Montreal International Documentary Film Festival - Tomorrow’s Power
TOMORROW’S POWER showcases three communities from Gaza, Colombia and Germany and their responses to the environmental and economical crises they face.
Interview with Writer/Director Amy Miller
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
My films deal with the themes of colonialism and capitalism via structural power. My work has looked at borders, the military industrial complex, the carbon market and agricultural land grabs. When asked, I chuckle and say that my films explore how greed is destroying the planet and everyone on it. While the subject for each film is different, I remain committed to the proposition that if people understand the situation, they can take action and change the world.
Over the last 18 months while presenting NO LAND, NO FOOD, NO LIFE and THE CARBON RUSH at various screenings around the world, I have become uncomfortably conscious of how audiences react to the films. People learn a tremendous amount from them. They are shocked, stunned and often paralyzed with fear by what they are seeing and what they are feeling. Shock then turns to despair or anger. But anger is a luxury that is only afforded to those that who believe, at least a tiny bit, that they can do something to make things right. In the past I would have been disappointed to see how many people react to my films with despair to my films rather than anger. Now I have come to understand a deeper truism. An emotion even more powerful than anger, one that can transform spectators into agents of change, is hope. Hope creates possibilities. Hope instills in us a sense of expectation and anticipation that what we want can come true.
TOMORROW’S POWER is the much-needed film to explain our worldwide addiction to fossil fuels and its relationship to climate change, but it will also empower and motivate: It inspires viewers to work hard and persist even in the face of massive obstacles, setbacks and failures. The choice to develop TOMORROW’S POWER was a matter of following my heart, my intuition, my true inner voice. Each person is here on this planet for such a limited time so it is crucial to do what we can, with the gifts we are given. With all my courage I am answering the call to make a documentary that will not only elucidate and educate but also inspire and bring HOPE to what is, unquestionably, a tremendously dire situation for humanity.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This is a climate justice film that expects viewers to understand what is climate change and that it is real and that people are ready to hear and learn about what people are doing in their community despite tremendous hurdles.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The film had originally had storylines set in North America, then it also included stories in Ecuador and Congo. The production shaped and shifted due to factors on the ground in the particular storylines and in the end the film showcased the stories of Gaza, Germany and Colombia.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People appreciate the film- they have never seen these stories and it is not a basic introductory film that deals with themes of Climate Justice but rather is more advanced in the analysis and storylines, which many people very much value.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The more people who are aware of the film, the more possibilities that people will get involved in local climate justice initiatives.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Mainly buyers and we would love to have the film programmed at more Festivals around the world.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like people to become more engaged and I would like the reception to be one where groups and individuals around the world feel more motivated and inspired.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What are the things in our local community that we can do to work towards climate justice?
Would you like to add anything else?
We are very proud of the film and completing this undertaking has been a challenge and like producing most documentary films today, a labour of love.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Amy and I are currently producing a film about life in Gaza entitled GAZA: ENDURING THE SEIGE. I am currently in pre-production on BEHIND THE FORCE, a project based on Academy Award winner Roger Christian’s international book, Cinema Alchemist as well as YAEL DAYAN: MY COUNTRY, a project with award winning director Marc Levin. Additionally, I am in early prep on the feature film, HEART LAND, from writer/director Matthew A. Collins filming in New Zealand.
Interview: October 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Tomorrow’s Power
TOMORROW’S POWER showcases three communities from Gaza, Colombia and Germany and their responses to the environmental and economical crises they face.
Length: 76 minutes, colour, HD, 16 x 9, 5.1 mix
Length: 52 minutes, colour, HD, 16 x 9, 5.1 mix
Languages: Arabic, German, Spanish – Subtitled in English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic
Director: Amy Miller
Producer: Byron A. Martin / Amy Miller
Writer: Amy Miller
About the writer, director and producer:
BYRON A. MARTIN
Byron A. Martin is an award-winning producer who develops independent film, television and documentary projects. To date he has produced almost 100 hours of television, filming projects in fifteen countries. He has produced projects for Disney, Sony, Universal, Turner, Bell Media and DHX and managed productions for some of Hollywood’s leading producers.
AMY MILLER
Amy Miller is a Montreal based award-winning filmmaker whose films have been screened at more than eighty festivals around the world; she is a media maker and social justice organizer. Amy remains dedicated to developing critical documentaries for transformative social change and helping out grassroots campaigns for justice.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Buyers, Film Festival Directors and Journalists
Social media handles: Byron A. Martin and Amy Miller
Facebook Profiles:
https://www.facebook.com/bampinc/
https://www.facebook.com/amyinmontreal
Tomorrow’s Power Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tomorrowspowerthefilm/
Twitter: @milleramy @byronamartin
Instagram: @amyinmontreal @byronamartin
Other: Pinterest – Byron A. Martin Productions Inc.
Websites:
http://www.wideopenexposure.com
http://www.tomorrows-power.info
LinkedIn Profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bymartin/
Funders: Canada Media Fund, Telefilm, SODEC
Made in association with: Byron A. Martin Productions Inc., Wide Open Exposure Productions Limited
Being distributed in Canada by Indiecan Entertainment and Multi-Monde (Quebec) as well as Off The Fence internationally
Where will the film screen in RIDM in November on the 12th and 18th at this point.