The Owl
In honor of both the seen and unseen Worlds – the worlds of imagination, mystery, and spirit. A time when Supernatural energies are at play.
Owl symbology can serve as a reminder of the wisdom that abounds, heralding change and new cycles for those in its proximity. There is an owl in our film, In Her Name, serving as a spirit guide, a representation of a recently-deceased mother orchestrating a reunion of her estranged daughters and their father.
The idea to include the owl as a character in the film came slowly and organically as Sarah, who also played the role of the mother, contemplated how to most effectively weave the mother's spirit into the screenplay. Sarah's own mother had told her a story of being visited by an owl at a terrifying time in her journey. These visitations can create a shift in consciousness connecting us with the inner wisdom we all have to carry us through the various and inevitable transformations we undergo in our lifetime. As soon as the owl was invited into the story it became a powerful presence throughout the shoot. A year after we had completed the production phase, we came together for a day of reshoots including a final scene with the owl, the father's malefic hallucination. After editing that sequence, Kevin (the editor and Sarah's husband), Sarah, and their daughter, Alice, went on an evening hike when Sarah felt the strong and familiar presence of an owl. With Alice on her hip, she turned slowly to find an owl staring at her from the lowest branch on a giant pine. They held each other's gaze, but as soon as Sarah took out her camera, the owl flew off into the night. The surreal encounter felt like an affirmation that this had been an initiation into the healing art of storytelling... that if we are open, our stories can be portals to the knowledge and magic of our ancestors.
Today, as we near the completion of our creative journey with our two first features, A Pity and In Her Name, we want to honor the powerful souls who have influenced our process. The film is dedicated to Philippe Caland’s mother, Huguette Caland, who transitioned only months before we began shooting, and Sarah’s younger brother, Christopher Riess, who passed on during our post production phase. Christopher's passing opened Sarah’s heart and mind to the very real ways in which we are all connected, and can become more receptive to the deeper meaning, poetics, and patterns of life if we choose to stay in touch with those we love when they cross over.
Take a moment to connect with those who have left body form and ask for nature to communicate with you and comfort you. Especially if you are an artist or storyteller, it is within our capacity and even our calling to communicate and receive messages and meaning from the supernatural world.
This cycle of new beginnings, fresh perspectives, and seeking external sources of wisdom were infused in our shooting process, and this month the cycle is coming to a completion with our festival run.
It’s a gift to be able to share this experience with you.
Imagine This International Women’s Film Festival
Imagine This Women's International Film Festival (ITWIFF), is a NYC-based women's film festival that aims to amplify and empower independent and aspiring womxn filmmakers from around the world. The goal of the festival is to support womxn by sharing their work with the public, promoting equal opportunities for BIPOC womxn and the LGBTQIA+ community while providing educational and professional development, and serving as a resource information network. Imagine This Women's Film Festival features fierce, bold, original films by womxn filmmakers and storytellers, Q&As, and special events.
We are honored that they chose to screen In Her Name, and honor the film with two awards — BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE and BEST ACTOR (Philippe Caland).
Red Rock Film Festival
The annual Red Rock Film Festival has a mission to show both “films that portray the human race in a positive light and to applaud original works that redefine media through innovation, creativity and sensitivity that both enlightens and educates audiences from around the world.”
We are thrilled to be awarded the SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for In Her Name.
La Femme International Film Festival
LA Femme International Film Festival is a premier festival that focuses on platforming women filmmakers “by women, for everyone”. The festival was created in 2005, when it became apparent that there was a need to enhance women behind the camera as Directors, Producers, and Writers. As LA Femme moves into the next few years, it plans to expand its platform so that more women in the industry and from around the world can have the benefit of taking their film to the next level through increased distribution outlets, more key positions in the entertainment industry and more recognition as artistic creators emerging as leaders in the industry.
La Femme International Film Festival will screen In Her Name at this year’s festival.
Portland Film Festival
Portland Film Festival is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in Portland, Oregon. The Festival is dedicated to nurturing filmmakers and their audiences. The festival focuses on people, ideas, technology, skills and artistry behind filmmaking and provides both entertaining and educational opportunities to the public.
Portland Film Festival Film Festival will screen A Pity at this year’s festival.
B3 Biennial of the Moving Image
National and international artists and media professionals contribute to the future of storytelling in the digital age. The objective of the B3 Biennial of the Moving Image is to create an interdisciplinary alliance for the moving image and to initiate a cross-industry and cross-genre dialogue. It offers the international cultural and creative industries an overarching platform for innovation and exchange. As a cross-media moving image festival with film screenings, exhibitions, conference and workshop programs, including competition formats, it is aimed at professionals and young talents from the creative and media industries, from the fields of business, politics and science as well as the interested public.
B3 Biennial of the Moving Image will screen In Her Name at this year’s festival.
San Diego International Film Festival
SDIFF believes that film can be transformative and we are bound together through human connection. Their mission is to use the experience of film to explore issues of global impact, to create dialog, and ultimately to develop empathy and understanding in an increasingly diverse and complex world. The Festival is strategically positioned in October to showcase buzz-worthy films just prior to general release and the awards shows like the Golden Globes, SAG, Independent Spirit Awards, Academy Awards and others — the festival has screened premieres that have garnered 33 Academy Awards and 94 Nominations.
San Diego International Film Festival will screen In Her Name at this year’s festival.
Santa Fe International Film Festival
Focusing on artistic excellence, SFiFF serves as a creative center for film year-round, and as a presentation of the year's top films each October. SFiFF provides professional opportunities for artists, and unmatched audience participation in the world’s greatest little film city.
Santa Fe International Film Festival will screen In Her Name at this year’s festival.
Evolution! Mallorca International Film Festival
Evolution! Mallorca International Film Festival enters its 11th year, with a clear mission statement; BRIDGING CULTURES – BRIDGING PEOPLE. EMIFF is now recognized as one of the fastest-growing film festivals in Europe, using international film to shape a creative community, allowing independent filmmakers to feel inspired, network, and thrive in this idyllic Mediterranean island paradise.
Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival will screen In Her Name at this year’s festival.
Pictured: the owl flying away after visiting Sarah, Kevin, and Alice on a family night walk the day they edited the final sequence of In Her Name.
Pictured: Sarah describing the shot of the owl flying into camera (featured at the top of the newsletter) to cinematographer Iain Trimble.
Photo cred Jenna Hagel