Watch Chinonye Chukwu’s Short Film And Help Make “alaskaLand”
Filmmaker Chinonye Chukwu describes herself as “anomaly” of sorts, since she was born in Nigeria and raised in Alaska, and with your help she hopes to document some of those cultural differences in her first feature film alaskaLand.
“I grew up eating my mother’s jaloff rice for dinner and wanting to go dogmushing with my friends on weekends; avoiding cousins that make fun of me for not knowing my native language, and moose that plant themselves on my front yard,” she said.
“When I started pursuing my passion for filmmaking, I realized I had an experience that is worthy of sharing with the world and will give me an opportunity to pay homage to a place and a culture that has helped shape my sense of self and the world around me.”
The IndieGoGo description of the film states…”The story is an action-packed drama about a young, Nigerian-American man, Chukwuma, that is battling between both worlds while in his hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska: After separating for several years upon their parents’ death, Chukwuma is forced to reconnect with his younger sister, who has been living in Nigeria. But their reunion is far from welcoming, and the cultural friction within Chukwuma erupts in ways that bring him closer to understanding his roots and defining for himself just what they can be.”
The film is being sponsored by Fractured Atlas and is in need of tax-deductible contributions to cover travel, equipment rental and crew compensation.Chukwu, who was awarded the prestigious Princess Grace Award (no small feat), has written and directed two award-winning shorts, Igbo Kwenu! and The Dance Lesson.
You can check out her campaign below as well as her short film The Dance Lesson. To make a contribution, click here. You can stay updated on her progress by visiting her blog here.
Meet the Filmmaker — Indiegogo.com/alaskaland from chinonye chukwu on Vimeo