Directed by Otto Bell
90 min | 2015 | USA
Presented in Kazakh with English subtitles
Recommended for ages 12 and over
Step aside, Katniss! Make room for Aisholpan, the 13-year-old eagle huntress from Mongolia.
For 2,000 years, the Kazakh people of the Altai region in western Mongolia have practiced a tradition of hunting with golden eagles, whose wingspan can reach up to 7.5 feet wide. Though this practice has traditionally been the domain of men, Aisholpan decides that she wants to become an apprentice hunter after spending her childhood helping her father, a renowned eagle hunter, care for his birds. Under the tutelage and support of her father and her grandfather—and very few others—Aisholpan learns all aspects of falconry, from taming her very own eagle to training for an annual competition, where she will compete against 70 eagle hunters on her quest to gain acceptance.
Featuring breathtaking cinematography and intimate footage, this film not only explores the life of a young girl striving to pursue her passion and break down gender barriers in a very traditional culture but also provides an engaging glimpse into the lives of this remote community, as they balance their traditional lifestyle with the modern world.
Learn more about this film and all of the films playing at this year’s Sundance Kids at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival by visiting here!
About Sundance Kids
Utah Film Center has collaborated with Sundance Institute for the third year to program the “Sundance Kids” section of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, being held in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah, from January 21-January 31.
Due to the successes of past Sundance Kids sections and Utah Film Center’s Tumbleweeds Film Festivals, Utah Film Center and Sundance Institute have once again joined forces to curate this category at the Festival that appeals to all generations. The collaboration between the two organizations continues their missions to foster a diverse community, both of filmmakers and audiences. This year’s section is more varied than in the past, including an animated film, a live action Dutch film, and for the first time, a documentary.
Patrick Hubley, artistic director of the Utah Film Center said, “We are delighted with the continuing success of the Sundance Kids program and honored to continue our unique partnership with the Sundance Film Festival to present films for young audiences.”
Trevor Groth, Director of Programming for the Sundance Film Festival, said, “This year’s Sundance Kids lineup presents a range of stories from around the globe that provide a richness and quality of story that will surprise and delight audiences of all ages. We are pleased to offer these independent films in collaboration with Utah Film Center.”
