“Finding North,” from directors Lori Silverbush and Kristi Jacobson, was nominated for a Grand Jury prize in this year’s Documentary Competition at Sundance.
This documentary brings to light in the most touching way the plight of hunger that currently exists in the United States, with statistics showing that one in six Americans are not eating a regular meal on a regular basis. 49 million Americans are in a state of 'food insecure,' which is a condition of uncertainty whereby there are not sufficient food resources to meet the needs of the members of a household, due to financial constraints or lack of resources to obtain food.
Silverbush and Jacobson demonstrate this narratively through the circumstances of three people who are without food on a regular basis--a second grade student, a fifth grade student and a single mother of two. The film actively encourages people to take part and to help find a solution to this and are looking to launch a social campaign in the spring: http://www.takepart.com/findingnorth
They are both hoping that this film will provide much needed fuel and a catalyst for true action and a solution to the unthinkable problem here in the USA.
Film Slate Magazine contributor Jasmina Nevada, who was in Park City this year covering Sundance and Slamdance, interviewed both Silverbush and Jacobson. She reports: “I was lucky enough to have a quick chat to them at the Bing Bar in Park City Utah, where they were busy putting the message across about this hunger situation, rather than of course the main aim of partying.”
Film Slate Magazine: What was your reason for making this documentary?
Lori Silverbush: I had a personal experience with hunger. I knew it existed. I mentored a young girl who was going hungry on a routine basis and all I knew was that she was having a lot of problems at school and her entire family was experiencing this. When I found out I tried to feed her but it didn't seem to go away. It was shocking and upsetting. When Kristi and I got together we really started to look into it and found it that it was pervasive--50 million Americans have this problem.
FSM: One would not initially think of a big economy or a big modern country such as the United States having an issue with hunger, so what were you both trying to highlight by making this documentary?
LS: I think ultimately we want people to understand that this is happening here and this affects everyone of us in this country. We are all affected, and whether you are personally hungry or not, you are being affected by this issue, because your tax dollars are affecting us as a nation. Your child may be sat next to another child at school who is hungry and not getting the attention that they need from the teacher. Everyone is experiencing this regardless of whether they are personally hungry or not. I hope that people go and see the film and come away with this understanding that we are all in this together.
FSM: So this is this documentary is highlighting an emotional, humanitarian journey...
Kristi Jacobson: Not just that, but it is a human thing, as filmmakers we try to tell the really personal stories of people because for us, it is an issue, but a human issue which is really about all of us.
FSM: How long did it take you to put this documentary together?
KJ: Almost three years, but the research alone was an enormous part of this and then we shot quite a bit, got a participant on board and really just finished and you are looking at it fresh off the press.
FSM: Are you pleased with the final result?
LS: I would say we are very proud.
FSM: Would you say that it met your expectations and more?
KJ: It is hard to know, as we are so close to it. The people that are seeing it are getting the message that we are hoping to put across and that is very gratifying. They are energized and excited and optimistic as we know how to fix this. This is not a case of a movie that is going to break your heart; this is a movie that will get you feeling great. We have solutions as Americans, it is patriotism and we can do it. In terms of our expectations, the fact that the audience afterward were asking questions really meant a lot as they were shocked by what they saw.
