The Windrider Forum: Sundance Film Festival 2016
by Refine By Kit
The most inspiring Sundance Film Festival experience for me, was participating in the Windrider Forum.
There is a scene in We Were Soldiers—that brings me to tears every time I watch it. It’s the end of the movie and 23-year-old journalist, Joe Galloway is trying to write about what he witnessed as he followed Lt. Colonel Hal Moore and his young troopers through one of the most savage battles in U.S. history. Trading his camera and notepad for a gun, Galloway took up arms to save soldiers’ lives. He sits at his typewriter sobbing—questioning his ability to give due diligence to the men—to the leadership—to the bloodshed and devastation he has witnessed.
Without appearing too over dramatic—my experience at the Sundance Film Festival has brought me to a similar spot sitting at my laptop. Really … you might ask … are you serious! Are you going to compare the battle at The Valley of Death to a film festival? Of course not; however, like Galloway, I am struggling to adequately articulate the experience of this film festival and bring light and life to the depth of emotion it elicits.
Producer, Ralph Winter, Windrider Forum 2016
Sundance is an emotional tour of the world and its issues through film and media. And as Producer, Ralph Winter shared, “We are viewing films and having conversations that the rest of the world will not participate in for another year.” Sundance creates a film-viewing community—and has a way of turning strangers into friends—stimulating meaningful conversations that are inspired through these thought-provoking independent films and documentaries. But quite possibly, the most inspiring Sundance experience for me, was participating in the Windrider Forum.
Ed Priddy, Craig Detweiler, John Priddy, Will Stoller-Lee, Windrider Forum 2016
Co-Founders Ed Priddy, Dr. Craig Detweiler, John Priddy, and Will Stoller-Lee, could not have known that their idea to bring Windrider to the Sundance Film Festival—offering a forum for conversations crossing philosophical, cultural, and spiritual realms—would have the impact it does 12 years later! Windrider is most definitely a film-driven think tank designed to facilitate thoughtful conversation, awaken compassion, and inspire change. It is a place where:
- Ministry students are equipped with practical experience about how to have open and honest conversations with a variety of people in our culture
- Filmmaking students are challenged to tell powerful stories that transcend traditional religious categories
- Participants are encouraged to ask the deeper questions all people want to explore
Dr. Kutter Calloway interviewing Makoto Fujimura,
Windrider Forum 2016
Contemporary artist, Makoto Fujimura noted that, “The Windrider Forum is an extraordinary rich gathering—where the arena you are building is a conversation of questions—where no question is wrong.” Windrider offers an environment where art, spirituality, faith, and works come together—where individuals find a common ground and rather than engaging in a culture war, we determine to focus on culture care. Let me give you an example:
In a world where philosophies and values collide—filmmaker Abigail Disney chronicles the remarkable story of the Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country (Pray the Devil Back to Hell). Thousands of women—ordinary mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and daughters—both Christian and Muslim—came together to pray for peace and demanded a resolution to their country’s civil war. But before they staged their silent protest, these wise women found what they had in common—and they found that in the biblical story of Esther.
The WR Forum Q&A is like no other Q&A I observed after each Sundance film. As a matter of fact, after viewing The Settlers, a documentary chronicling the controversy of the Jewish settlement camps on the West Bank, one gentleman stood up and announced that the filmmaker should be ashamed of himself for producing this film. Sundance rouses filmmakers who are determined to present films that cause us to look to the cries for justice, mercy, and hope embedded within the social issues around the world. These films definitely stir strong and deep emotions—often provoking anger and unease within the audience.
But we will not find resolution for the desperate problems confronted by innocent men, women, and children around the world—through hatred and heated debate.
In his book, The Insanity of God, Nik Ripken recognizes, “I do not have answers to all of my questions. But I am certain the questions are worth asking—and I am certain that God is patient.”
Dr. Kutter Calloway interviewing Windrider Co-Founder John Priddy, Windrider Forum 2016
Will Stoller-Lee with Directors Daniele Anastasion, Nathan Golon, and subject Byron Nicholai from I Am Yup’Ik, Windrider Forum 2016
WISFF Director Monika Moreno with interns Marina Plott, Andrew Neel, Jonathan Stoner, and Moses Hooper
The men and women who make up the Windrider Forum seek to honor each filmmaker’s craft by listening to their stories and finding thoughtful, spiritual themes in their work. In many films, the conflict is not really resolved—instead we are left with more questions. But regardless of whether the audience agreed with the filmmaker’s message—at Windrider, there is a common, reverberating theme within each Q&A—start with where we can agree—and lead from there.
The Lord used stories to guide us in understanding messages of hope, love, and integrity and He designed us for community. There is something very powerful about viewing these inspiring films within community versus isolated … alone … from a laptop. In community, we ask questions, wrestle with truth, and hopefully … discover what we too have in common … and lead a conversation from there.
Read full article here: http://refinebykit.com/2016/02/07/the-windrider-forum-sundance-film-festival-2016/