| Unique in the genre of exploration and adventure films, ICE PEOPLE is a cinematic voyage that truly captures the experience of one of the earth’s most seductive adventures—Antarctica. For the few ambitious scientific teams who brave this awesomely beautiful, silent and unwelcoming landscape, it feels like another planet. Searching for tiny signs of life across thousands of square miles, their discoveries in this still little-understood place yield critical secrets about the earth’s past and future, and prompt questions about our place in the world. Enduring temperatures as low as -60°F/-50°C, Emmy-winner Anne Aghion spent four months on the U.S. research station, McMurdo, and camping out in the “deep field” to relate the feeling of vastness and claustrophobia, of excitement and waiting, and of a life still set to nature’s rhythm.
Produced with a grant from the National Science Foundation's Antarctic Artists and Writers Program, and with support from: The European Commission Directorate General for Research, The Centre National de la Cinématographie, The Conseil Régional de la Région Rhône-Alpes, The Conseil Général de l'Ardèche, The SACEM, RTBF, SBS.
Ice People premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival is a smashing success!
Saturday night’s screening was sold out – and people were turned away at the door! During the film, everyone laughed in all the right places and the vibe in the theater was just right! After the screening, Allan, Adam and Kelly joined Sylvestre and Anne in answering questions about the science and filming in such unique circumstances! The film looked and sounded terrific! more updates | media coverage
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"It is truly impressive how well your films are received by such diverse audiences."—Taylor Seybolt, Program Officer, United States Institute of Peace
Tune In!
 Taking a thematic break from her recent docus on Rwanda, Anne Aghion delivers an intriguing slice-of-life that observes the area's staggeringly beautiful and imposing landscapes and the unique challenges experienced by those who work there. Pic should score broadcast sales in numerous territories. More
 On the occasion of New York International Polar Weekend, Anne was interviewed on NPR’s Weekend America. Listen to the interview.
Upcoming Projects
There is good news for my third film on Rwanda on the ongoing Gacaca trials: The Swiss Development Cooperation just decided to award a large grant for the production of the film. This will enable me to return to film in the coming months - before the end of 2007. This third film has already received support from the Compton Foundation, the United States Institute of Peace, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Peter S. Reed Foundation and the Berner Family Foundation. Other in-kind support includes the Hotel Novotel Umubano in Kigali, which has supported the production of my work in Rwanda since the very beginning.
How you can help
You can make tax deductible donations for both the third film in Rwanda, Gacaca: The Trials, and Ice People by clicking here. Women Make Movies is the fiscal sponsor for both projects. Donations can be made directly on their website.
On April 26, 28 & 30 ICE PEOPLE will be showing at the San Francisco International Film Festival! Check back soon for screening times.
In the past year, both films on Rwanda have been shown from Port-au-Prince and Kampala to Beirut, and from New York and The Hague to Sartrouville, in the suburbs of Paris. There are even reports of screenings of bootleg copies in a packed community center in Kuala Lumpur! For a complete list of screenings click here.
The Belgian NGO, RCN Justice & Democracy, has been screening In Rwanda we say... in the prisons of Rwanda for the past two years. Over 50,000 prisoners have seen the film, and have engaged in discussion groups on issues of coexistence after the screenings. The screenings and discussion groups are scheduled also started nationwide in the communities at large in the Fall of 2006.
Check back soon for more upcoming screenings.
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2005 Emmy Award Winner for its broadcast on Sundance Channel.
"An astonishing [film]..." —The Washington Post
With extraordinary sensitivity, Aghion takes us into the heart of the problem of reconciliation in a post-genocidal society - not with wordy abstractions but with the earthy, real expressions of the people, victims and accused criminals, who must try to live together. Those seeking to know whether reconciliation is possible in Rwanda must look for their answer in this compelling expression of Rwandan voices.
—Alison des Forges, Senior Adviser to the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch |
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"Seminal..." —Variety
The film captures quite precisely much of what is most compelling and unsettling about Rwanda's quest for justice after genocide - and, more: it captures the feel of Rwanda, the landscape, the texture of the place, the rhythm of speech and movement, the weird brilliance of colors amid the gloom of the spirit. The sense of being there came across so vividly that at times, while watching the film, I found myself having strong smell memories.
—Philip Gourevitch, Editor of "The Paris Review", long-time staff writer of "The New Yorker", and author of the multiple award-winning bestseller, "We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families, Stories from Rwanda" |
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