A neW Inferno
Documentary SHORT i 15 min i usa i 2023 i english i color
A Film by Nita Blum-Reddick & Jonathan Pickett In partnership with Masa Films
Official selection: SXSW
A New Inferno is a vérité short documentary set during Phoenix’s historically hottest month, July, when record-breaking heat turns deadly — especially for the disenfranchised and unhoused. In 2024, 608 people in Maricopa County died from heat-related illness, representing a staggering tenfold increase over the past decade. The film follows the crew at Station 18, Arizona’s busiest firehouse, as they race to save heatstroke victims using a radical new treatment: ice immersion therapy. Against the backdrop of rising global temperatures, urban heat islands, and under-resourced services, Phoenix has become a climate canary. A NEW INFERNO offers a visceral, street-level view of the climate crisis as it unfolds — not in the future, but here and now, in one of the hottest major cities on Earth.
This film is supported in part by a Mountainfilm Commitment Grant & Herberger Institute Research Advancement Office, in collaboration with Principled Innovation.
BREAD
Documentary SHORT i 15 min i usa i 2024 i english i color
Bread, Fields to Loaves, a documentary, delves into the intricate journey of bread-making, tracing it from farmers' hands to our tables. Focused on the heroes of this local industry—the farmers, artisan bakers, and communities—we honor their role in creating this daily sustenance. Employing an observational filmmaking style, the project aims to vividly capture these individuals, serving as a visual homage to those nurturing our nourishment. This cinematic narrative serves as both an appreciation of their efforts and a meditation on the significance of this everyday staple.
This film is supported in part by the Phoenix City Council through the Arts and Culture Department.
Shela Yu: Painting Identity
Documentary SHORT i 9 min i usa i 2023 i english i color
Winner : UTV BEST DOCUMENTARY Official Selection: Indie Film Fest I Flagstaff International Film Festival
Follow Shela Yu's transformative process, as she paints the city in vibrant colors, adding beauty to city landscapes that shapes a unique identity. Her artistic vision remedies the homogenization of place, allowing each corner of the city to tell its own story through her elaborate brushstrokes and thoughtful compositions. As she works, the once dull urban environment transforms into a tapestry of colors and emotions, inviting residents and visitors alike to immerse themselves in a renewed sense of community and connection to their surroundings. With each stroke, Shela not only enhances the visual appeal of the city but also sparks conversations about culture, identity, and the importance of preserving the individuality of every neighborhood.
Cement Earth & Water: Tracing our Canals
Documentary SHORT i 11 min i usa i 2022 i english i color
Water is life, especially in the desert. Phoenix, Arizona, is the 5th largest city in the country, with over 5 million people to date, but without water, it would not exist. The history and functionality of water canal systems in Phoenix trace back to the origins of the ancient people of the Sonoran Desert (note: The O’odham people living in the region today refer to these ancestors as Huhugam while archaeologists tend to use the term "Hohokam") Phoenix rises from the ashes on the shoulders of history using the precious resource of water. "Cement, Earth & Water: Tracing Our Canals" speak with experts in the field to understand the history of water in the valley of the sun and debunks the mystery behind the ancient canals onto which Phoenix's current water system is built.
Healing Calls
Documentary SHORT i 8 min i usa i 2022 i english i color
Musician Raquel Denis explores her roots as she focuses on a budding music career. Her music is ripe with rich and complex emotion that permeates the core of what it means to live through trauma and transmute pain through art. In her journey, she delves deep into her cultural background, weaving in influences from her heritage that add depth to her compositions. Each note she plays tells a story, echoing the struggles and triumphs of her past, while also inspiring those who hear her melodies to reflect on their own experiences. Raquel’s dedication to her craft is evident in the way she connects with her audience, ensuring that each performance is not just a show, but an intimate sharing of her soul and a reminder of the healing power of music.
A Sedona Study
Documentary SHORT i 5 min i usa i 2023 i english i color
Peer into the fascinating subculture of the new age healing industry through an ethnographic lens in this compelling observational piece that follows the journeys of Sedona healers, Kym Griffith and her partner Rahelio. Discover the unique practices they employ, the philosophies that guide them, and the vibrant community that thrives around them as they seek to provide transformative healing experiences for those in need.
Lawns in the Desert?
Documentary SHORT i 7 min i usa i 2022 i english i color
Why Lawns in the Desert focuses on the specifics of the why. Why do Phoenix homeowners make the decision to maintain a lawn in a desert landscape? There are multiple factors at play that influence this choice. You decide what the future for the Sonoran desert will hold.