Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North

Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North.  [DVD-1701].  86 min.

Filmmaker Katrina Browne discovers that her New England ancestors were the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. She and nine cousins retrace the Triangle Trade and gain a powerful new perspective on the black/white divide.

Afghan Star: In Afghanistan you risk your life to sing

Afghan Star.  [DVD-1703].  88 min. 2009.

In Afghanistan you risk your life to sing. After thirty years of war and five devastating years of Taliban rule, pop culture is beginning to return to the country. Since 2005, millions have been tuning in to Tolo TV's wildly popular American idol-style series, Afghan star. Like its Western predecessors, people compete for a cash prize and record deal. More surprisingly, the contest is open to everyone across the country despite gender, ethnicity, or age.

Awards:  Sundance 2009, Human Rights Watch Film Festival