March 12 - 27, the Walker Art Center presents the International Women with Vision Festival, the 17th installment of this renowned film series which recognizes the perspectives women bring to the art of filmmaking. Filmmaker, Louise Woehrle’s Pride of Lions, a documentary film (52-minute) about Sierra Leone, will premier on March 20th at 3:00 p.m. at the Walker Art Center and is featured along with three other films by Minnesota women documentarians. Pride of Lions will screen with Ida’s Story, directed by Barbara Wiener. (View a trailer of the film at http://www.prideoflionsfilm.com/trailer.html)
Pride of Lions is the first film about Sierra Leone to combine contemporary history with intimate stories of survivors of a brutal 11-year civil war that ended in 2002. Moving beyond their scars, Sierra Leoneans are leading a global effort to rebuild their country. Within a 50-year historical framework Pride of Lions gives the Sierra Leonean perspective of war, personal loss, power of forgiveness and hope for the future.
Minneapolis natives Louise and John Woehrle, a sister-brother team never intended to make a documentary film together until John had a life-changing experience traveling to Sierra Leone in 2004.
Sharing stories of this community with his sister Louise, a Minneapolis based filmmaker sparked a project that could shed new light on the people of Sierra Leone as they rebuild their lives and country. Louise specializes in telling stories that need to be told—from going into the complicated lives of teens, into the homes of hospice patients living until they die, to remote mountain villages in Haiti where children walk 3 hours to school to eat their only meal of the day, and into 3 remote Cree Communities where diabetes is considered an epidemic. Her films reflect her heart and win awards.
The Woehrles’ are committed to outreach and support efforts in Sierra Leone through the screening of their film worldwide, including Sierra Leone. The documentary features the founder of Global Action Foundation, Dr. Dan Kelly and Sierra Leone Dr. Bailor Barrie, Managing Director of the Kono Clinic--two humanitarians dedicated to tackling extreme poverty in war-disabled communities by providing affordable healthcare and sustainable businesses. Organizations like Global Action Foundation, The Center for Victims of Torture and several others serving the needs in Sierra Leone are using the film to raise awareness and unite people. The filmmakers’ intention for the film is becoming a reality.
The 84-minute version of the film was screened at the 2009 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival and received 2nd place “Audience Choice” award for best feature documentary, also winning “Best Feature Documentary” at the Hardacre Film Festival and “Audience Award” for best feature documentary at the Red Rocks Film Festival. It will also be screening Aril, 29 in the World Bank African Film series in Washington D.C.
Crew: Directors: Louise & John Woehrle, Producer: Louise Woehrle, Director of Photography: Bill Carlson, Second Camera & Location Audio Jim Dreher, Editor: Ben Watne, Post Production: Splice Here in Minneapolis, Executive Producer: John Woehrle
To learn more and view trailer go to: www.prideoflionsfilm.com
