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Meet the Filmmaker: Olivia Abtahi, “Father Sun”

Father Sunwww.oliviaabtahi.com

Q: Why did you become a filmmaker?
OA: I remember watching a show called “AHHH! Real Monsters” when I was a kid and they had a projector that hooked into your brain to show everyone else what you were thinking and seeing. I was totally obsessed. When I learned that the machine wasn’t real, I realized that filmmaking was the closest I’d ever get to showing people exactly what I was thinking and feeling. It’s one of the few portals I have into my brain to share with others.

Q: What are we going to see at Mile Hi Mocs & Docs? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?
OA: Father Sun is the story of a Navajo community getting solar energy on their community building. In Navajo/Diné culture, the sun is the father of creation, and powers our spiritual and physical lives. With solar energy, we see a community’s God powering their daily lives in a very tangible way.

Q: Who would enjoy attending the festival? Is it just for the filmmaking community, or is there a reason why non-filmmakers should attend?
OA: Anyone who loves being transported should definitely attend– doesn’t matter if you’re a filmmaker or someone who’s never been to a film festival before. These are stories that we might not see on the big screen that still speak to our daily experiences of living in this region.

Q: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?
OA: I try to make all of my narrative films with the restrictions I have. Budget, location, access to props, etc. I write to the resources I already have, not the ones I want.

Q: What else are you working on?
OA: I’m working on a new short film called Female Character.

Q: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?
OA: www.oliviaabtahi.com

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?
OA: Thanks so much for considering me!!

Father Sun will screen December 3rd at 6:00pm during the 2017 Mile Hi Mocs & Docs Film Festival at The Bug Theatre.