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Home › News & Events › News › DOC NYC announces ‘MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY’ to screen In Competition as part of 2020 Festival Lineup

DOC NYC announces ‘MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY’ to screen In Competition as part of 2020 Festival Lineup

October 15, 2020

The documentary’s New York premiere follows screenings at film festivals in Texas, California, Colorado, Arkansas, and Washington, D.C. and precedes national release on PBS

For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Kerryn Negus
knegus@email.arizona.edu

Tucson, AZ (October 15, 2020) – Missing in Brooks County, a gripping documentary that follows two families searching for their missing loved ones near the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, has been selected to screen In Competition at the 2020 edition of DOC NYC, the country’s most comprehensive annual curated festival of non-fiction film. The announcement by the New York festival follows a string of acceptances into film festivals around the country. In 2021, the film will air nationally on PBS’s Independent Lens, the Emmy Award-winning television series presenting documentaries by the best independent filmmakers working today. The film is co-directed by Jeff Bemiss and University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television instructor Lisa Molomot, and produced and edited by University of Arizona School of Theatre Film & Television Associate Professor Jacob Bricca, ACE.

The culmination of five years of investigative work, Missing in Brooks County provides a harrowing, on-the-ground examination of one of the deadliest corners of the United States. Located 70 miles north of the border with Mexico, Brooks County is the site of an estimated 3,000 deaths since 2008, as migrants try to circumvent the state’s busiest interior immigration checkpoint and find themselves lost in the vast private ranch lands that surround it.

Lisa Molomot: “Missing in Brooks County began as the story of one forensic scientist trying to identify migrants buried anonymously in the region. But each time we returned to film in South Texas the story got bigger, as we realized the complexity and severity of the situation. We met migrants, sheriffs and activists. Ranchers, rangers and vigilantes. Consuls, judges, and undertakers. If we held stereotypical beliefs about Border Patrol agents, law enforcement and Texas ranchers, they have been obliterated by our experiences making this film. Our goal became to convey the complexity of the situation we encountered.”

Jacob Bricca: “After Jeff and Lisa heard about what was going on in South Texas, our work began late in 2014 when I secured a UA College of Fine Arts Small Grant so that they could travel to Brooks County and begin research. It took well over a year of visits to the region for us to start to understand the issue in depth and to meet the people who would become the main subjects of our film. A second grant, this time a UA Faculty Seed Grant from the Office of Research and Discovery, enabled us to begin filming in earnest. At the end of a complicated journey, we hope that the film cuts through the sea of numbers and data of news stories and puts a human face on some U.S. immigration policies that can only be described as disastrous.”

In addition to funding from the University of Arizona College of Fine Arts and the Office of Research and Discovery, Missing in Brooks County received support from Fork Films, the Perspective Fund, Human

Rights POV, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the LEF Foundation, MountainFilm, the Connecticut Office of the Arts, and the UA Hanson FilmTV Institute. The film is executive produced by Abby Disney and Gini Reticker of Fork Films, Engel Entertainment, Sally Jo Fifer and Lois Vossen, and is a co-production of ITVS.

DOC NYC will screen the film online between November 11-19. Included with the screening ticket is an exclusive pre-recorded Q&A with Lisa Molomot and subject Omar Roman-Gomez, immediately following the film. More at docnyc.net/film/missing-in-brooks-county.

For additional information and assets, visit the Missing in Brooks County press kit.

The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) nurtures and develops outstanding artists and scholars via rigorous training and mentoring by internationally recognized faculty, high-level internship opportunities, industry-standard resources, and hands-on production experience. TFTV offers comprehensive training programs that aim to prepare students to succeed in a wide range of careers – in the industry, the arts, and higher education. Each year through Arizona Repertory Theatre productions, the Studio Series, and Film & Television screenings, students of TFTV are able to showcase their talents, tell compelling stories, and provide clear results of what happens in their classrooms and studios. TFTV’s Film & Television program regularly ranks in The Wrap’s “Top 50 Film Schools,” and the School’s Theatre programs regularly rank in Onstage’s “Top 30 College Musical Theatre Programs” and “Top 30 College Theatre Design & Tech Programs” making UA one of the country’s top institutions to study theatre, film and television. More at https://tftv.arizona.edu/

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Congratulations to University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television student Brett Jones (BFA Film & Television, '23) whose film SOMETHING TO FEAR was an award winner at the recent Doc Sunback Film Festival. Brett's film, which he made as part of FTV 314a Documentary Production class, follows top college basketball recruit Kennedy Brown as she battles her detractors, and her own demons, as she makes her way to the top. The film premiered at the December 2021 edition of WHAT'S UP, DOCS at The Loft Cinema.

