IF/Then Shorts American West 2020

Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) in partnership with the ESPN Films chose six projects focusing on stories exploring issues around health through the lens of athleticism, sports, and competition in the American West to present at the IF/Then Shorts pitch competition at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival on February 20, 2020. 

The winner was selected by a professional jury consisting of: 

• Amy Hobby, Executive Director, TFI
• Adam Neuhaus, Director of Development, ESPN Films
• Jacob Bloomfield-Misrach, Composer and Supervising Sound Editor, Berkeley Sound Artists
• Gita Saedi Kiely, Director of Development, University of Montana School of Journalism
• Doug Hawes Davis, Founder, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
• Suzan Beraza, Festival Director, Mountainfilm
• Ben-Alex Dupris, Concordia Studio Artist-in-Residence

The jury chose LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE directed by Kelly Bouma as the competition winner to receive $25,000 in project funding and the opportunity to participate in TFI's IF/Then Shorts Program, which provides year-round mentorship and career development opportunities. 

Additional Awards:

Berkeley Sound Artists is a proud partner of Tribeca Film Institute and provided a post-production audio package for this year's IF/Then Shorts American West with ESPN pitch competition winner. 

SELECTED PROJECTS:

LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE
Director: Kelly Bouma
Location: Montana
Lois is 83. Gettin' old sucks, but she's rolling with it. When age slows her down, what does she do in her spare time? She bowls. Satisfying Lois' competitive spirit, bowling keeps her active and out of the social isolation many older Montanans are facing at a rapid rate. 
 

HEALTHY STRUGGLE
Co-Director/Producer: Dania N. Cabello
Co-Director: Yvan Iturriaga
Location: California
Two freestyle soccer players, one of the most expensive cities in the US, and physical expression of freedom intertwined in the pursuit of health and reclamation of public space through play. 
 

BREAKING BOUNDARIES
Director: Dina Burlis
Producer: Melissa Azizi
Location: California
Nastasya, 19, is poised to become the first woman of color to ever compete in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2020 Olympic Games. Our film follows the physical, financial, and emotional challenges she faces on her unprecedented journey against all odds. 
 

GIRL V. HORSE
Director/Co-Producer: Nicole Teeny
Co-Producer: Mariel Sarkis
Location: Washington
After recovering from a neurological disorder, I set out on a lfielong goal: to race a marathon against a horse. This whimsical and poetic documentary explains how humans evolved to be runners while exploring the competing relationship between body versus the mind and girl versus horse. 
 

ONE WORD SAWALMEM
Director/Producer: Natasha Deganello Giraudie
Director: Micahel Pom Preston
Location: California
The son of the Winnemem Wintu tribal chief receives guidance from the spirits to organize a 300-mile athletic and prayerful journey by foot, bike, kayak, and horseback to help California recognize the wisdom in native worldview and the clues it offers for untangling ourselves from the climate crisis. 
 

THE LAST 500
Director/Producer: Nico Sandi
Location: California
Ellen Tomek and Meghan O'Leary have more than 30 years of combined rowing experience. They've been rowing together in the double, a famously unforgiving boat, for more than 6 years. After falling short of a medal in the Rio Olympics, after years of training and sacrifice, they only have one more chance: Tokyo 2020. They know what they need to do to get there, but what comes next may be just as difficult.