Atlanta Docufest Shorts #4

Mochi Mamas

Director Nic Golden Henry - USA - 3 min.

Mabel tells of how her mother taught her the New Year's Day tradition of making mochi and how she's passed it on to her daughters and granddaughters.

Dash, 92, Snowboarder

Director Cheryl Hess - USA - 3 min.

In this poetic micro documentary, shot on expired 16mm film, an aging snowboarder reflects on his relationship with the mountain.

Role Models

Director Richard O'Connor - USA - 3 min.

Reverend Farrell Duncombe grew up as a mischievous young boy in the 1950s in Montgomery, Alabama. At StoryCorps, he recalled the role models who inspired him to become a community leader, including his Sunday school teacher, Rosa Parks.

Keep On Rollin'

Director Pete Russell - USA - 7 min.

A documentary about van culture.

Niveh T'ah'in

Director Kenny Gamblin - USA - 7 min. 

Sam Alexander grew up half Gwich’in, half white, in remote Fort Yukon, AK, above the Arctic Circle. As a child he was inspired by half-native movie characters to join the US Army Special Forces. Sam went on to serve for ten years as a US Army Green Beret.

Sam realized that what veterans crave most is purpose. “Just because you take off the uniform doesn’t mean you stop serving. It just means you serve in a different capacity”. Sam found that purpose after service in reintegrating himself back into native Alaskan culture. In 2013, Sam climbed the centennial ascent of Denali, a mountain first climbed by Alaskan native Walter Harper, and played a key role in finishing Harper’s work in renaming Denali to its original indigenous name.

Technicolor

Director Scott Faris - USA - 9 min.

When Byron Sanders, a superhero-obsessed Black kid from South Dallas, seizes an opportunity to go to a predominantly White private school, his reckoning with race and class puts him on a path to becoming CEO of one of the most influential nonprofits in the city.

Halfway

Director Dayne Hudson - Australia - 8 min. 

After discovering a passion for acting in prison, CJ took steps to learn from his mistakes and discover his true purpose upon release: working tirelessly to become the best actor possible. Follow CJ's journey from prisoner to role model for children with big dreams; who have also faced disadvantages and unforgivable abuse.