Single Parents’ Ministry, a Christian support group for single parents and their children in the Triad.

The Black Suit Initiative

Founded in 2016, the serves more than 60 middle and high school students in Greensboro and its surrounding areas. Applications for the 2024-2025 school year are now open. For inquiries, contact evainna@blacksuit.org or call (336) 549-0146.

elondocs cohort serves as Full Frame Fellows

Tommy Kopetskie — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:57:40 +0000

Members of the elondocs cohort pose for a photograph outside Carolina Theatre while attending the 2024 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham. Pictured (from left) are Sylvie Cullen ’26, Merrie Byers ’26, Carter Craig ’25, Associate Professor Nicole Triche, Jenna Moylan ’26 and Samantha Katz ’24.

Prior to early April’s in Durham, it had been five years since the celebrated film event had gathered in person – albeit virtual editions were hosted between 2020 to 2022.

The elondocs cohort settles in for a screening at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.

Thankfully, after a year hiatus, the 2024 festival returned to in-person mode and six School of Communications students, all members of elondocs, served as Full Frame Fellows receiving an up-close look at the event’s nearly 60 projects.

Accompanied by Nicole Triche, associate professor of cinema and television arts, the half-dozen students attended four days of film screenings, panels and social engagements where they interacted with filmmakers and networked with industry professionals. These special access events included meeting the celebrated documentarians behind “Girls State” and “Union” at exclusive film student lunches.

“T�� elondocs students took full advantage of their Full Frame Fellows status,” Triche said.

Samantha Katz ’24, a cinema and television arts major, was one such student who relished the opportunity to meet with filmmakers at Full Frame, and the experience got off to a fast start for her.

During the opening night party, she spoke with Amanda McBaine, one of the directors �Ǵ��“Girls State,” which “got me extremely pumped for the rest of the week,” she said. “I overall felt that the festival fostered community and opportunity to speak with these filmmakers, and it didn’t feel intimidating at all.”

Among the award-winning filmmakers the elondocs students met was Stephen Maing. His feature documentary “Crime + Punishment” won a Special Jury Award at Sundance, an Emmy Award and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Maing is a director and producer of the 2024 film “Union,” which follows the Amazon Labor Union as it seeks to unionize Amazon’s JKF8 Warehouse in Staten Island, New York. The documentary was screened at the Durham film festival.

While Katz said she loved “Girls State,” the film “Echo of You” also grabbed her attention. The project by filmmaker Zara Zerny offers a candid look at the lives, loves and relationships of nine elderly Danish citizens.

“What was most impactful to me was the editing style and use of visual storytelling, which has left me inspired to try similar styles myself,” the Elon senior said.

One of Katz’s main takeaways from her Full Frame experience was that good filmmaking is a lengthy endeavor. Good work takes time.

“Documentaries are a process,” Katz said.” I think this (experience) reminded me to trust the process and really take in the content we’re receiving to make as beautiful and impactful of a story as possible. Love and care are the most important things when handling other people’s stories.”

In addition to Katz, Elon students Merrie Byers ’26, Jenna Moylan ’26, Sylvie Cullen ’26, Carter Craig ’25 and Marc Paillex ’24 also served as Fellows.

Foreign Language Film Festival at Elon: Latin America Today, Risks and Dreams

Juan Leal-Ugalde — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 21:03:45 +0000

This 2024 Spring Semester, Elon’s students, faculty, and staff attended the Foreign Language Film Festival: Latin America Today, Risks and Dreams. The festival consisted of three screenings of contemporary documentary and fictional films at Turner Theatre. These movies reflected on the collective and individual capacity for empowerment to survive challenging socio-economic conditions, live in territories affected by environmental crises, and experience persecution and criminalization of struggles for justice in Latin America.

The first film, “Mama Irene: Healer of the Andes” (Directed by Elizabeth Mölhmann, Perú-USA, 2022) was screened on March 2. The documentary follows an indigenous healer, Mama Irene, from the Quechua Culture in the Peruvian Andes. She dedicates her life to helping other people with traditional methods and sacred indigenous medicines. The movie emphasizes a message to believe in the power of individual and collective healing, especially in communities confronting the lack of functional state health systems in remote areas. The screening was followed by a virtual conversation with the film director, Elizabeth Mölhmann, who shared with the audience her experience developing an audiovisual project based on non-Western epistemologies, and highlighted the relevance �Ǵ��empowering indigenous women in present times.

