2016

Women are the fastest growing segment of the incarcerated population, increasing at nearly double the rate of men since 1985. The IF Project explores the reasons behind these staggering numbers by intimately following a heroic Seattle police officer and the writing workshop she created with a group of inmates at a maximum security women’s prison.

Sonita is an 18-year-old female, an undocumented Afghan illegal immigrant living in the poor suburbs of Tehran. She is a feisty, spirited, young woman who fights to live the way she wants, as an artist, singer, and musician in spite of all her obstacles she confronts in Iran and her conservative patriarchal family. In harsh contrast to her goal is the plan of her family – strongly advanced by her mother – to make her a bride and sell her to a new family. The price right now is about US$ 9.000.

Veronica is new to a modern dance company and must prepare a duet with another newcomer James. Serious and disciplined, Veronica keeps him at a distance, but while rehearsing they become friends. James sees Veronica looking at him one day, and he asks her out to a concert. She says no; she doesn’t want to complicate work. Tension builds between them as Veronica denies James’ advances and continues practicing for the final performance.

Let us reflect on the brief existence of Pickle the fish. Although he could not swim, he was lovingly cared for by a couple that kept him propped up in a sponge. Along with an obese chicken, a cat with a heart condition, and a paraplegic possum, his life is a celebration of man’s eternal capacity to care for all creatures. He will be dearly missed.

Shaienne Knox is a rising junior at Mesa Ridge High where she is a leader of the school’s marching band and head of the Diversity Club. Shaienne applied to YDA wanting to make a film exploring black hair: the variety of hair styles that African American girls wear, the commodification of black hair, the pressure to straighten nd conform to white standards of beauty, and the role of hair in a political movement for change. Shaienne’s access to an intergenerational sample of African American girls and women – and an intimacy with which she enabled in her interviews – bring depth and dimension to this lively topic.

Jenny Lutkins, a 40 year-old mom living in Franklin, TN, has struggled with her weight and body image since giving birth to her son.  After endless diets and efforts to get into shape, she found something that clicked for her – CrossFit.

She’s now an Olympic weightlifting coach, working with young women to improve not only their bodies and overall health, but their confidence, strength, and ideas of beauty.