April 23, 2018 – 7:00pm in Winona

The Experimental City tells the untold story of the Minnesota Experimental City project, a futuristic attempt to solve urban problems by creating a full-size city from scratch in the isolated woods of northern Minnesota. At the heart of the story is renowned scientist, inventor and comic-strip author Athelstan Spilhaus, who dreams of a new kind of planned city – a truly experimental city that continuously changes to find workable urban solutions.

This new city would employ the newest technologies in communications, transport, pollution control, energy supply – even large-scale domed enclosure – in an attempt to create more livable cities for the 21st Century. It was a compelling vision, with powerful backers, hundreds of experts, and its own state agency, the Minnesota Experimental City Authority.

But not everyone fell in line with this newfangled vision for the future.

Get your tickets now to this unique and exciting Minnesota film, showing in the Somsen Hall Harriet Johnson Auditorium on Monday, April 23, 2018, at 7pm!

Tickets are $8 when purchased online (print-at-home) with no service fee or $10 cash at the door!

MN Film – First Daughter and the Black Snake
Directed by Keri Pickett

Winona LaDuke believes Big Oil is the black snake predicted in indigenous prophecy to bring the earth’s destruction. When new oil pipelines threaten sacred wild rice lakes, Winona dreams of riding her horse against the current of oil, organizing a spiritual ride, “because a horse can kill a snake.”

Grand Prize – Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story
Directed by Phillip Baribeau

Charged with 2400 volts of electricity, Eduardo Garcia lost an arm, ribs, muscle mass and nearly his life, but more important than what he lost is what he found.

Special Juried Award – Cheshire Ohio
Directed by Eve Morgenstern

A gun-toting 83-year old woman refuses to sell her house to the power plant next door but the plant has moved ahead with their 20 million dollar deal to buy out most of Cheshire and bulldoze all the homes. What happened in this Ohio River town overrun by one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the world? A story of money, power and the increasingly difficult choices we face surrounding coal and the environment, Cheshire, Ohio makes us think twice about home.

Student Choice Award – The Rugby Boys of Memphis
Directed by David Darg

The Rugby Boys of Memphis tells the story of an inner-city program bringing rugby and the possibility of college scholarships to high school athletes. This documentary short tells the story of Calvin Gentry, whose high school rugby career wins him a scholarship to the University of Arkansas. The film explores the endemic violence and poverty of Memphis and examines how an innovative rugby program is bringing young men opportunities to build lives outside of the social conditions of their city. Gentry’s story reminds us all that determination and resilience are characteristics that open incredible new opportunities in all of our lives.

KSMQ – The Girl and the Typhoons
Directed by Christoph Schwaiger

In 2013, super typhoon Haiyan hits the Philippines shores, destroying cities and villages. 6000 people were killed and millions homeless. Such huge climate disasters only happen once or twice in a century. But today many experts think that global warming might induce an increase. Some Philippians are committing to face such threats. Like Marinel, 16 years old, who has decided to rescue her archipelago. She goes to schools to raise awareness on climate risks for the new generation to come. We will wander by her side on her devastated island, meeting those who refuse to give up and who work to protect the archipelago.

People’s choice – Anne Pellowski: Storyteller to the World
Directed by Mary Farrell

Anne Pellowski was raised by a farm family of Polish heritage in Trempealeau County, WI and was a voracious reader of books about other countries and believed she would someday travel to all those countries. She discovered her life’s vocation through her studies in languages and library science which led her to New York City where she pursued her career, first as the children’s librarian at the NYC Public Library, and later as founding director of the Information Center on Children’s Cultures for the United States committee at UNICEF. Through her work at UNICEF and other international agencies, she traveled to over 120 countries, assuring children had access to books in their native language by conducting workshops on cloth bookmaking and storytelling.  She has also authored 20 books including the Polish American girl series. Since her retirement, she has lived in Winona, Minnesota and travels several times a year to places around the world leading workshops. Filmmaker Mary Farrell traveled with Pellowski to Kenya in 2014 and filmed her workshop and decided to share Pellowski’s story of courage and determination as an ambassador for cultural and international understanding.

2019 Frozen River Film Festival
February 6-10
For inquiries, contact@frff.org

2017 Award Winning Films

Student’s Choice Award for Best Short Documentary

Dodo’s Delight

Special Juried Award for Activist Filmmaking

Agents of Change

Grand Jury Award

Salam Neighbor

People’s Choice Award

John Latsch

We announced our winners of the Fat Tire Raffle during the Award Ceremony at Frozen River Film Festival 2017!

