2008 Woodie Awards
Skyline hosts film festival
Christopher Harrold
Date created: 2/17/05 Section: NEWS
"As the military attacked our village, in the chaos, my mother strapped my baby sister to my back and told me to run," said Denise Becker, relating a tale of surviving one of the most horrific massacres in Guatemalan history in the documentary, "Discovering Dominga."
On Feb. 9, the Museum of Tolerance Alumni, and the United Nations Association Film Festival Traveling Film Festival presented "Discovering Dominga" and another documentary film, "Daughter from Danang," in Skyline's main theater. After the screening, Directors Patricia Flynn and Gail Dolgin and Producer Mary Jo McConahay were presented with questions from the audience, giving further insight into the historical events portrayed and the people they affected.
After each film was shown, students were encouraged to ask questions and pick the brains of those who made the movie.
A few of the students present after the first movie were even native Guatemalans and told about how the film connected with them. They spoke also about how little is known to the outside world of these genocides and the unrest of the Guatemalan government from their point of view, and why they felt they needed to leave their country.
When asked by a student how making "Daughter from Danang" affected her, Dolgin replied that it was amazing to see the project change and grow outside of the crew's expectations.
"As a documentary filmmaker, you are suppose to just document, but your humanity comes out and you ask yourself if you should turn off the camera," Dolgin said. "I had to believe that what we were doing had merit. And, from our audiences reactions, I think that it has."
Another student asked Director Patricia Flynn what her purpose, vision, or goal was for making "Discovering Dominga" She first confessed that she was glad that she could tell the story with an American at its center, because then American audiences could be able to better relate to it.
"Our purpose was to bear witness to these atrocities that have be done," Flynn said. "We wanted to share the story. Denise's story needs to be told."
On Feb. 9, the Museum of Tolerance Alumni, and the United Nations Association Film Festival Traveling Film Festival presented "Discovering Dominga" and another documentary film, "Daughter from Danang," in Skyline's main theater. After the screening, Directors Patricia Flynn and Gail Dolgin and Producer Mary Jo McConahay were presented with questions from the audience, giving further insight into the historical events portrayed and the people they affected.
After each film was shown, students were encouraged to ask questions and pick the brains of those who made the movie.
A few of the students present after the first movie were even native Guatemalans and told about how the film connected with them. They spoke also about how little is known to the outside world of these genocides and the unrest of the Guatemalan government from their point of view, and why they felt they needed to leave their country.
When asked by a student how making "Daughter from Danang" affected her, Dolgin replied that it was amazing to see the project change and grow outside of the crew's expectations.
"As a documentary filmmaker, you are suppose to just document, but your humanity comes out and you ask yourself if you should turn off the camera," Dolgin said. "I had to believe that what we were doing had merit. And, from our audiences reactions, I think that it has."
Another student asked Director Patricia Flynn what her purpose, vision, or goal was for making "Discovering Dominga" She first confessed that she was glad that she could tell the story with an American at its center, because then American audiences could be able to better relate to it.
"Our purpose was to bear witness to these atrocities that have be done," Flynn said. "We wanted to share the story. Denise's story needs to be told."
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