Brett recently spoke with his hometown newspaper about his filmmaking journey so far, and how he maintains focus on both his perspective as a filmmaker and the experience of the viewer. “I think one of the most valuable things I've learned is that you have to balance what you want and then what someone else is going to get out of it,” Jones said. “It gets to a point where you're like, ‘okay, this is the idea I want, this is the kind of unique take I want on it, but how do we build [the film] for an audience for them to understand that unique take?’ So it always starts with your passion, but then you have to construct and manipulate that passion for an audience.”

Read the full story at www.derbyinformer.com/news/derby_news/derby-filmmaker-s-work-featured-at-doc-sunback-film-festiva...
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5 days ago
Congratulations to University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television student Brett Jones (BFA Film & Television, 23) whose film SOMETHING TO FEAR was an award winner at the recent Doc Sunback Film Festival. Bretts film, which he made as part of FTV 314a Documentary Production class, follows top college basketball recruit Kennedy Brown as she battles her detractors, and her own demons, as she makes her way to the top. The film premiered at the December 2021 edition of WHATS UP, DOCS at The Loft Cinema. 

Brett recently spoke with his hometown newspaper about his filmmaking journey so far, and how he maintains focus on both his perspective as a filmmaker and the experience of the viewer. “I think one of the most valuable things Ive learned is that you have to balance what you want and then what someone else is going to get out of it,” Jones said. “It gets to a point where youre like, ‘okay, this is the idea I want, this is the kind of unique take I want on it, but how do we build [the film] for an audience for them to understand that unique take?’ So it always starts with your passion, but then you have to construct and manipulate that passion for an audience.”

Read the full story at http://www.derbyinformer.com/news/derby_news/derby-filmmaker-s-work-featured-at-doc-sunback-film-festival/article_b8da7514-d39e-11ec-869c-f32a74060782.html
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Fantastic Brett!

During the commencement ceremonies at the University of Arizona last week multiple graduating BFA Musical Theatre seniors from the School of Theatre, Film & Television took to the stage to demonstrate their talents.

On May 13th, The University of Arizona's 158th Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2022 took place in the Arizona Stadium. As part of the opening ceremony graduating seniors Daniel Altamirano, Steven Enriquez, Michael Laverde, Taylor Maresca and Hannah Peyton sang the National Anthem, led by TFTV faculty member Assistant Professor of Practice Jamie Reed. Along with fellow graduate Vinney Pugliese, they also helped close the ceremony by leading the stadium in singing 'All Hail, Arizona' (Alma Mater).

During the College of Fine Arts graduation ceremony Maresca and Peyton performed 'I Will Never Leave You' from Side Show.

We are so proud of all our Wildcats and wish all Class of '22 graduates continued success. Bear Down!
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6 days ago
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So proud to have been a part of this wonderful school.

Very emotional. Love this performance 👏 ❤

Great to hear a version that I understand and the harmony is lovely!👍. Are they available for the next Super Bowl?😘

Monte would be so very proud.

This past weekend I Dream in Widescreen, one of our School's marquee events, returned to the historic Fox Tucson Theatre for the first time since 2019.

12 filmmakers from the Class of 2022 premiered their senior thesis films for a full house made up of community members, industry guests, sponsors, cast and crew, their families, TFTV faculty and students, and countless supporters. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, and to the community at large for coming together to help celebrate our filmmakers!

We'd also like to send a huge congratulations to all of our filmmakers and award winners on your immense accomplishment. We cannot wait to see where you go next!

Missed the in-person event but still want to watch the short films from the Class of 2022? Watch them all on our YouTube channel for a limited time and on the IDIWS website: idiw.tftv.arizona.edu. Check the IDIWS website for award winners, and more pictures from the event will be viewable online in the coming weeks!

Photos by Julius Schlosburg.
... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
This past weekend I Dream in Widescreen, one of our Schools marquee events, returned to the historic Fox Tucson Theatre for the first time since 2019. 

12 filmmakers from the Class of 2022 premiered their senior thesis films for a full house made up of community members, industry guests, sponsors, cast and crew, their families, TFTV faculty and students, and countless supporters. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, and to the community at large for coming together to help celebrate our filmmakers! 

Wed also like to send a huge congratulations to all of our filmmakers and award winners on your immense accomplishment. We cannot wait to see where you go next!

Missed the in-person event but still want to watch the short films from the Class of 2022? Watch them all on our YouTube channel for a limited time and on the IDIWS website: idiw.tftv.arizona.edu. Check the IDIWS website for award winners, and more pictures from the event will be viewable online in the coming weeks!

Photos by Julius Schlosburg.Image attachmentImage attachment+7Image attachment
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Can't get enough of our student short films? You're in luck!

Join us tomorrow for the final screening event of the semester with the debut of 10 brand new student short films during Magic Hour at The Loft Cinema.

In these films, made during the FTV 315a Fiction Production Class, you'll see two wanna-be-spy siblings, an extreme commitment-phobe, condiments in love, a hung-over interviewee, the game LIFE, a bumbling pair of pranksters, a sore loser, a father facing his mortality, two bickering brothers, a tale of love, and ants in the Biosphere.

