Finding Her Beat

Directed By Keri Pickett and Dawn Mikkelson

For thousands of years women have been locked out of Taiko drumming. Not any more.

  • ABOUT
  • BIO
  • SCREENINGS
  • AWARDS
  • PRESS
  • CREDITS

A master of Japanese drumming and a Korean adoptee from Minnesota boldly convene an all-female troupe to perform Taiko, the Japanese drumming art that has been off-limits to women for centuries. As the early menace of Covid rumbles in the background, the group faces down hurdles to prepare for a historic performance in snowy St. Paul. Buoyed by dynamic drum performances and do-or-die spirit, FINDING HER BEAT is an energizing and uplifting story of music, cultural expression and sisterhood.

Keri Pickett (she/her) is an award-winning Producer, Director and Director of Photography (DP) whose work centers on family, community, often focusing on those trying to right a wrong or showing how much one person can make a difference. She is the Co-Director/DP/Editor of FINDING HER BEAT, 2023 (87 minutes) which follows the making of a historic first-time gathering and concert with the best female taiko drummers in the world; smashing stereo-types and claiming centerstage. The film premiered at Mill Valley Film Festival and select festivals include DOCNYC, Heartland and Hot Springs. FIRST DAUGHTER AND THE BLACK SNAKE, 2017 (94 minutes) follows environmental activist Winona LaDuke and her family and community efforts to keep big oil out of her tribes' sacred wild rice territory. The films' many documentary feature film awards include Best MN Made Documentary Feature at MSPIFF and Frozen River Film Festival, Best Feature Film from Portland EcoFilm, the Courage Award from Red Nation Film Festival and is distributed by Virgil Films & Entertainment. Pickett is the Producer/Director/DP for THE FABULOUS ICE AGE, 2013 (72 minutes). The story spans a century of dancing on ice featuring the skating pioneers who changed the world along with one show skaters’ quest to ensure their history is not forgotten. The documentary premiered as a Netflix Original (2014-2019), in ten languages. Virgil Films & Entertainment is the distributor. She is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Mill Valley Film Festival 2022

DOC NYC 2022

Bentonville Film Festival 2023

docedge 2023 (New Zealand)

Sound Unseen 2022

Film Threat - Best Music Documentary 2023

Melbourne Documentary Film Festival - Best Music Documentary 2023

DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival - Best Documentary 2023

DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon - Jury Prize for Best Documentary & Audience Award for Best Documentary 2023

Satisfied Eye International Film Festival (UK) - Jury Prize 2023

"the powerful "can do" message of the film goes far beyond drumming"
South China Morning Post
"A story of women rising against a patriarchal backdrop, finding the power of sisterhood, and creating history through the drama of musical expression"
Los Angeles Blade
"Perfect soundtrack to what I will call the year of Michelle Yeoh, the Golden year of cinema"
The Black Cape
"I found myself brimming with happy tears"
Mixed Asian Media
"Asian Women taiko players show the world that if they can fight through adversity to do what they do, then you can too. And not just in taiko, but in life itself."
Nichi Bei

Composer - Me Lee Hay

Producer & Principal Participant - Jennifer Weir

Field Producer/Cinematographer - Caroline Mariko Stucky

Field Producer/ Cinematographer - Shiho Fukada

Rerecording Mixer - Carly Zuckweiler