About this project
WE MADE IT, THANK YOU!
Wow, are we impressed and so thankful to all of our wonderful backers! But just because we've met our goal, doesn't mean we don't still need your help. We still have additional post costs like score, subtitling and marketing/distribution costs to help get this film seen. Consider making a donation today and become part of this important film!
THE MOVIE
CLICK here to see our first two-minute trailer.
OUR STORY
Last year Barzan Director Alex Stonehill and Producer Sarah Stuteville, traveled to Iraq and conducted a series of interviews with Malkandi. Upon returning to Seattle, Stuteville and Stonehill, co-founders of the multimedia journalism nonprofit the Common Language Project, joined forces with the Last Quest, a local production company, to turn their reporting into a feature length documentary.
A little over a year later we are here and we are looking for your help to complete this important story so that it can be told in its entirety, for the first time, to audiences around the world.
We have spent the past year crafting a story that explores the controversial issues of immigration, xenophobia and the price of security in the 21st century. This film takes its audience on an epic geopolitical journey from the front lines of the Iran-Iraq War to the refugee camps of Pakistan and finally into the opaque government agencies charged with keeping us safe, even at the cost of freedom.
We have shot roughly 20 hours of footage with Malkandi in his current home in Northern Iraq--the first and only extensive interview he’s given. We’ve also interviewed his family here in the United States and sat down with friends, neighbors, lawyers, experts and aggressively pursued government viewpoints and court records from the case.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP
Making a high-quality, investigative movie is expensive! We have funded this project out of our own pockets (which aren’t that deep!) and we have applied for grants to help cover some of our post-production costs. We have also secured support from the Independent Filmmaker Project as our fiscal sponsors.
But now we need your help to finish this project and make this important film a reality. $8,400 will help us cover some the remaining post-production costs (listed below). WE NEED TO REACH THE FULL $8,400 OR WE GET NOTHING! Thank you in advance for your support of independent documentary!
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
Animation: Sam’s journey takes us through some of the most interesting locations, complex conflicts and crucial moments in recent Middle Eastern history. The animation in our film will draw on actual photographs from Sam’s life (as well as historical archives) but will also represent the fantastical, ethereal quality of memory, but great animation is expensive! Luckily we’re connected to awesome animators that want to be a part of this project and are willing to do the work for a discounted $5,000.
Additional Post-Production Costs: color-grading (making the film look nice!) and audio mix (making the film sound nice!) - $3,400
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
This film is a collaboration between the non-profit journalism outlet, the Common Language Project (CLP) and the Seattle based media production company the Last Quest (TLQ).
The CLP has spent the past the past six years reporting from around the world on issues underreported in mainstream media, traveling to countries such as Iraq, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Syria to report on important issues like water access, child labor, education, refugees and immigration.
The Last Quest has produced film and video in the Seattle area since 2008 and believes that “everyone has a story to tell.” Throughout the company’s history they have produced both fiction and non-fiction work with an emphasis on utilizing new filmmaking technologies coupled with the intense desire to not only tell important stories but to have them reach as many people as possible.
The CLP and the TLQ have worked on numerous short documentary films that have both played and won awards at such prestigious places as: the Seattle International Film Festival, TedxSeattle, the International Documentary Challenge and DC Shorts.
CONTACT US
TWITTER - @BarzanTheMovie
FAQ
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We aim to finish the film in the fall of 2012 in order to qualify for Sundance and South by South West Film Festivals.
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The film will first be released through a film festival run. We aim to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival (January) or SXSW Film Festival (March). The film will then follow a festival run throughout 2013 and hopefully come to a theater/DVD store near you towards 2013/2014. That's why you should donate and get to see this wonderful film before everyone else!
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on March 3.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
A personal shout out on our Facebook page and twitter feed.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Receive your very own digital copy of the documentary AND get props all over our social networks!
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
All of the above PLUS a postcard (mini poster for the movie) signed by the directors.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
At this donation level you will get a real, hard copy "Barzan" DVD, a thank you on our social networks AND a signed postcard.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
At $100 things are getting serious and we want to do something special! At this level you get all of the above plus a poster signed by the directors.
Pledge $200 or more Pledge $200 or more
Come party with us! At this level you can choose one of the above awards, but more importantly, we'd like to invite you to join the crew as a VIP at the Seattle premiere of the movie (ticket included).
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
This level is really the sweetest of all. For only $250 you get all of the above--props on our networks, a signed poster or postcard, a credit in the movie, VIP tickets to the Seattle premiere--and on top of all that, a framed and signed photo from Iraq by Barzan co-Director (and award-winning photojournalist) Alex Stonehill
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
OK, at this level you want some SERIOUS recognition for your commitment to this project and we'll show it to you by renting a local Seattle theater and hosting a private screening for you, a guest and all the other, awesome donors at this level! Plus a digital download of the film, a signed poster/postcard/or photo and a credit in the film!
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
You just donated $1,000?! Shoot, we need to spend an evening together. At this level you get an exclusive invite to a private dinner party in Seattle hosted by "Barzan" producer/writer Sarah Stuteville (who also happens to be a kick-ass cook!) Not only will we eat well, we'll also talk documentaries and watch a rough-cut of the movie with the crew. Plus a digital download of the final film, a signed poster/postcard/or photo and a credit in the film!
Pledge $2,000 or more Pledge $2,000 or more
Let us help you make your own movie. At this donation level we'd like to offer you a place in a day-long shooting and editing workshop with members of the movie crew. Make your own short film in a day! Plus a digital download of the film, a signed poster/postcard/or photo and a credit in the film!
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
Choose reward #9 or #10 OR choose to have a crew member fly to your town or city (or visit your home) to host a screening of the movie and discussion afterward. Plus a digital download of the film, a signed poster/postcard/or photo and a credit in the film!
Project By
Connected as Cassidy Dimon (447 friends)
Cassidy Dimon is a Producer at the Last Quest which has partnered up with the Common Language project to produce the feature film "Barzan".
Cassidy is a photographer and filmmaker from New York, now residing in Seattle, WA. She worked for four years as the Acquisitions, Festival & Education Coordinator for the film distributor Film Movement where she actively assisted in film acquisition and was responsible for the non-theatrical distribution of over 100 films. Her most recent short film, "Woman Seeks Man for Date on Friday" premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival.