The second film, “They Are Killing Us/Nos están matando” (Directed by Emily Wright and Tom Laffay, Colombia-USA, 2022) was screened on April 4. This film focuses on the persecution of indigenous and Afro-descendent leaders in Colombia, who are confronting the multinational corporations’ mining projects. The documentary denounces the systematic killing of community leaders in the context of the failure of the peace agreement signed by Colombian armed groups and the government in 2016. As part of this event, local and international activists from the U.S.-based organization Witness for Peace joined a conversation with the Elon community. In the session, Witness For Peace activists shared a first-hand perspective of the current human rights issues and environmental crisis in Colombia as well as opportunities for students to be involved in projects seeking to promote solidarity with racial minority communities.

The last screening of the festival was “Los Lobos” (Directed by Samuel Kishi, Mexico, 2019), on April 24. The movie follows brothers Max and Leo, two kids who have crossed the border from Mexico into the United States with their mother, Lucía. They are in search of better life conditions on the other side. In a significant scene of the movie, Max and Leo build an imaginary universe with their drawings and think about Mom’s promise �Ǵ��“Disneyland,” their land of dreams. The film faces the audience with reality from the point of view of the kids, who wanted to experience the so-called American dream but instead ended up facing hard social conditions in the United States.

The foreign film festival of the 2024 Spring Semester offered unique opportunities to promote interculturality and diversity on Elon campus. The movies enriched students’ civic engagement in a global context and encouraged awareness of social, gender and racial issues concerning Latin American subaltern groups.

The 2024 Spring Semester Foreign Film Festival was presented by the Department of World Languages and Cultures; Latin American Studies; and Peace and Conflict Studies. It was also sponsored by Women’s, Gender, and Sexualities Studies; International and Global Studies; the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center; El Centro; Belk Library; ElonDocs; the Department of Sociology and Anthropology; and the Department of Philosophy.

Latin American Studies hosted film festival ‘The Illusion of Abundance’

Lorenzo Tibolla — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:47:35 +0000

The theme of the Latin American Studies Film Festival is global peace and interculturality. The first screening took place on Sept. 12 at Turner Theater and it covered the US-Cuba political relationship through the documentary “Frenemies” (dir. Mirella Martinelli, 2020) and a virtual conversation with Natalia Fajardo, co-director of Witness for Peace’s Cuban Program.

The second screening followed the LAS festival theme focusing on racial justice and exploring indigenous rights in the Latin American world. The film featured three stories of women fighting for their rights against modern-day post-colonialism.

Maxima Acuña from Peru, Berta Cáceres from Honduras and Carolina de Moura from Brazil speak out against big corporations backed by national governments and the price of their “developments.” In the case of these three women, transnational companies are usurping their land and their highly valuable and profitable raw materials. Following the documentary, These corporations have bulldozed literally and figuratively into Latin America and have been ruining the landscape and the lives of the communities. Activists, alongside many members of these communities, have been bravely standing up for their livelihood, facing threats and assassinations, as in the case of Berta in Honduras, who was killed in 2016 for protecting indigenous rights for environmental justice.. These courageous individuals are persistent and unwavering in their fight against powerful companies and they encourage others to join in on their fight.

After the screening of the film, Dr. Juan Leal Ugalde, assistant professor �Ǵ��Spanish and Coordinator of Latin American Studies, moderated a Q&A session where the audience commented on the movie. Overall, the film was extremely powerful and moving and highlights the need for change in Latin America before it is too late.

The third and final film of the Latin American Studies Film Festival will be screened at Turner Theater on November 9 at 2:30 p.m. The featured film is “T�� Klezmer Project” or “Dentro de mí estoy bailando” by Leandro Koch and Paloma Schachmann. The film focuses on a wedding cameraman and clarinet player who falls in love at a Jewish wedding in Argentina. They then travel together to Eastern Europe in search of lost Klezmer culture after WWII. The movie was released in 2023 and have participated in prestigious international film festivals this year. All are welcome to join us for the viewing.

