Melissa Fajardo

Haulout

On a remote coast of the Russian Arctic in a wind-battered hut, a lonely man waits to witness an ancient gathering. But warming seas and rising temperatures bring an unexpected change, and he soon finds himself overwhelmed.

Love to the Max

A family fights to stay together in the face of persecution by the Texas government for loving their transgender kid.

Swift Justice

In August, 2021, the Taliban swept back into power after 20 years of war with the US. Their return has had profound consequences for Afghanistan, and their implementation of harsh Islamist rule has upended life for many Afghans. A key aspect of Taliban governance is the implementation of Sharia Law, fulfilling one of the key promises of Taliban rule- the promise of equal justice under Quranic principle. 'Swift Justice' is an observational look at one such court room in Musa Qala, Helmand province, a heartland of Taliban resistance. Here we see rural Afghans play out their roles as plaintiffs and defendants, searching for justice in this complicated and delicate time of peace and increasing authoritarian rule.

The Barber of Little Rock

Explores the racial wealth gap in America through the story of People Trust, a homegrown community bank in Little Rock, Arkansas, working to uplift a community that has been largely excluded from the financial engines that create wealth.

The Fire Brigade

A group of Malian refugees trained themselves to battle relentless bushfires, protecting their camp, their livelihood, and Mauritanian locals in a short documentary by David Alexander.

Groundhog Town

In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Groundhog Day reigns supreme. 134 years strong, for a single morning in the dead of winter, visitors gather to witness Punxsutawney Phil’s vision for the future. But when a global pandemic forces the ceremony to go virtual, the town’s residents must confront a moment of collective uncertainty.

FLOAT!

With depth, intimacy, and humor, FLOAT! captures filmmaker Azza Cohen's magnetic grandma’s life-affirming journey learning to swim at 82, inspiring audiences to defy societal expectations of aging and to boldly look forward at every stage.

Keys to the City

A documentary short follows Matthew Ballard, an aging Brooklyn locksmith struggling to unlock a higher acceptance to the changes in his life and city.

American Scar

Dynamite blasts echo through canyons as construction for the southern border threatens flora and fauna for centuries to come.