Following 13 immigrant and U.S.-born teenage girls, Maine Girls explores the important role that young people play in creating “brave spaces” to be vulnerable, face the unknown, and bridge important cultural divides.
The Rumi Forum, in partnership with Little River United Church of Christ (LRUCC) and the creators of the Maine Girls documentary proudly presented a screening of the film Maine Girls.
Date: Sunday, January 21st, 2018
Time: 12:00 pm
Venue: Little River United Church of Christ (LRUCC)
8410 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003
The Film
In Maine – the whitest state in America – immigrant students are entering public schools in record numbers. But as the population has increased, so have the number of hate crimes. In MAINE GIRLS, a diverse group of girls at South Portland High School learn what it takes –and what it means – to develop relationships with people who don’t look or live the same way that they do. Leading by example, these teenage girls pave the way for greater empathy at their school and encourage other girls to step up and do the same in communities throughout the United States. MAINE GIRLS, a 27-minute short documentary film, world premiered at the acclaimed Camden International Film Festival on September 17, 2017.
For more information, contact us at info@mainegirlsfilm.com
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The Filmmakers
Yael Luttwak is an award-winning director and producer who premiered her first feature, A Slim Peace, at the Tribeca Film Festival. The Sundance Channel broadcast the documentary in the United States, and it was distributed worldwide. Yael’s recent films include My Favorite Neoconservative and To Step Forward Myself. Currently, Yael is producing a documentary feature on Boko Haram for Voice of America/Creative, making films for
production and commercial companies, local organizations, and non-profits, and serving on the Advisory Board of Stone Soup Films. Yael graduated from the London Film School, where she specialized in directing. She worked with Oscar-nominated director Mike Leigh on his production of “Two-thousand Years,” a play at London’s National Theatre.
Abigail Tannebaum Sharon is a native Washingtonian and discovered her love for cinema at the age of two during a drive-in movie. She has been telling stories ever since. Abigail has produced and directed three independent documentary films. Her first independent film, Rudy and Neal Go Fishing, made its broadcast premiere Memorial Day 2015 on Fox Sports 1 and will air on PBS nationwide Veterans Day 2017. Her work over the past two decades includes an Emmy-award winning program with clients ranging from a national commercial campaign, National Geographic Channel, UpWorthy, PBS, Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, and VOA. Abigail graduated from McGill University in Quebec, Canada, and received McGill’s
Scarlet Key Award celebrating excellence in leadership and is a member of McGill’s Scarlet Key Society.
Key Issues
• Maine is the whitest state in America;
• Over the last decade, Maine’s non-white population increased 37% and hate crimes also rose by 36%;
• Immigrant students are entering school
s in record numbers and face unique challenges and barriers to entry once they arrive;
• Maine is not alone. Other states that lack diverse populations and have hostile environments, pose a threat to immigrant newcomers and existing community members as well.
Vision for Impact
Events in recent months, such as Charlottesville, the president’s call to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and the travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries, have made it clear that there’s much work to do in order to make our nation a welcoming place for all who call it home. Through MAINE GIRLS, we find new leadership in teenage girls who challenge stereotypes. By creating “brave spaces” they realize that differences can be embraced, they don’t always have to divide us. MAINE GIRLS has the power to spur conversation, create impact and catalyze widespread change. Through this powerful short documentary film, we aim to:
• Empower audiences to create “brave spaces” for conversation and understanding that can combat prejudice in communities throughout the U.S., starting with teenage girls.
• Expand the Slim Peace U.S. Teen program (seen in the film) from South Portland High School throughout Maine, and beyond.
• Make America a welcoming place for all to call home.
MAINE GIRLS Offical Trailer
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