Independent Voices

 This Fourth of July weekend, we invite you to explore diverse perspectives about America by watching some of these independent films directed by by Film Fatales members…

American Dream directed by Barbara Kopple
When the workers at Hormel Foods in Austin, Minnesota, saw their wages and benefits drastically cut, they organized a strike that would stretch on for over a year of grueling negotiations, hardball tactics, and devastating setbacks.

American Reckoning directed by Yoruba Richen
Who killed Wharlest Jackson? In the upcoming documentary “American Reckoning,” an unsolved 1960s murder reveals an untold story of the civil rights movement and Black resistance.

Americanish directed by Iman Zawahry
Americanish delves into the complexity of trying to both honor and break from cultural traditions while balancing personal values and career goals in a society that does not always accommodate both.

A Decent Home directed by Sara Terry
A Decent Home is a documentary about manufactured homes in America, focused on how these last vestiges of Affordable housing are facing trials as rich landowners raise rent and evict them from the land they rent, but do not own.

And She Could Be Next directed by Grace Lee and Marjan Safinia
In a polarized America, where the dual forces of white supremacy and patriarchy threaten to further erode our democracy, women of color are claiming power by running for political office.

Asian Americans directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Grace Lee
As America becomes more diverse, and more divided while facing unimaginable challenges, how do we move forward together? Told through intimate personal stories, the series casts a new lens on U.S. history and the ongoing role that Asian Americans have played.

Blurring the Color Line directed by Crystal Kwok
Crystal Kwok unpacks the history behind her grandmother’s traditionally Chinese family, who were neighborhood grocery store owners in the Black community of Augusta, Georgia during the Jim Crow era. By centering women’s experiences, Kwok poses critical questions around the intersections of race, power, and identity in the American South.

Dear Homeland directed by Claudia Escobar 
One woman’s journey towards finding her musical and political voice as an undocumented immigrant. 

First Vote directed by Yi Chen
First Vote offers a character-driven look at Chinese Americans organizing in North Carolina and Ohio. Weaving stories from the ’16 presidential election to ’18 midterms, the film also explores immigration, voting rights and racial justice.

Fruits of Labor directed by Emily Cohen Ibañez
Fruits of Labor follows the day-in-a-life of a young farm and factory worker in California, who dreams of being the first in her family to graduate from high school and go to college.

Generation Wealth directed by Lauren Greenfield
A documentary that investigates the pathologies that have created the richest society the world has ever seen.

I’ll Meet You There directed by Iram Parveen Bilal
A Muslim cop goes undercover at his estranged father’s mosque while his daughter hides her passion for a forbidden dance, uncovering a shocking family secret.

Improvement Club directed by Dayna Hanson
Improvement Club is a hybrid narrative film with elements of mockumentary, musical comedy, and dance film.

In Football We Trust directed by Erika Cohn
In Football We Trust is an insightful and moving documentary feature film exploring in rich detail the remarkable story behind the Polynesian Pipeline to the NFL.

One Person, One Vote? directed by Maximina Juson
At a time when many Americans question democratic institutions, One Person, ONe Vote? unveils the complexities of the Electoral College, its roots in slavery, and its impact on society today. The film follows four presidential electors from different parties during the intense 2020 election.

Rich Kids directed by Laura Somers
A group of troubled teens from a low-income community break into “Los Ricos”, the local mansion with a border fence, and spend the day pretending to be rich in order to forget their difficult lives.

The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales directed by Abigail Disney
Believing her conservative grandfather, Roy Disney, (Walt’s brother and company co-founder) would never have tolerated employee hunger at “The Happiest Place On Earth”, Abigail reexamines the story of modern American capitalism from the middle of the last century, when wealth was shared more equitably, to today, when CEO’s earn upwards of 800 times more than their average employees.

 The Donut King directed by Alice Gu
An immigrant story with a (glazed) twist, The Donut King follows the journey of Cambodian refugee Ted Ngoy, who arrived in California in the 1970s and, through a mixture of diligence and luck, built a multi-million dollar donut empire up and down the West Coast.

The Flagmakers directed by Cynthia Wade
Employee-owned Eder Flag in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, sews and ships five million American flags a year. The flagmakers — locals, immigrants and refugees — stitch stars and stripes as they wrestle with identity and belonging. 

The Unafraid directed by Anayansi Prado
Banned by the state from attending Georgia’s top five public universities and unable to qualify for in-state tuition at other public colleges, DACA students Alejandro, Silvia, and Aldo unite through their activist work with an immigrants’ rights group.

Yellow Rose directed by Diane Paragas
A Filipina teen from a small Texas town fights to pursue her dreams as a country music performer while having to decide between staying with her family or leaving the only home she has known.