Producer Profile: Suree Towfighniaby Zach Oliva “This is exactly what I want to do everyday.” Not exactly what most people would say on their way to work in the morning. However, this is how Suree Towfighnia describes every day she spends working on a film. Although her days aren’t easy (she typically spends 18 hours a day either filming or working other jobs) Towfighnia is excited every time she gets the chance to spend time behind the camera. Towfighnia is a filmmaker currently living in Chicago. She and Courtney Hermann have been working together to create documentaries since meeting at Columbia College in Chicago. The two co-founded Prairie Dust Films when they began to plan for their first documentary together, Standing Silent Nation. “Our mission with the film company is to create entertaining and socially driven kinds of films that represent people of the world that are overlooked or stories that are told but not known to the general public,” says Towfighnia. Standing Silent Nation certainly fits this genre. The documentary focuses on the story of Alex White Plume, a Lakota man living on the Pine Ridge reservation. After the failure of several other crops, White Plume turned to harvesting hemp in order to provide for his family. Since hemp is illegal to harvest (but legal to posses) in the United States the government has seized his harvest numerous times. The film publicizes the struggle of this family for survival while hoping to bring change from the government’s stance on the subject. “I don’t see why they cant grow hemp” says Towfighnia. “What I’m looking forward to the most about Standing Silent Nation is hopefully being able to influence a little bit of change...I want nothing more than for them to have economic opportunities on Pine Ridge.” PBS will air Standing Silent Nation, on July 3rd on P.O.V. After the film has been aired, Towfighnia has several other projects she would like to get started on. Funding, however, is always an issue. “One thing I learned in Standing Silent Nation, is that I can’t just jump into a project without any funding,” said Towfighnia. “I’m not rushing off to make another film yet because I know the reality of what that means and I know how much hard work and dedication goes into it.” When she is in a financial situation that allows her to start a project, she already has a project in mind. “I really want to make a film in Iran,” said Towfighnia. “I feel like people have this idea of what they think Iranians are like and what they think Iran is like. I was raised half Iranian…and I feel there is so much potential to make a project up there just about ordinary people.” Regardless of when and where her next film is made Towfighnia knows she has found a profession she wants to stick with. “If money wasn’t an issue I would be making films everyday” says Towfighnia. “I have my passport and I’m always ready to go with my batteries charged.” SubscribeAnyone with an email address is welcome to subscribe to NAPT's e-newsletter. To subscribe complete the following form: If you would like to change the email address used for your subscription, email native@unl.edu and put please put E-newsletter Subscription Update in the title. |
