Tribeca Film Institute, POV Shorts, and The New York Times Op-Docs co-present four new short documentaries celebrating the art and urgency of short-form storytelling. These exclusive premieres profile an underdog Olympian fencer, a surprising twist on surrogacy, a veteran's post-combat healing, and the power of community to confront corporate interests. Filmmakers will be present for discussion after the screenings on July 17 and 18.
STAY CLOSE (Directors: Luther Clement & Shuhan Fan, 18:24)
The underdog story of a fencer from Brooklyn who overcomes a gauntlet of hardships on the road to the Olympics.
MY AMERICAN SURROGATE (Director: Leslie Tai, 24:07)
A Chinese surrogacy agent's business in southern California has become a one-stop shop for wealthy Chinese couples seeking to hire American surrogates to have their babies for them.
ON THE BIT (Director: Ashley Brandon, 14:18)
When the wounds of combat seem irreparable, Jenny, an Iraq-war veteran, finds hope and healing in a unique program that pairs veterans with wild American Mustangs, culminating in a high-stakes rodeo performance.
WATER WARRIORS (Director: Michael Premo, 21:30)
When an energy company begins searching for natural gas in New Brunswick, Canada, indigenous and white families unite to drive out the company in a campaign to protect their water and way of life.