Genre
Synopsis
NASIMA is a completed feature documentary now entering its impact campaign phase, with immediate next steps include organizing free and low-cost community screenings, facilitating pre- and post-screening dialogues with Nasima and the filmmakers, and launching fundraising efforts that will both support the first girls surf club in Coxs Bar and provide proceeds to a local non-profit partner in each screening community over the next 12-18 months. The most immediate opportunity is a screening at the Bayview/Hunters Point Opera house, a historic cultural hub serving one of San Francisco's most vibrant Balck communities. The local non-profit partner, MeWater, is a youth-focused organization that mentors children from underserved backgrounds through surf and nature-based programs to build confidence, resilience, and community.
Bio
Heather's latest project is the feature documentary NASIMA. Post production was completed during the covid lockdown and the film had it’s world premiere in September 2021 at the Prague International Film Festival/Febiofest.
Prior her first documentary 'In the Shadow of Buddha' takes us beyond the idealized world of Tibetan Buddhism and into the unexpectedly controversial lives of Tibetan nuns. In the Shadow of Buddha won numerous film festival awards, including a 2011 Golden Palm Award for Documentary Film and the 2011 International Religion Today “Best Documentary” and “Women’s Issues” awards. Before “Shadow,” Kessinger’s first short documentary, Spoken, was awarded Best Short Student Documentary at the San Jose Film Festival and is frequently screened by the San Francisco Art Institute and the Bay Area Video Coalition.
Screening History
World premiere - Prague 2021
US Premiere - Santa Barbara 2022
Credits
Directo - Heather Kessinger
Producer - Chevy Chen and Christine Guenther
Editor - Kristina Motwani
Writers - Jaimal Yogis and Kevin Klauber
Original Score - Adam Peters
