OIFF21 - Powering Puerto Rico , People's Park , Ghaminah, Russell and Lorraine

Puerto Rico, 2017: It all started with a storm and a car battery.

Eugene Smotkin, a Northeastern University professor, was home in San Juan for the summer when two disasters struck: His wife had a stroke and Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico, leaving more than 3 million people without electricity. After days of powering a cell phone and a small fan with a car battery, Eugene and his wife were finally able to make it to Boston for the medical treatment she desperately needed.

Back on campus, he has an idea: In conjunction with just a few solar panels, Eugene believes he can make a fully functional, affordable, renewable nanogrid system powered by reconditioned hybrid car batteries. And he wants to do so all over Puerto Rico, giving back electricity to a neglected energy populace at a fraction of the current cost.

This is a film about Puerto Rico’s resilience through hardship—and one man’s ingenuity in bringing power to the masses.

run time: 41 min

Directed by Adam Fischer

A detailed collection of the voices, struggles, and events at People’s Park in Berkeley, California. The footage, recorded between February and October of 2022, highlights a transitional period of the park and its historically marginalized community. The observed human experiences illustrate a grounded portrait of a larger tendency in the West.

run time: 54:00 min
Directed by Isaac Castillo

Following the events of Frozen Mind, Russell and Lorraine move in together, however things get a bit chaotic for Russell as believes she might be pregnant.
run time: 19 min

Directed by RC, Hakim Morris

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The war on terror, the 7/7 bombings, the loss of the son’s mother and the allegiance to either Islam or Britain. What will unfold. Family, Duty or Honour? A heated argument occurs when Abdullah (Mikhail Sen – House of Dragon, A Suitable Boy) declares he is joining the British Military to the shock of his pacifist father Omar (Adil Akram – Spectre, What’s Love got to do with it?) and anger of his fundamentalist older brother Moh (James El-Sharawy – Tyrant, EastEnders). As their debate unfurls past resentments and revelations rise to the surface, boiling to a point where they can no longer contain themselves.

run time: 9 min

Directed by. Sai karan Talwar