Reel Lives Documentaries

Films:

Segundo Hogar by Hosbel Hernandez

Off the Deresch by Etty

Burning Tibet by Jampal Tsering

In collaboration with Reel Lives, a non-profit youth media organization based in New York City, the American Folk Art Museum is hosting a special screening of three original documentaries followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. Reel Lives empowers youth to find their authentic voice through the medium of film. All projects stem from their own stories and are used to educate and advocate around human rights issues.

In celebration of city’s 10th annual Immigrant Heritage Week, organized by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, each of the three short films explores the experiences of immigration and identity formation as a teenager in America. These autobiographical portraits draw from the diverse cultural landscapes of the Dominican Republic, the Lubavitch community of Brooklyn, and Tibet, examining how one navigates a new life during adolescence. The filmmakers ask questions such as: What happens to cultural preservation over time? How do I address and express dual identity?