30 Seconds in Winona
October 13, 2017
Details to be announced soon
Contact: Mikek@frff.org with questions or comments

Agentes of Change
Fall 2017
Details to be announced soon
Contact: Isaac@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.

Review by: Nate Nelson

Minneapolis-based indie rock wunderkinds Cloud Cult have always been known for their theatrical, visual music. After tragedy struck in 2002 to lead singer Craig Minowa’s two-year-old son Kaidin, the band released some of their most impactful work, with albums like They Live on the Sun and Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus. With The Seeker, Cloud Cult crafts their most cinematic work yet, with the band’s acting as the score for a film of the same name. Directed by Jeff D. Johnson and starring Alex McKenna and Josh Radnor, The Seeker is a beautifully minimalistic journey through familial tragedy. Using dreamy cinematography and a barebones plot, Cloud Cult’s first visual album allows the music to sit front and center, telling a uniquely personal tale of self-discovery.

The film tells the story of a young girl, Grace, whose idealistic rural life is uprooted by a tragic event in her youth. As she grows older, she turns bitter and narcissistic, moving away from the joy she witnessed as a child. Yet, after a memory from her past returns, she is sent on a long journey of personal discovery, reflection, and understanding. It’s a tale that is both heartbreaking and uplifting, which is a perfect fit for Cloud Cult’s danceable philosophical style.

The Seeker is a bit of an oddity in the film world in that it lines up with a very specific form, namely the visual album. Visual albums are films driven by a band’s music, falling more in line with music videos than typical filmmaking. With roots in the 1960s and 70s with works like The Beatles’ Hard Day’s Night and Pink Floyd’s The Wall, the term was coined by experimental band Animal Collective with their 2010 release Oddsac, and since then the form has been on a bit of a mainstream comeback. While bands like Daft Punk dabbled with the form in the early 2000s with films like Interstellar 55555, the visual album has really come into a stride with artists like Kanye West, Beyonce, and Frank Ocean all releasing their own visual albums.

What sets these apart from other films are their adherence to the music. The music rarely act as just the score, but instead as the main thread tying all the visuals together. The Seeker is no different, with only two words being spoken throughout the entire film. Instead, Minowa’s vocals give each sequence the emotional and narrative thrust they need, acting as a sort of screenplay for the film. Knowing Minowa’s past trauma with familial loss, the film acts as a look into his psyche as a grieving father, wondering what the world might be like if he took his child’s place.

Johnson’s directorial flair has its roots in the films of Terrence Malick, with slowly paced editing centered on small moments and actions. For The Seeker, this works to capitalize on the surreal world of personal tragedy, acting as both an outward depiction of the events and a deeper character study of Grace. Like many other visual albums, the editing follows the music closely to let each sequence act as its own music video, with the few pauses used to add narrative context and closer looks at the characters’ lives.

The only problem is the film can often seem too stark and empty for its own good.With the music as emotionally driven as it is, The Seeker feels too clean for the story it’s depicting. The emotions are there, and the story is incredibly affecting, but every so often the film feels like it lacks detail. On the other hand, this visual minimalism does lend a stronger focus to the music and narrative, so it’s not a huge loss, but it would’ve been nice to see some more interesting visuals from time to time.

Thanks to Cloud Cult’s flair for storytelling, The Seeker is an entirely new kind of visual album. Unlike the abstract psychedelic menagerie of Animal Collective’s Oddsac, or the music video mashup of Beyonce’s Lemonade, Cloud Cult’s film is first and foremost a narratively driven film. The combination of minimalistic visuals, intense emotional music, and a deeply personal narrative makes for a visual album that is more film-oriented than any released in the past decade. Johnson’s eye for unique imagery and the subtle, yet adept performances from McKenna and Radnor work to make The Seeker an absolute must-see this festival season. If you’re a fan of either good music or great filmmaking, be sure to check it out.

Written by: Sarah Roberts

Dear Future Volunteer,

I was nervous the first time I volunteered for FRFF. I am an introvert that gets nervous whenever I don’t know exactly what to expect in any given situation. What if I didn’t know what to do? What if I just didn’t know what to say to people? What if I’d be required to step out of my shell even though maybe that day I’d be feeling extra shelly? What if I just got bored? What if I messed something up? These poor people would regret the day they made a volunteer out of me!

Funny enough, exactly zero of the things I worried about came to fruition.

For starters, they were very clear about where I needed to go, when I needed to be there, and what I’d be doing. Most volunteer shifts are between three to four hours and basic descriptions are listed right on the website as you sign up. More info is given as you get closer to your shift and on the day of your shift. This level of clarity immediately helped to ease my nerves. I knew that the unexpected was prone to still happen, but I felt much more comfortable thanks to their diligence.

The “unexpected” came in the form of the conversations I had, how easily I forgot about my worries, and how my outlook on the festival took a completely new form. It felt great to feel like I was a puzzle piece, amongst so many other pieces, that came together to form a beautiful scene. I felt this as I watched the other volunteers smiling and laughing with patrons. I felt this as I watched people speak proudly of Winona to filmmakers and producers here experiencing our little town for the first time. I loved hearing the quick thinking and openness between staff as they worked with surprises that are bound to happen. I personally had the chance to meet a couple people that I had always wanted to talk with more. These were women that are known for doing great things for Winona and the festival. What a blessing to find myself volunteering alongside them. What if I’d let my fear of the unknown keep me from this experience? You never know what volunteering will bless you with. It’s just a couple years later and now I find myself on the board for the very festival I was so nervous to volunteer for.

I highly recommend going to our site and finding the shift that looks like the best fit for you. We have already filled 75% of the positions listed at this moment, so please don’t let this wait for too long. If you look at what we have available, but nothing appears to work for you, please contact
the FRFF Volunteer Coordinator (frffvolunteer@frff.org) and other arrangements may be made.
Your four hours are precious to us and we know that our beautiful scene needs every one of its unique pieces.

You receive a pass for volunteering your time and talents. This pass will give you access to over 65 documentary films. Please partake in the scene you helped create! Sense the buzz of excitement in your fellow patrons. Watch the new friendships building around you. Let the films inspire and challenge you! I look forward to standing beside you. Let the countdown begin!