The LAS film festival is possible thanks to partnerships across Elon’s programs and departments. The festival is presented by Latin American Studies and the Department of World Languages and Cultures, and sponsored by Women’s Gender and Sexualities Studies, International and Global Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center, El Centro, Belk Library, Elondocs, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and Elon Core Curriculum.

Student-produced film ‘Welcome to Sockville’ to screen at Raleigh’s Longleaf Film Festival

Tommy Kopetskie — Thu, 11 May 2023 14:12:19 +0000

In Associate Professor Nicole Triche’s communication to share – and celebrate – the upcoming screening of Brandon Talton’s documentary, “Welcome to Sockville,” at the in Raleigh, it is obvious the cinema and television arts BFA major has made a lasting impression.

Brandon Talton ’23 produced, directed and edited “Welcome To Sockville,” a 12-minute documentary highlighting the Burlington Sock Puppets, a summer collegiate baseball team of the Appalachian League, and its connection to the community.

In her email, Triche called Talton a “focused student” and a “film scholar,” who immerses himself in cinema regardless of the genre. Plus, the professor said, Talton is simply a “super nice guy.”

The Elon senior’s documentary, a 12-minute film on a baseball club’s rebranding and its connection to the Burlington, North Carolina, community, will screen on Friday, May 12, at 8:30 p.m. as a part of the festival’s Movies-N-Moonlight Film Block in Raleigh’s Bicentennial Plaza. to see a trailer for the film.

Long before “Welcome to Sockville” received public adoration, the project began as an assignment in Talton’s Advanced Documentary and Nonfiction Production class with Triche. Well, it actually started before the semester got underway, the professor pointed out.

According to Triche, Talton spent the entire summer filming the Burlington Sock Puppets’ season and walked into class with “most of his principal photography complete,” she marveled.

Talton, who is a Communications Fellow, explained that the project idea came to him while attending a Sock Puppets game with a friend, and that he had no previous knowledge of the franchise or its recent start.

“I knew nothing of the Sock Puppets until that day, and something immediately drew me to the club’s willingness to embrace their name,” Talton said. “With the way that they were operating, I just assumed that they had been around for years.”

The community’s excitement was contagious and Talton emailed the organization’s general manager, Anderson Rathbun, out of the blue the following day to ask about filming the club for a documentary.

A promotional poster for “Welcome to Sockville,” which will screen on Friday, May 12, at Raleigh’s Longleaf Film Festival.

“I didn’t admit that I had no clue what the documentary was going to be about besides the rebuild, but I felt compelled to reach out,” he said. “With all of this said, I think what interested me about the Sock Puppets was that they were special to Burlington, and I’m a big believer that every town and city has something special that’s truly their own.”

The Wayne County, North Carolina, native said he is likely influenced by his own region’s captivating history – the site of an and an annual .

“I’m always curious about learning what makes each town unique,” Talton explained.

While the subject of his documentary remained the same, the project’s execution changed during filming.

Talton originally wanted to make a handheld verité documentary where the viewer watched the relationship between the Sock Puppets and Alamance County community naturally unfold with a few interviews shot in the moment. That style mimicked the 1967 music documentary by Murray Lerner titled “Festival” – a favorite of Talton’s.

But midway through shooting the project, Talton reviewed his footage and decided to pivot. He continued with the handheld verité approach, but conducted about a dozen interviews with staff, players and city officials. As he began editing the project later that fall, he admitted that he was “stumped” with how to blend his verité footage with traditional interviews. Talton then found inspiration from the 2017 documentary “Jane” by Brett Morgen, which paired similar styles.

Triche isn’t surprised by Talton’s ability to glean ideas from other films and projects because consuming cinema is what he does.

“Brandon … loves watching all kinds of films beyond class,” Triche said. “He goes to art house theaters, checks out DVDs from the library and goes to film festivals. Brandon would even bring in short documentary films for our class to watch. I love to talk with him about film, and he always has good recommendations.”

While Talton said he enjoys collaborating with others, he takes pride in the fact that “Welcome to Sockville” is almost entirely his creation. But he said he is grateful for the support of classmates Isaac Kunesh ’23 and Addie Holden ’23.

