Dawn Borchardt

2 months ago | cinemafemme.com | Dawn Borchardt

Meera Menon initially set out with a goal of making a film where she could include her family. The film is co-written with her life partner, Paul Gleason, and a pivotal role is played by their baby daughter, Lakshmi. Menon wanted to create a set where hours were reasonable, and where her being a mother was welcomed on set. She wanted to be able to blend her family and professional life together and show that this model of work is possible for other women in film.

2 months ago | cinemafemme.com | Dawn Borchardt

“Cutting Through Rocks” follows Sara Shahverdi’s brave story as she runs as the first Council Woman in her village’s history in Iran. She’s a midwife who’s delivered more than 400 babies, the only woman in town riding a motorcycle, and a force to be reckoned with who wants to fight for the equal rights of all the women in her village.

Feb 17, 2024 | cinemafemme.com | Dawn Borchardt

Have you ever stood on a bridge and been tempted to throw your phone down into the water? Or chuck it right out the car window, letting it smash into little pieces behind you? When’s the last time you hugged a tree, or felt grass beneath your fingers? Living in a constant state of technology overstimulation, leaving that all behind is a romantic idea that I know many of us have pondered. I say this while typing on my macbook, surrounded by technology.

Jan 28, 2024 | cinemafemme.com | Dawn Borchardt

Co-directors Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie won the jury prize for directing in the U.S. documentary category for their debut feature as collaborators. A well-deserved award, NoiseCat and Kassie delicately weave together a multigenerational story about the long-lasting effects of Indian boarding schools on Native peoples. “Sugarcane” takes place largely on a reserve in Canada as an investigation unfolds looking for buried missing children at the shuttered Saint Joseph’s Mission School.

Nov 27, 2023 | cinemafemme.com | Dawn Borchardt

We bring back our Sundance 2023 interview with Sierra Urich in anticipation of the 12/1 theatrical release, kicking off in NYC. “Joonam” is a beautiful debut documentary from Iranian-American filmmaker Sierra Urich. In the film, Urich connects with her Persian mother and grandmother while learning Farsi and trying to build her own foundation with her Iranian culture.