Fat Tire Bike Winner:
Megan Rykken

Redfeather Snowshoes Winner
Bob Kohner

Thank you to everyone who  participated! See you next year!

Our team works to make sure that you have all the correct information regarding our program of events. However, schedules change and updates need to be made. Please make note of the following information.

Shack Shorts | Feb. 12  |  CANCELLED
Due to thin ice on the lake FRFF will not show films in ice shacks on Lake Winona as previously advertised. There are still plenty of activities happening during the Winter Carnival.

Brewery Tours at Island City Brewing Company |  Feb. 17  |  CANCELLED
We regret to announce that the Brewery Tour at Island City Brewing Company will be cancelled tomorrow. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Fishnet Stockings  |  Feb. 19  |  CANCELLED
Due to a family emergency, the artist presenting Fishnet Stocking will not be able to bring her work to Winona.

Updates to the printed program:
pg. 14 Dance on Camera
Correct Address: 119 W. 3rd Street

pg. 17 Winona Pollinator-Friendly Efforts
correct address: Winona Friendship Center | 251 Main Street

pg. 18 Adventure Unknown
In Person: Dana Johnson

Pg. 18 1-800-GIVE-US-YOUR-KIDNEY
In Person: Harold Mintz

pg. 22 Jeff Lowe’s Metanoia
In Person: Connie Self

pg. 23 John Latsch
In Person: Mary Farrell, Blake Darst, Barbara Allaire

pg. 24 Love of Place
In Person: Deeps Russell

pg. 27 The Seeker
In Person: Jeff Johnson

pg. 28 Throw
In Person: Coffin Nachtmahr

pg. 32 SATURDAY SCHEDULE
Films at Winona 7
9:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Pg. 33 SUNDAY SCHEDULE

“Dodo’s Delight” is pure, unrelenting fun. Directed by Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll, It is is a lighthearted romp filled with sea shanties, campy situations, harrowing mountain ascents and non-stop laughter.

The film follows O’Driscoll and his group on a trip from Greenland to Baffin Island aboard the sailboat Dodo’s Delight in a quest for untouched rock faces to climb. The group is a rowdy bunch, consisting of brothers Olivier and Nicolas Favresse, “lone yank” Ben Ditto, O’Driscoll himself and their endlessly sleepy captain, Reverend Bob Shepton. Together, they travel the seas in search of new challenges with grins on their faces, instruments in hand and plenty of wine.

This isn’t a documentary in the typical sense. There are rarely, if any, interviews, an almost complete lack of explanation and constant comic situations. “Dodo’s Delight” is more of an observational look at endearing adventurers out in their natural habitat. Viewpoints are split equally among the crew, making sure not to let any one person’s views take over. While O’Driscoll is the narrator, the star of the film is the group itself.

When focusing a film on a team, it’s imperative for there to be a sense of individuality from the players fused with ongoing camaraderie. The crew of Dodo’s Delight is exactly that: A tightly knit group of individuals with their own characters and traits. While much of the work they do is harrowing and dangerous, they never fail to crack a joke to lighten the mood.

If anything, “Dodo’s Delight” is a film for and by the filmmakers. Nothing is quite perfect in the film, with shots occasionally looking slightly off or subpar and a barebones story, but that’s aside from the point. They’re not trying to prove a point or inform audiences of a topic, but instead just having some laughs and showing what they do for a living.

O’Driscoll and his crew are all characters, and the dynamic between them elevates the film and keeps it interesting and entertaining. It’s not just an entertaining flick for the viewers, but you can tell that the group was having an absolute blast putting everything together. It’s complete and utter fun, through and through.

That’s not to say the film isn’t interesting as an adventure film, either. Free climbing is a terrifying and exciting sport, and the members of the Dodo’s Delight crew are professionals. The sheer cliff faces they ascend are part of some of the most breathtaking scenery you will ever see, and their camerawork is precise and well framed.

Surprisingly, though, the adventure part of the film takes a heavy backseat to the real life characters on the Dodo’s Delight. Watching their interactions and playful banter lets the film shine on its own. By not falling back on constant action footage and instead focusing on the situations and people, “Dodo’s Delight” is campy documentary fun that sets itself apart from the crowd. To put it simply, the film is an utter delight for audiences of all ages.

