EQUUS Film Festival 2019
Festival presents EQUUS Film Festival in Sedona May 2-4
Award-winning horse films featured on world tour debut on the big screen at Fisher Theatre
The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the World Tour of the EQUUS Film Festival on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 2-4 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre in West Sedona.
The EQUUS Film Festival was created to highlight and award the diverse and creative efforts of those who artistically pay homage to the horse. The festival empowers storytellers to show the rich history and diverse tapestry of horses in human culture through equestrian content. The festival will feature narrative films, documentaries and shorts.
As home to the storytellers of the horse world, the EQUUS Film Festival is the first event of its kind dedicated to equestrian-themed film, fine art and authors.
A collection of equine feature films and documentaries from the EQUUS Film Festival in New York City will be screened. The focus this year will be on the SPOTLIGHT Rescue Series documentary “Hold Your Horses: The Limit Of The Law”. The documentary is a follow up to the continuing story of the mistreatment of the Havasupai Horses and the ongoing efforts to bring an end to their abusive treatment. SAVe Havasupai Horses founder Susan Ash and Arizona cinematographer Rob White will be on hand along with filmmaker Julianne Neal for a Q & A after the film screens.
The Sedona tour of the EQUUS Film Festival will feature the following award-winning films.
BLOCK 1
Thursday, May 2 at 4 p.m.
CLICK HERE to order tickets for Block 1
A HORSE, A CONVICT, A CHANCE FOR CHANGE (2018) USA
22:30 min / Directed by: Autumn Payne
Changed by his love for a wild mustang, a high-risk convict struggles towards a brighter future. His horse, Zephyr, leads a parallel path.
LIFE IN THE DOGHOUSE (2018) USA
84:00 min / Directed by: Ron Davis (Harry & Snowman)
TRAILER
LIFE IN THE DOG HOUSE tells the inspiring life stories of Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta and the remarkable work they do at Danny & Ron’s Rescue. Ten years and 10,000 dogs later, their unique approach to life and dog rescue will capture hearts and inspire millions to make the right choices when it comes to man’s best friend.
BLOCK 2
Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.m.
CLICK HERE to order tickets for Block 2
BACK IN THE SADDLE (2018) CANADA
43:54 / Directed by: Tracy Jacobson
TRAILER
‘Back in the Saddle’ chronicles the passion of famed Canadian cowboy David Cowley and his desire to showcase the often mystical bond of trust that can develop between horse and rider by attempting something never accomplished before on horseback. Along the way, David will compete in the Cowboy Up Challenge at the world famous Calgary Stampede, deal with an emotional family tragedy and endure a series of setbacks that will have him questioning his own confidence before rising up to face his greatest challenge as a horseman.
SILENT COMRADE (2018) GERMANY
88:00 min / Directed by: Leonhard Hollmann
TRAILER
The documentary SILENT COMRADE accompanies three soldiers that are trying to find a way back to life with the help of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD. Where the conventional medicine is limited, Claudia Swiercek fills the gap with her horses. “Horses are mirrors of the soul.” With this sentence in mind, I went on a journey through Mongolia in the summer of 2014, accompanied by two horses.After five weeks in the saddle I still hadn’t come to a full understanding of what that saying was supposed to mean. Shortly after my return to Germany I met Claudia Swierczek who told me about her Equine Assisted Psychotherapy for traumatized soldiers. I was fascinated by the thought of these sensitive animals helping soldiers to cope with their traumas. “Pony Pastorale” and soldiers – how could these two possibly go together? And how does Claudia Swierczek manage to help even with the allegedly hopeless cases? SILENT COMRADE attends the therapy sessions as a silent observer and allows access to Claudia Swiercek’s unique form of therapy. It takes an intimate look at three characters, who talk about the causes and consequences of their traumas with an unusual openness and sincerity. Through their interaction with the horses, their invisible wounds become visible and palpable.
BLOCK 3
Friday, May 3 at 4 p.m.
CLICK HERE to order tickets for Block 3
TRAIL OF BLOOD – SAVe SHORT DOCUMENTARY
7:00 min
HOLD YOUR HORSES: THE LIMIT OF THE LAW (2018) USA
60:00 min / Directed by: Julianne Neal
TRAILER
“HOLD YOUR HORSES: The Limit of The Law” is a feature length documentary that covers the limits faced in prosecuting those involved in the abuse cases called The Hanging Barn (Clarion County Pennsylvania) and SAVE the Havasupai Pack Animals (Grand Canyon, Arizona). Arizona cinematography by Rob White. These two stories were featured in the 2017 Spotlight Rescue Series short PSAs. This new film calls for legislation to address issue of animal cruelty across the country, discusses alternatives and gives resources for educating and reporting abuse in your area. The film includes interviews with Bev Dee and Connie Schrekengost, as well as several other volunteers with Bright Futures Equine Charity, who discovered the horses in the Hanging Barn and were able to save some of the horses. Susan Ash, founder of SAVE (Stop Animal Violence), interviews with Bruce Anderson, Nature’s View clinician and consultant, Neta Ryne and Amber Taylor of Thundering Hooves, and H Leroy Stearns, former Executive Director of the Crawford County Humane Society. The film concludes with a call to action to institute federal legislation in animal cruelty cases.
FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE
THE LAST RIDE (2018) USA
Music Video – 05:00 min / Directed by: Michael Aku RoDriguez
THEIR LAST RIDE (2018) USA
44:31 min / Directed by: Michael Aku RoDriguez
TRAILER
A “Trail Of Tears” direct descendant Cherokee womans’ personal journey that informs & reflects into the world of horse slaughter. Bringing awareness to the issues affecting horses, both Wild & Domestic, and connects people to the spirit of the Horse through multicultural participation and co-creation through all the ARTS.
FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE
BLOCK 4
Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m.
CLICK HERE to order tickets for Block 4
DAUGHTERS OF THE POLO GOD (2018) INDIA
33:00 min / Directed by: Roopa Barua
TRAILER
Marjing (25 mins, 2018, documentary) directed by Roopa Barua is a film on the ancient horse-human connect of the people of Manipur (India) that has brought about the game of polo. An intense heritage around benevolent animal spirits converging onto a military tradition around the Manipuri pony brought about the genesis of this game. Roopa Barua’s film is a homage to this tradition which has now seen the sport grow to include an international women’s polo tournament called PoloYatra where many teams from round the world converge to play the game in Manipur. The shimmering emerald state of Manipur, India is the birthplace of modern polo with men having played there for several hundred years. Now it’s the turn for the young maidens to charge forward. A young polo sisterhood is developing in Manipur that ploughs on in spite of adversity and political turmoil. They are intensely connected to their sacred Manipuri pony and play an international tournament every year. Roopa Barua film is a tribute to these polo players and the modern Manipuri women.
HORSE
Music Video (5:00 min)
SAVING THE MUSTANG: AMERICA’S HORSE ON THE BRINK (2018) CANADA
52:03 min / Directed by: Albert Botha
TRAILER
Wild mustangs have long been an icon of native peoples and early settlers of North America. Yet their fate today is uncertain. SAVING THE MUSTANG explores the state of wild horses today through the efforts of three individuals: Canadian horseman Randy Bird who adopted eight mustangs from a crowded facility in Wyoming and brought them 3000 miles to their new home – his ranch near Cobourg Ontario; Endurance rider and song-writer Jean Albert Renaud, “JAR” who works with horses and at-risk teens on his Maryland ranch, helping youth who are often gang members to escape their brutal life; and Roger William, past chief of the First Nation Xeni Gwet’in, who have created a 200,000 hectare wild horse preserve in the pristine and rugged wilderness of the Nemiah Valley deep in the interior of British Columbia.
FILM STAR IN ATTENDANCE
DESERT FLIGHT (2018) USA
40:00 min / Directed by: Ryan Koral
TRAILER
A love letter to the sport of show jumping, DESERT FLIGHT is a documentary short film that explores the unique relationship with the horse and why people dedicate so much to the equestrian life. Filmmaker and show jumper Samia Staehle’s goal was to capture the visceral way in which horses enrich our lives and heighten our senses. The film showcases the amazing kind of people that horses always seem to attract: individuals of enormous character, possessed of infinite work ethic, and often a very sharp sense of humor. Set in Thermal, California the dry beauty of the desert and the horse show’s hidden dusty trails are reminiscent of her one-time home in India, a land of adventure and freedom. DESERT FLIGHT was shot with two-cameras over three-weeks by Tell Studios. Their crew from metropolitan Detroit with nearly zero experience with horses was set loose on the horse world, not without some trepidation from Staehle and her husband Daryl, the picture’s Executive Producer. There was no script, only the mandate to go and find out what drives these horse people to do what they do every day. The result was DESERT FLIGHT.
BLOCK 5
Saturday, May 4 at 1 p.m.
CLICK HERE to order tickets for Block 5
BOY NOMAD (2018) CANADA
21:00 min / Directed by: Niobe Thompson & Dennis Wells
TRAILER
Short film BOY NOMAD follows a year in the life of 9-year old Janibek, who lives with his family in Mongolia’s Altai Mountains. His first love is racing horses, but this winter, his father will bring him on the toughest journey in a nomad’s life: the winter migration. When the film crew arrives, they discover the Altai is gripped by a “zhut”, a hard winter that blocks the passes and threatens to wipe out the family’s only possession: their animals.
