“Angelus Festival jurors loved this poignant portrait of a community that created “homes” from trailers. “Unhitched” directors Hudson and Wu have a passion for character-driven stories that offer a window into unexamined or marginalized parts of our communities.” – Monika Moreno-Director Angelus Student Film Festival

We are proud to present the third film of the Windrider Summer Series – “Unhitched” by Erin Hudson and Ben Wu. This compelling 12-minute story about “home” and “community” has captured the attention of film critics worldwide. Among the honors garnered at 14 festivals*:

· Silver Medal: Student Academy Awards 2005

· Best Documentary: Angelus Awards Student Film Festival 2005

· Second Place Best Student Documentary Short: Palm Springs International Festival for Short Films 2005

· Best Short Documentary: Silver City Film Festival 2008

*Scroll down to see a full list of the festivals.

I remember being on the “Best Documentary” jury at the 2005 Angelus Film Festival, where this project touched all of us and was chosen as the winner despite the fact that no documentary in such a short format had ever before won at Angelus. I love the way this film takes the complex social issues of “community” and “home” and weaves a sweet, simple and yet powerful story that is more relevant today than ever. I know you will enjoy “Unhitched”!

A quick summary:

“Unhitched” is set in a community tucked away in a cool redwood grove in Northern California, where Faerie Ring Campground & RV Park (one of the area’s only options for low-income housing) is the last stop before homelessness for many of its residents. Living in travel trailers that now serve as permanent homes, the people of Faerie Ring are grateful for its refuge and community, but still they struggle to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. This touching 12-minute film offers a glimpse into economic edge-zones, and gently expands our understanding of what it means to be in community.

Filmmaker biographies:

Director Erin Hudson recently spent several years managing a Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver teen center where she enjoyed working collaboratively with young girls to investigate identity and creative forms of self expression through media literacy and video production. Earlier, Hudson focused on women’s and urban studies at Colorado College (Colorado Springs), and received her graduate degree in documentary film and video from Stanford University (Palo Alto, Calif.). She’s based in Albuquerque, in her home state of New Mexico, and is the founder of Rotation Films, a production organization. Hudson loves to collaborate with communities and individuals, and to share stories with depth, dignity and respect. Concerned, committed and passionate about storytelling, she is a producer, director, cinematographer, editor and educator — all rolled into one! She also enjoys teaching documentary filmmaking and digital storytelling.

Documentary filmmaker Ben Wu is also a cinematographer and editor, and is constantly in search of the quirky, fascinating, inspiring stories that unfold beneath our very noses. Always interested in finding new ways to engage, educate and entertain his audiences, Wu holds a masters degree in filmmaking from Stanford University, and recently founded Lost & Found Films — a small production unit producing non-fiction film and video projects. A San Franciscan by birth, Wu currently lives in Brooklyn, where he rides his bike and works on his jump shot. Visit lostfoundfilms.com and benwufilms.com to learn more.

Festivals where “Unhitched” has screened:

Telluride Film Festival 2005
Mill Valley Film Festival 2005
Next Reel Film Festival 2005
Real to Reel Film Festival 2005
Bumbershoot The Seattle Arts Festival 2005
Oakland International Film Festival 2005
Ojai Film Festival 2005
Hearts and Minds Film Festival 2006
Salem Film Festival 2005
Backalley Film Festival 2006
Rural Route Film Festival 2006
Waterfront Film Festival 2006
Fargo Film Festival 2008
Cleveland International Film Festival 2008.