Review by Nate Nelson

Salam Neighbor is more than just a documentary. Directed by Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci, the film depicts their time in Jordan’s Za’atari refugee camp, as they live alongside more than 85,000 Syrian refugees. The two filmmakers were the UN’s first dicumentarians allowed to cover what is one of the world’s most harrowing crises. However, “Salam Neighbor” doesn’t stop at just showcasing the refugees struggles: It gives them a voice, and shows their aspirations, hopes and fears. “Salam” is a lovely and affecting film that serves as a near-perfect documentation of Jordan’s refugee crisis.

Temple and Ingrasci’s journey begins several months before the beginning of their stay, when they created their non-profit Living on One. With this, they hoped to create documentaries highlighting the struggles of the disenfranchised. For their first project, they chose the Syrian refugee crisis. They hoped that by living the same way as the refugees, they would be able to understand the humanity behind such a massive issue. In that sense, the two succeed in spades.

The film is split between explanation of the crisis and problems, and intimate interviews with refugees and UN workers. Instead of settling for simply informing audiences of the struggles, they also let the emotions of the refugees (and the filmmakers themselves) take center stage. The interviews are often harrowing, depressing, and wholly disenchanting. However, glimmers of hope and pride slip through the cracks. Even in the face of such intense hardships, the people of Za’atari are shown to be not only resilient, but proud of who they are and their lifestyles. Over the course of the film, Temple and Ingasci show how the camp grew from a field of tents and relocated people to a bustling, yet small, economic village.

Going back to the emotions, this is a very emotional film on all sides. Children living out their days without a home, school, or even a full family. Mothers struggling to care for or even enjoy being around their children. Families violently ripped from their homes. These facts of the Syrian crisis come right to the forefront, to astounding effect. Temple himself breaks down in one scene after playing with a child. The struggles of the refugees are laid out plain and clear, and any documentary that creates emotion in the viewer deserves remarkable praise.

Salam Neighbor is not, however, a depressing film. Harrowing, yes, but also filled to the brim with hope. As one of the refugees, Ghassem, says, “If you find someone deeply traumatized, the first thing you should do is plant the seed of hope.” Temple and Isgrasci manage to sow that seed into the audience itself, using the stories of five refugees to show the humanity behind one of the most misunderstood crises of the modern era. “Salam” is more than just a documentary. It’s a film that can truly push viewers to action, and for that alone, it’s an absolute must-see.

2/19 • 10:00 a.m. • Winona State University, SLC 120

Written by: Sarah Roberts

“I wish I would have known that was happening!” – Said by everyone that’s lived in Winona for any period of time.

I would not be a good friend to my community if I kept secret the exciting things that are happening at this year’s Frozen River Film Festival. I’m convinced that all of the people who check out these new additions will be sharing with their friends how great they were! But then we’ll have people hollering that they wish they’d known it was happening. If only they’d known! This is a sick cycle that most creative communities have to endure. We just come up with a lot of awesome stuff to do, and in the words of Miss Cyrus, “We can’t stop. We won’t stop.”

These are four of my favorite Frozen River firsts set for this coming festival. They are listed in order of appearance.

Number One: Fat Tire Friday

This year’s Frozen Friday will look a little Fat, and by “Fat” I am referring to the hoard of Fat Bike riders that will be riding from Adventure Cycle to and through Aghaming Park and then back for a beer at Bub’s Brewing Company. Fat Tire Demo Bikes will be available courtesy of WSU Outdoor Education Recreation Center and Adventure Cycle and Ski. Don’t have a bike? You can borrow one! To reserve a demo bike call Adventure Cycle and Ski at 507.4524228. There is a limited supply, so call early! Speaking of not having a bike. FRFF is raffling off a Fat Tire Trek bike, as well as Red Feather Snowshoes and Big Muddy passes. The $20 raffle ticket will automatically get you a free tap beer at Bub’s, as well as 50% off a tune-up at Adventure Cycle, and 50% off any rental with WSU’s Outdoor Education Recreation Center. Connect with us at our new box office spot at the Winona County History Center. Hours are listed here.

Number Two: Tour Island City Brewing Co.

