In anticipation of this year's Oscars, Tribeca Cinemas will be showing six groundbreaking documentaries as part of the Docs on the Shortlist hosted by the GUCCI TRIBECA DOCUMENTARY FUND event this weekend, January 8 and 9. We asked each participating filmmaker five questions about their documentaries. First up is director Rebecca Cammisa on her documentary Which Way Home (TFF 2009).


Rebecca Cammisa

Please describe the story you tell in your film. What inspired you to tell that story?

Which Way Home is a feature documentary film that follows unaccompanied child migrants as they journey through Mexico, in hopes of reaching the United States.

In 2002, after I completed my first documentary, Sister Helen, a friend suggested that unaccompanied child migration should be my next subject.  I was completely shocked that this phenomenon was even happening and I immediately started researching the subject. At the time, I could not find any films specifically made about the plights of Central American and Mexican child migrants. So I began looking for development funding for the project.

Making documentaries is not an easy road. What was the biggest challenge in getting your film made? How did you overcome it?

Raising the money. I could not have shot a film on this scale if I didn't have the funding.

For aspiring filmmakers, what was the biggest asset you found in getting the word out about your film?

The biggest asset was the HBO broadcast and the Facebook page they created for the film. HBO has real reach. The broadcast enabled 2.5 million viewers to watch our film, and the feedback from viewers, via Facebook, were so important.

Is there a particular screening of your film that stands out for you as the director? What made that experience special?

Recently, I was invited to show the film to about 450 high school students in Austin, Minnesota. I was quite excited to participate in this particular screening because the immigration issue is quite political there, and also, it was the first time I would see the reactions of young people to seeing kids their own ages facing such extreme situations.

The Q&A period was so extraordinary. I came away feeling that these students really began to understand why undocumented migrants are coming and more importantly, they felt compassion and respect for the immigrant community that has transformed their city's identity.

I left Austin, Minnesota, greatly inspired. That all of the struggles and obstacles in making this film were worth it.

What makes your film a must-see?

It documents a world that is rarely seen in such an intimate way.
 

Read more: Q&A: Which Way Home

Friday, January 8, 2010
6:30 pm
Director Rebecca Cammisa will be in attendance for a post-screening discussion.