Director: Mary Katzke Producer: Mary Katzke
Country: USA
Runtime: 1 hr : 20 min
World Premiere
Synopsis
On a chilly Alaskan summer night in 1980, 10 month old Gwendellin Bradshaw was placed on top of a campfire by her mentally distraught mother. Given a 50-50 chance of surviving, she barely made it. Now 24 years later, Gwen is left with figuring out how to live with her physical and emotional scars and believes that finding mom is central to her healing. Her journey is an emotional path which leads her to find her own beauty and purpose in life.
Gwen's valiant, tireless efforts enable her to separate herself from her mother's psychotic behavior and create relationships, love and direction in her life. This wonderful mystery also creates compassion and a greater understanding for those struggling with mental illness in our society.
Director
Mary Katzke
Mary Rosanne Katzke was born in Minnesota and educated at the University of Texas and New York University where she obtained her Masters in Writing and Directing Film. She has run a nonprofit media production company, Affinityfilms, based in Alaska, since 1982. After graduating from college she moved to Alaska and began chronicling social issues of importance to Alaska including sexual assault (No Word For Rape), domestic violence (Crescendo), the oil spill (Sea of Oil), literacy in rural communities, and women's health. Rasmuson Film Fellow, and has been the recipient of numerous awards including grants from the American Film Institute, the A & E IndieFilms/International Documentary Association, and Chicken and Egg Pictures and The Fledgling Fund. Mary believes the way you tell the story is as important as the story and is committed to using art while working for social change. She is currently writing screenplays set in Alaska.
