GRAND PRIX COMPETITION

WAR/DANCE

USA, 2007, 105 min., Acholi, Swahili, English

Director: Andrea Nix Fine, Sean Fine
Producer: Albie Hecht
Cinematography: Sean Fine
Editing: Jeff Consiglio
Music:Asche & Spencer
Sound: Peter Hutchens, Glen Piegari, John Andrews
Production company: Shine Global
Print Source:
ThinkFilm
23 East 22nd St.
New York, New York 10010
USA
Tel.: 1 212 444 7900
Fax: 1 212 444 7901
e-mail: eowens@thinkfilmcompany.com
www.thinkfilmcompany.com


War/Dance

War/Dance is a profoundly moving testament to the human spirit that will leave audiences breathless with wonder. For 20 years northern Uganda has been plagued by a war with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). This rebel force has devastated the region, killing inhabitants, burning farms and grotesquely abducting children to fill its ranks. Therefore, in addition to witnessing the murder of their family members, often these orphaned children have then been forced to commit equally as grizzly acts under the treat of death. This beautiful film follows the journey of three of these children, Dominic, Rose and Nancy, all students at the primary school in the Patongo refugee camp, as they prepare to compete in the finals of Uganda’s national student music and dance competition. Amidst unimaginable horrors and emotional turmoil these children relish in their remarkable talent as singers and dancers. They sing to celebrate and to forget; they dance in protest and in remembrance. But most importantly they carry the hopes and dreams of their village with them as they are the first school from the northern war zone to make it to the finals. Together with their teachers, these inspiring children are determined to transcend the closed-minded notions of Potongo refugees as hopeless orphans and show the world that despite unimaginable atrocities, they can and will prevail.

Andrea Nix Fine & Sean Fine

The husband and wife team met while making award winning films for the National Geographic. They married in 2003. The Fines consequently filmed together in over 30 countries, from dangerous war zones to the Arctic Circle, and have gone on to receive such honors as a National Emmy Award for Sean’s acclaimed The Pigeon Murders, Cine Award, Chris Award, and Telly Award among many others. They live in the Washington, D.C. area where their film production company Fine Films is located as well.

Filmography (selected):

War/Dance (2007), Sundance Film Festival 2007 Best Directing Award in Documentary;
True Dads with Bruce Willis (2004).

TUESDAY, APRIL 3 AT 9:00 PM./GALLERY THEATRE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4 AT 9:00 PM./CHOPIN THEATRE

THURSDAY, APRIL 5 AT 5:00 PM./FACETS CINEMATHEQUE