Details
“Keepers of the Way” is a 21-minute short documentary about Pennsylvania’s Lenape Nation, directed and edited by Evan Cohen. The production team coordinated a successful crowdfunding campaign and worked closely with the Lenape tribe's members on the film from concept through post-production. The TOPAZ team is thrilled to share the Pennsylvania Lenape Nation’s vision with the world in the hopes of spreading their message and helping restore harmony to our Earth.
Synopsis
In this intimate portrait told through the eyes of Lenape tribal leaders in Pennsylvania, a challenging spiritual journey unfolds to heal past wounds and keep a culture alive. Over the course of a weekend, members of the Pennsylvania Lenape Nation perform healing ceremonies for the land affected by the Walking Purchase—a notorious event that changed the course of the tribe's future—and reveal the dark underbelly left out of history books. The struggles, joy, pain, and resilient spirit of the Lenape all bubble to the surface as the tribe members share stories passed down through the generations and reveal their visions for the future of life on Earth. The Lenape are here to tell the world that not only are they still here—they never left.
Screenings
April 8, 2022: World Premiere at American Documentary and Animation Festival, Palm Springs, CA. Oscar Qualifying Festival.
November 7th, 2022: Mid-West Premiere at St. Louis International Film Festival, St. Louis, MO. Oscar Qualifying Festival.
November 11th, 2022: Georgia Premiere at Rome International Film Festival, Rome, GA
March 25th, 2023: Maryland Premiere at Maryland International Film Festival, Hagerstown, MD
April 2nd - April 9th 2023: Ohio Premiere at Cleveland International Film Festival, Cleveland, OH. Virtual Program. Oscar Qualifying Festival.
April 17th-23rd: Rhode Island Premiere at Rhode Island International Roving Eye Film Festival, Bristol, RI.
April 23rd 2023: Pennsylvania Premiere at Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival, Jim Thorpe, PA.
April 29rd 2023: Texas Premiere at Thin Line Fest, Denton, TX.
May 4th 2023: Canadian Premiere at NorthwestFest International Documentary Festival, Edmonton, CA.
May 17th 2023: Philadelphia Premiere at Philadelphia Independent Film Festival, Philadelphia, PA.
June 24th 2023: New Jersey Premiere at Golden Door International Film Festival, Jersey City, NJ.
September 16th 2023: Massachusetts Premiere at Newburyport Documentary Film Festival, Newburyport, MA
October 7th 2023: Northwest Premiere at Tacoma Film Festival, Tacoma, WA
Awards
Documentary Shorts - Jury Award For Best Storytelling. Rome International Film Festival
Spirit of Jim Thorpe Film Festival Award. Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival.
Press
March 31, 2022, Native News Online: "Documentary World Premiere: Keepers of the Way”
“The subtle, moving, and beautifully photographed film by upstate New York-based Topaz Creative, captures the tribe’s unbreakable bonds and dedication to cultural preservation through interviews with tribal leaders…”