“This documentary gave me an opportunity to learn everything about cameras, sound, editing, producing, interviewing, and so on and so forth,” Talton said. “I barely knew a thing about cameras going into this project, and now I know the Canon C70 almost like the back of my hand – especially C70 #6 from The Gear Room, I love that camera.

“Every project is a learning opportunity,” he added. “And so I’m grateful to know what I can do differently with my next documentary.”

The is an annual juried festival sponsored and administered by the North Carolina Museum of History. The event highlights independent films that demonstrate a Tar Heel State connection, through the people involved in making them, their filming location, or through their subject.

Nicole Triche’s new documentary ‘Curtsy’ to premiere at RiverRun festival

Tommy Kopetskie — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:22:46 +0000

Joyce Triche (left) of Miss Joyce’s Dance Studio in King, North Carolina, is the subject of Associate Professor Nicole Triche’s new documentary, “Curtsy.” The film will premiere at the 25th annual RiverRun International Film Festival on Saturday, April 22.

The subject of Nicole Triche’s new short documentary is undeniably personal, yet the project was anything but predictable.

Titled “Curtsy,” the new film by the associate professor of cinema and television arts highlights Miss Joyce and her 50th year running a small-town dance studio in King, North Carolina. Miss Joyce, who educated generations of Stokes County residents, is also Triche’s mother. The 27-minute documentary will premiere at the 25th annual RiverRun International Film Festival on Saturday, April 22, at 4 p.m. at Marketplace Cinema in Winston Salem. For event and ticket information, .

Nicole Triche

“Every documentarian faces that time when they make something about their family,” Nicole Triche said. “As the 50th anniversary of the studio neared, I began to create a documentary about my mother’s life’s work. I began filming in late 2018 in preparation for the 50th anniversary spring production, which was scheduled for June 2020. Obviously, the arc of the film changed.”

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly influenced the film’s direction as Joyce Triche faced and overcame the hardships that so many small businesses confronted as her community socially distanced. The culminating documentary short is a portrait of her determination, resiliency and creativity.

The film’s subject has a remarkable backstory. While still in high school, Joyce Triche began teaching dance in the mid-1960s in a spare room of her parents’ business. She left Stokes County to earn her dance education degree from Texas Christian University, where she eventually met her future husband, Ward. After graduation, Joyce and Ward returned to King and she opened the first dance studio in Stokes County. For the next 52 years, Joyce Triche taught ballet, tap, creative movement, baton, jazz and shag to students, ranging from toddlers to senior citizens.

Nicole Triche said she literally grew up in her mother’s dance studio, and the facility and her childhood are closely intertwined.

Joyce Triche smiles while working young dancers at her studio, which was located for five decades on East Dalton Street in King, North Carolina.

An experienced documentarian, the younger Triche has several films to her credit, including “Taxidermists” and “All Skate, Everybody Skate,” which won an Excellence in Filmmaking award at the Carrboro Film Festival. She also serves as the director of the elondocs production program. Despite all of that experience, the documentarian said that chronicling the story of a relative wasn’t easy.

“While I loved the experience of making the film, documenting a loved one is challenging, especially when they are going through difficulties,” Nicole Triche said. “T��re were definitely times when I chose to help rather than film.

“But making this film was a great excuse to spend time with my mother and have conversations with her about her life’s work. The pandemic made me appreciate this time with her even more.”

Nicole Triche noted that she is excited that the RiverRun festival is within driving distance of King, which will allow her mother’s former students, friends and family to attend. Miss Joyce will participate in a Q&A session following the screening. “Curtsy” will be screened prior to the feature documentary titled “Susan.”

“Curtsy” isn’t Elon’s only connection to this year’s RiverRun festival. Emily Prins ’23, a cinema and televisions arts major, will present her BFA thesis documentary, “Not Without a Trace: The Deanie Peters Story,” as part of the event’s Student PitchFest at the Reynolds Place Theatre on Saturday, April 22, at 1 p.m. The thesis project delves into the impact of a 40-year-old missing person’s case on a Michigan community.

The PitchFest provides student documentary filmmakers the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of jurors, who provide feedback and award cash prizes to the first and second place winners. Participating schools include Appalachian State University, Elon, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Wake Forest University.

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