MUSTANG SAVIORS (2019) USA – WORLD PREMIER
90:00 min / Directed by: David Glossberg
TRAILER
American veterans are killing themselves by the thousands each year. It’s a national tragedy on an epic scale. But a remarkable treatment is proving more powerful than ever imagined: Wild mustangs taken straight off the range! Pairing them with veterans, is miraculously turning despair into enduring hope!
FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE
BLOCK 6
Saturday, May 4 at 4 p.m.
CLICK HERE to order tickets for Block 6
A PONY AND HIS BOY: THE STORY OF BERRY & JOSH (2018) USA
28:00 min / Directed by: Julianne Neal
“A Pony and His Boy: The Story of Berry & Josh” directed by Julianne Neal, shows the power of a pony and the effect that he has had on one small boy. Josh, an 8-year-old with Downs Syndrome, had been afraid of animals, especially horses all his life. One summer afternoon, when walking in the pasture full of horses with his mom and Lisa, Josh was asked “Do you want to ride?” When he surprisingly said yes, they caught him off-guard, swept him up and placed him on Berry. The relationship that started between Berry and Josh that day has been life-changing, not only for Josh, but for everyone who loves him. Filmed in Illinois, North and South Carolina, plus featuring heartfelt testimonials and informative interviews, “A Pony and His Boy” is a testament to the power of the horse. WINNIE Award winner in New York City!
FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE
UTOPIK (2018) USA
13:50 min / Directed by: Georgia Griffis
TRAILER
Charlie Carrel, a horseman from Wyoming, bonds with a troubled horse. After years of work together, they fight the odds and compete at a top level Grand Prix to prove the actual worth and ability of Utopik. Director:Georgia Griffis was born and raised on a ranch in Larkspur Colorado. After attending Colorado College (’18), with a degree in Film and Media Studies, she founded Sorella Films. Works include Utopik, XO, The Crossing, You Don’t Know jack, Here Here. Georgia works on and resides on the family ranch while pursuing her film projects.
PATAGONIA BY HORSEBACK (2018) USA
5:00 min / Directed by: Lindsay Blatt
“Patagonia By Horseback” a short film by Lindsay Blatt, follows a group of women who ventured by horseback into the rugged heart of the Andes on a 7-day pack trip. This beautiful film captures the connection between horse and rider that results from days being spent moving through the Andes, sleeping on the ground, and cooking over campfire.
THE GOBI GALLOP A DOCUMENTARY (2018) CANADA
70:00 min / Directed by: Bree Von Bradsky
TRAILER
A look at the intrepid riders taking on the challenge of the longest annual charity horseback ride on the planet. With 12 riders and their Mongolian ground crew it is an adventure laced with all the unpredictable twists that only Mongolia can throw at you. Magnificent horses, amazing culture, epic adventurers make this captivating story of undertaking incredible hardship to help some of the most impoverished children on the planet.
BLOCK 7
Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m.
CLICK HERE to order tickets for Block 7
OBSTACLES: THE ROAD TO RIO (2018) NETHERLANDS
48:00 min / Directed by: Annette van Trigt
An insight into the world of triathlon for horses. Follow Dutch best eventer Tim Lips and his father Martin, the national coach, as they prepare for the Olympic Games. Experience the unique pressure and disappointments of this environment as the both of them try to deliver the best results possible.
THE GREAT FLIP-OFF (2018) USA
87:00 min / Directed by: Dafna Yachin
TRAILER
One last show for a dying breed. Facing extinction from the American circus, the last extreme bareback riders, along with their majestic horses, unite for one final death-defying performance.
When Ringling Bros. announce the end of their three-ring big top to usher in a new era of fewer animals and arena-only performances, it marks the beginning of the end in entertainment history for the original circus act — The Bareback riders. These acrobatic daredevils perform stunts upon galloping horses with a will of their own. Meet the last of the great bareback artists as they band together for the largest gathering of riders this century — one final death-defying performance in the face of extinction from the American circus. Follow these extreme riders and their legendary families, from Italy, Mexico, Hungary and France, as they bring the risk and beauty of the original circus act to a multi-generational audience, one last time in. Then, return 10 years later to discover how these families have dealt with the passing of time in a range of unusual happy endings and ultimate heartbreak.
The EQUUS Film Festival will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre for three days: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 2-4. Individual film tickets are $12 general admission or $9 for Film Festival members.
For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177 or click on the link below. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona.
CLICK HERE to order tickets online for any of the EQUUS Film Blocks.