| Karen Zider, SOC ’04 In Hollywood, they focus on the bad things because they’re bigger sells,” says Karen Zider of films that depict her Latin American homeland as a nation ravaged by violence, drugs, and corruption. “But when I think of Colombia, I think of beautiful, green landscapes and many hard-working, positive people. “I’ve always liked how film can be a social and educational tool,” continues Zider. “And I wanted to educate people about my home.” In her thesis film, Moving Forward, Zider, who holds a master’s in film and video, reveals how small seeds can bring fruitful results when people are given a chance to fulfill their potential. The 27-minute film—shot over one month in May 2004 in Cali, Colombia—chronicles the successes and challenges faced by three poor women, Luz Marina, Nancy, and Consuelo, after receiving microcredit loans to boost their businesses, which include a fruit stand and a convenience store. It’s a topic that’s close to the 31-year-old filmmaker’s heart. Zider’s mother founded Women’s World Banking in Cali in 1982. The group, one of about two dozen affiliates in Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, offers loans to local women to help them build their businesses and climb out of poverty. “I grew up hearing stories about women who got microloans, and how they were able to make a better future for their families,” says Zider. “I thought that by showing how hard working these women are, it would shed positive light on Colombia. “Meeting the women was one of the nicest things about the whole experience,” she continues. “They are an inspiration.” Moving Forward garnered national attention in February when it was screened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The film was also screened at the D.C. Independent Film Festival in March, and the Colombian Documentary and Short Film Festival at Cornell University in February. All the positive feedback has inspired Zider, who works as a video editor at Tiger Tigress Productions, an independent production company in Bethesda, Maryland. This summer, she plans to return to Colombia to research her next documentary. And while she’s home, she has one more thing to do. “I’m looking forward to watching the film with the women for the first time. I know it will be very special.” —ADRIENNE FRANK top << BACK |
