Hot Docs Film Festival / DOXA Documentary Film Festival - Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon follows Bolot Tagaew and his family through the walnut harvest season in the endangered forests of southern Kyrgyzstan.
Interview with Director/Producer Zaheed Mawani
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! Harvest Moon takes place in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, a place that I came to know while my parents were posted there for almost 10 years. It is a country that consists of incredibly diverse and beautiful landscapes and the walnut forests in the south form a central part of this. I was drawn to the forests and the walnut harvest in particular for a few reasons. Through my previous work and current practice I have been exploring our relationship to labor/work, especially as it relates to deriving meaning or purpose. During the harvest, every moment is accounted for as the Tagaev family works together to ensure that enough walnuts are collected and sold to ensure their livelihood.
Spending time with the Tagaev family during this period allowed me to continue with this exploration around labor processes. I also liked the idea of the film being centred around the harvest season which is a finite period of time. It provided a focal point as well as helped define the scope of the film. There were also broader forces at play that resonated. The forests are a haven of biodiversity, a place where ancient strains of fruits and nuts - ancestors of the domesticated trees we use today still thrive.
But now the threat of deforestation looms; an estimated 90% of these forests have been destroyed in the past 50 years, taking their vital resources with them. Unsurprisingly, the plight of the forests have come under increased international attention as various governments, NGOs and other stakeholders look at ways to protect this genetic time capsule.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Kyrgyzstan is a place that people know very little about and this is a chance to discover more. It is also one of the only democracies in the region and is home to forests that are incredibly bio diverse, something that could prove important in the context of global food security and climate change. Because the forests are disappearing, the way of life of the Tagaev family and other families is also disappearing, something that I think is important to witness and acknowledge.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I really tried to focus on personal themes - the various dynamics between family members and trying to convey the flight of this particular family. Even if their way of life is different and under threat, there are things about all families that are similar and ultimately universal.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I always knew that I wanted to establish life in the village before following the family into the forest for the harvest season. In that respect, the big picture story didn't change a whole lot through the development process. What was challenging was trying to serve the story while also trying to convey the the Tagaev family's way of life. I also had 60 hours of footage which I needed to cut down to 70-80 minutes which is always very difficult!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I've been heart warmed by the feedback I have received so far, mainly through audiences that have watched the documentary on the film festival circuit. People have connected with the Tagaev family which is really wonderful to hear. When you finish a film that you have spent a lot of time on, you often wonder if it will resonate with people. That can especially be the case with a film like this which is quiet, and largely observational. Harvest Moon also recently won a prize at Cinema du Reel film festival in Paris which was further validation that the film has resonated with some.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
We have our first screening this evening at Hot Docs so it will be interesting to see how the audience reacts during the three screenings we have at the festival. So far the feedback has generally been positive but I'm sure that was we screen the documentary more we will get more and more feedback, some of which may be surprising or challenging. I'll keep you posted!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I think it's largely to share the film with a bigger audience and one that is interested in these types of stories.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Journalists, press, sales agents, buyers, and distributors and film festival directors.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I think the documentary is an introduction to Kyrgyzstan, the Tagaev family and these incredibly bio diverse forests that are in everyone's interest to protect.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What can we do to ensure that these forests are protected?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am really looking forward to starting a new project soon but I recently had a baby so things are pretty hectic at the moment!
Interview: May 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, scifi, horror, world cinema. 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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Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon follows Bolot Tagaew and his family through the walnut harvest season in the endangered forests of southern Kyrgyzstan.
Length: 70 min
Director: Zaheed Mawani
Producer: Zaheed Mawani
About the writer, director and producer:
Zaheed Mawani received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Middlebury College. He subsequently worked in public policy research in Washington, DC before moving to Toronto to seek a career in documentary film. He holds an MFA in film production from York University. Harvest Moon is his first feature film.
Key cast: Tagaev Family
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): sales agents, buyers, distributors film festival directors, journalists
Funders: Toronto, Ontario and Canada Council for the Arts
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Hot Docs Film Festival, Toronto Canada: May 1st, 3rd and 5th; DOXA Documentary Film Festival, Vancouver Canada: May 7th and 8th.