Joining the 10 TFTV films is an animated short made by students in the University of Arizona School of Art entitled WHO PUT THESE ANTS IN MY BIOSPHERE? This film is the result of a Research, Innovation, and Impact Grant titled “Science in Motion” and organized by Aaron Bugaj and Ellen McMahon with KeBiosphere 2 BiosArizona Institutes for Resiliencer Resilience. Each student contributed 10 seconds of animation focusing on either moss, coral, agrivoltaics, or resilience from the vantage point of an ant inhabiting Biosphere 2.

May 10 | 7pm | The Loft Cinema | FREE (first-come, first-served)
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2 weeks ago
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A struggling drag queen's evening takes an unexpected turn when she meets a persistent houseless man while en route to her show in TWIXXX, written and directed by Martin Olloren. "I love using film to give a voice to marginalized groups of people and TWIXXX tackles two extremely marginalized groups: the Black LGBTQ+ community and people without housing. I wrote TWIXXX not only to shed light on the adversity of these specific groups, but also to remind everyone that we are stronger together."

In PUNCHLINE, Nate finds newfound internet fame as the victim of several filmed assaults broadcasted on a rival’s social media account and learns the ultimate lesson through a knock-knock joke gone bad. Written and directed by James Valacich. "Observing certain online personalities made me wonder how far, morally and/or legally, an influencer could go to get recognition ... I wanted to make a found footage film with an online vlogger feel."

Both films will premiere at I Dream in Widescreen 2022 ! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 7 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
DOORS OPEN AT 6PM. ARRIVE EARLY TO ENSURE YOUR SEAT!
... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
A struggling drag queens evening takes an unexpected turn when she meets a persistent houseless man while en route to her show in TWIXXX, written and directed by Martin Olloren. I love using film to give a voice to marginalized groups of people and TWIXXX tackles two extremely marginalized groups: the Black LGBTQ+ community and people without housing. I wrote TWIXXX not only to shed light on the adversity of these specific groups, but also to remind everyone that we are stronger together.

In PUNCHLINE, Nate finds newfound internet fame as the victim of several filmed assaults broadcasted on a rival’s social media account and learns the ultimate lesson through a knock-knock joke gone bad. Written and directed by James Valacich. Observing certain online personalities made me wonder how far, morally and/or legally, an influencer could go to get recognition ... I wanted to make a found footage film with an online vlogger feel.

Both films will premiere at I Dream in Widescreen 2022 ! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 7 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
DOORS OPEN AT 6PM. ARRIVE EARLY TO ENSURE YOUR SEAT!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
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INTERIM is written and directed by Heath Bannard. "I wanted to really say something meaningful and be really, embarrassingly honest. As I looked around at lots of art, even art I love, I noticed more and more how things were sort of masked by poetic language or characters, mis en scene, etc. Though all of these things are beautiful parts of the medium, I wanted people to really walk away with what I had told them. I wanted what I had said to be so clear that you couldn't possibly miss it, it couldn't possibly go over your head."

Amid a global pandemic, an isolated nineteen-year-old boy would explore the world of rap music, but one fatal choice to try the drugs in his favorite song would end his life abruptly in 9TEEN, a documentary film written and directed by Desirée Bourret. "I was introduced to my subject's mother, and she told me about this young, vibrant soul, Dakota, who lost his life at 19 based on a single choice to take a pill. Dakota was trying to push through what was a difficult time in the world, by expressing himself through the creative outlet of music ... This project is for Dakota, his loved ones, victims of fentanyl poisoning, and the youth who might be able to see their experiences through Dakota's and remember how important their lives are."

Both films will premiere at I Dream in Widescreen 2022! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 7 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago
INTERIM is written and directed by Heath Bannard. I wanted to really say something meaningful and be really, embarrassingly honest. As I looked around at lots of art, even art I love, I noticed more and more how things were sort of masked by poetic language or characters, mis en scene, etc. Though all of these things are beautiful parts of the medium, I wanted people to really walk away with what I had told them. I wanted what I had said to be so clear that you couldnt possibly miss it, it couldnt possibly go over your head.

Amid a global pandemic, an isolated nineteen-year-old boy would explore the world of rap music, but one fatal choice to try the drugs in his favorite song would end his life abruptly in 9TEEN, a documentary film written and directed by Desirée Bourret. I was introduced to my subjects mother, and she told me about this young, vibrant soul, Dakota, who lost his life at 19 based on a single choice to take a pill. Dakota was trying to push through what was a difficult time in the world, by expressing himself through the creative outlet of music ... This project is for Dakota, his loved ones, victims of fentanyl poisoning, and the youth who might be able to see their experiences through Dakotas and remember how important their lives are.

Both films will premiere at I Dream in Widescreen 2022! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 7 at 7pm | Fox Tucson TheatreImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
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