Seeds

Seeds, an exceptional documentary, introduces us to ten courageous teenagers trying to accomplish what most adults can never bring themselves to do: sit down in peace to face their enemy. Every summer, kids from war-torn countries gather together for three life-changing weeks at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine. Back home, it’s impossible to believe that a Palestinian can share a bunk, let alone a laugh or a hug, with an Israeli; unimaginable for an Indian to speak freely with a Pakistani; inconceivable for an American to gain insight into an Afghan. But in the woods of Maine, they share their dreams and fears and try to see beyond the prejudices that divide them. Like a grown-up, harder-edged heir to the documentary Promises (SFJFF 2001), Seeds shows that coexistence, even temporary, is tough work, and often elusive: in the words of one of the kids, "in order to make peace with your enemy, you have to go to war with yourself." Seeds intimately documents this difficult journey, where there are no superficial resolutions. At times, the teenagers seem more enlightened than their leaders, but after a year back at home—where the word peace has very little meaning—can they hold onto what they have learned? Seeds sends a strong message of hope in a media landscape that is bursting with images of violence and intolerance.

JOSEPH BOYLE (Director/Producer) spent seven years working in Hollywood and honing his craft before beginning to direct and produce his own projects. Starting out as a UPM on music videos, Mr. Boyle has since gone on to work on over 100 music videos, commercials, promos, and feature films, including Bon Jovi, Metallica, Jewel, Proctor and Gamble and features such as The Invisible Circus, A Knight’s Tale, and Ravenous. Now concentrating on directing and producing, he has gone on to shoot Hector On Stilts "Getting Farther," Zweben "Seems Live," Sara Mann "Live" and promos for Country Music Television, SONY Music Nashville, Mercury Records and the 10 minute teaser for Bums in the Mist. In 2002, Mr. Boyle was selected as Filmmaker in Residence for the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival Film Program. Mr. Boyle is currently finishing post on Grey Delisle --Homewrecker Live, a four-camera live concert to be released by Collective Films / Hummin’bird Records., MARJAN SAFINIA (Director/Producer) finished her studies at the USC School of Cinema and Television and worked for five years in the London Property market before actively pursuing her film career. She began with a modest fundraiser film for the revolutionary British charity, Kids Company, a group that has transformed the state of child mental health care in Great Britain. Ms. Safinia then went on to produce and direct her first full documentary, But You Speak Such Good English, a witty and poignant half hour film exploring different aspects of the first generation Iranian immigrant experience from the insider’s perspective. The film has received a tremendous response, playing at over 20 venues on the international festival circuit, including the prestigious Sheffield International Documentary Festival, the Margaret Mead Documentary Festival in New York and the highly acclaimed "Women in Iranian Film" festival at the Barbican Centre in London and the Asia Society in New York. Ms. Safinia now resides in Los Angeles.