“Troll Storm” to Premier at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Next week, I’ll be spending a few days in Missoula during the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival for the debut of Troll Storm. Even after years of being in production, it feels unreal that this film has truly come into being. Not only that, but to be among the nominees for Best Feature Documentary during our debut film festival is beyond humbling. There are a range of emotions I feel in regard to this project – pride at what we’ve created and the impact it could have; fear and uncertainty about opening up this harrowing personal experience to the world; hope through creating a film that is a beacon of justice, community, and determination at a time when our world is so engulfed with hatred and division. It is an honor to partake in this festival, those that are to come, and to eventually share this film wherever it may end up for streaming and viewership.
A collection of stills from the film
The team that brought this film to life is comprised of some of the best humans I know, and I am deeply grateful to them for caring for me and our shared creation so well. Eunice Lau is the brilliant filmmaker behind Troll Storm, and I am so glad to now call her a dear friend. When Eunice pitched me the film, I knew that she was the person who would do this story justice. Her body of work includes other profound explorations of injustice faced by people of minority identities in America, and she has a true talent for creating moving visual journeys through personal stories which so urgently deserve to be told. She is a brilliant and passionate creator and activist, and her dedication to her craft and those whose stories she shares is evident in every decision she made during the filming process, and still. Here is part of her Director’s Statement on Troll Storm:
“This story came to me, after my documentary “Accept the Call” premiered on PBS Independent Lens and soon after, a viewer emailed me that I “should do a documentary about Tanya Gersh”. It was not initially clear to me why he believed that my film, centered on a Muslim family impacted by Islamophobia in Minnesota, is connected to a Jewish family impacted by antisemitism in Montana. As I dug into the research, a glaring truth came to light: antisemitism and Islamophobia are not only entangled, but deeply rooted in the same systems of white supremacy and Christian hegemony.”
Eunice prioritized my comfort through every step of the journey, creating an atmosphere that was truly supportive of the raw experiences we engaged with over and over in the film’s creation. It was nothing short of a blessing to have a filmmaking team who valued every detail of my experience, from holding onto my favorite chapstick during each scene to ensuring adequate safety and security measures during our many trips and interviews. Eunice and her team seemed to innately understand how to create the best documentary possible while respecting my personal needs and desires for the process and the outcome. Filming was actually great fun, even when it was intense, and I thank the team for this. I can’t wait to see those who will be attending in Missoula, and to celebrate the premier of what we created.
Marching against extremism and hate in New York City, 2022.
Last week, I received physical copies of the movie poster and it was a surreal moment, seeing myself on a real life movie poster, and a powerful one at that! I called Eunice, and during our conversation about how real it is all becoming, she told me that while in Missoula, we will be visiting speakers at two high schools. I immediately burst into tears. When Eunice first approached me about creating Troll Storm, I told her that I wanted to create a film that could be shown in schools. No award would mean as much to me as having a tangible impact on kids and teens who, now more than ever, desperately need to understand the impacts of prejudice, hatred, and antisemitism, and how those beliefs crumble in the face of justice and conviction in who you are. I am so eager to speak to these students, to take part in telling a powerful story which may play a role in dismantling the systems of oppression rampant in our current world.
As the festival approaches, I can hardly focus on anything but sharing this experience. I know no better way to respond to hatred than this- turning violence into art, ostracization into community, and a ‘troll storm’ into a groundbreaking federal case AND an award nominated film. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my family through this journey. We created this film for you, for our children, for our world. I can’t wait for you to see it.
