The 2nd $25,000 IDA/Pare Lorentz Finishing Fund grant was awarded to Summer Pasture, directed by Lynn True and Nelson Walker. An intimate glimpse into the experiences of a young Tibetan family struggling to reconcile their traditional way of life with a rapidly modernizing world, Summer Pasture was selected for the grant out of a total of 141 submissions. The film was one of three finalists chosen by the selection committee. The two other finalists were War Don Don directed by Rebecca Richman Cohen and Journey From Zanskar directed by Frederick Marx.
Upon hearing about the grant, director Nelson Walker commented, "We have been working on Summer Pasture for the past 2 1/2 years, from filming in the mountains of Tibet to editing in a small basement office in Harlem. This project has been a real process of discovery and as we enter this critical final phase, we could not be more thrilled to have the support of the IDA-Pare Lorentz Finishing Fund. It's truly an honor to know that our film will help carry on the tradition of Pare Lorentz -- and thanks to the award we'll be able to meet the challenges of post-production and make our film the best it can be."
Award finalist Journey From Zanskar is the story of two Tibetan Buddhist monks who lead 17 poor children across the Himalayas to provide them with an education, and finalist War Don Don chronicles the story of the trial of Issa Sesay, a rebel commander of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and a key player in the peace process, who now stands accused of crimes against humanity.
The IDA/Pare Lorentz $25,000 Finishing Fund Grant is made possible by a generous grant from The New York Community Trust.