Frozen Friday strikes again! I really could have just listed the entire itinerary for Frozen Friday, because there are new and exciting things happening at multiple locations and we can’t wait for you to see all of the plans. For now though, we’ll just give you a taste. This taste is centered on Winona’s brand new brewery. On Frozen Friday, Island City Brewing Co will offer public tours from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The price of the tour is waived with the purchase of a beer or soda. The tours will give you a behind the scenes look at the brewing process, as well as an education into the science and history of beer-making. I can’t wait to see what they’ve done with the place!

Number Three: Volunteer Fair

Engage. Educate. Activate. These are the three words that FRFF chose to represent the purpose and passion of the festival. It just makes sense that there would be a Volunteer Fair at the festival. Approximately twelve different groups, lined up by the River Valley Volunteer Association, will have booths set up in the Atrium on Saturday of the festival. Volunteering is already a fulfilling action, but it hits on another level when you are able to aptly align your specific talents with serving your community. The Volunteer Fair will allow for people to ask questions of the groups and hopefully you will find that perfect match.

Number Four: Digital Humanities

Sunday of the festival will bring storytelling and art to life through the work of digital humanity artists from all over Minnesota. Their works explore art and storytelling integrated with virtual reality, augmented reality, and virtual gaming. Why do I think that Bill and Ted would absolutely love this? Far out, Frozen River, far out.

 

Written by Sarah Roberts, FRFF Treasurer

Review by: Nate Nelson

Chasing Niagara plays February 11 at the St. Mane Theatre in Lanesboro, MN | 4:00 p.m.

When tragedy strikes, it is just a part of human nature to look for the point when it all went wrong. In Rafa Ortiz’s film Chasing Niagara, Ortiz uses the documentary format to trace a perilous journey back to its roots. With a group of fellow kayakers, Ortiz films the preparation of his biggest feat yet: Running Niagara Falls. Yet, while it may have started out as a typical adventure film, an accident midway through sent the production into a spiral. In the end, Chasing Niagara is a visually arresting and well-rounded meditation on the fragility of human life and the lengths people can go to to face that head-on.

Ortiz is a world renowned kayaker, known primarily for his waterfall runs. After years of running some of the most dangerous terrain on Earth, he sets his sight on the vast expanse of Niagara. Amassing a team of equally talented individuals, Ortiz and his crew prepare for this massive run by running numerous incredible locales, including the treacherous Rio Santo Domingo. These runs are absolute nail biters, with multiple camera angles and GoPro footage edited together to give each run it’s own sense of immediacy and danger.

The runs themselves would make for an interesting documentary in their own right, but thanks to one single editing choice, the sequences take on a new meaning. The film begins with a harrowing sequence ending in the apparent death of Gerd Serrasolses which then winds back to where the journey began. By placing this at the beginning instead of just chronologically, Ortiz allows the dangers of his sport to come to the forefront. Though it turns out that Serrasolses survives the attempt, the editing gives the documentary a theme, which many adventure films lack.

Credit goes to the visuals as well. Chasing Niagara is consistently breathtaking. Occasionally, some of the interviews are a little out of focus or shaky, and seem relatively amateurish in the grand scheme of things. However, the moment the kayaks touch the water, the film takes on new life. Lush colors, beautiful editing, and the combination of multiple viewpoints make each sequence individually astounding. These are some of the best action sequences I’ve ever seen, bar none. Ortiz and his crew know what they’re doing with this from top to bottom.

The only real qualm I have with the film, aside from the tonal shift from the intro to the title sequence, is that the film focuses too heavily on the kayaking itself. That’s not to say the kayaking is bad, far from it. However, Chasing Niagara fails to really look into the psyches and connections between the crew members. There’s some analysis here and there, and some interesting interactions, but the film by-and-large avoids deeper looks into anyone but Ortiz himself. Additionally, there isn’t a whole lot of explanation of how they do what they do, only that they do it. This isn’t a huge problem, but for those unaffiliated with professional kayaking, this extra information could’ve allowed for a stronger connection to the crew’s actions.

All-in-all, Chasing Niagara is a masterful adventure documentary. The problems don’t even begin to compare to everything that goes right. With mesmerizing filmmaking, a breathtaking score and impactful story, the film’s message hits like a typhoon. This isn’t just a documentary of kayaking, but a documentary of one man discovering what truly matters in life, and how a person’s experiences can change everything they once thought they knew.