Moondance Film Festival: The Boy from Geita

The Moondance International Film Festival is happening in Boulder, Sunday and Monday, September 4th and 5th, and it features feature films, short films and documentaries from film makers around the world. KGNU’s Maeve Conran caught up with film maker Vic Sarin whose documentary the Boy from Geita  will have its US premier at Moondance. The documentary looks at the plight of albinos in Tanzania who are targeted subject to horrific violence.

“It’s horrible what they’re doing. Witch doctors have come up with this notion that if you have the body parts of an albino it will bring good luck to you and prosperity. Well some of those people have bought into that and that’s exactly what they’re doing, they’re trying to collect body parts of these people with albinism.”

The documentary features the work of a Canadian man,  Peter Ash, Founder/CEO of Under the Same Sun who himself suffers from albinism.  “When he came across this story he realized that they are like his brothers and sisters…so he took on this cause.”

Vic Sarin will be presenting a master class at the festival on making films you believe in. He says he has been in the industry since he was 16 years of age and that he has been fortunate to be able to work in areas where he feels passion.

“I think in my case, right from the very beginning, I’ve been very conscious of what really matters in life. You know we all have a very short journey in this life – we all come and then we all go – and so this little time we all have, it’s important what we do with this whole time….so my films seem to reflect that.”

Film maker Vic Sarin will present a master class on making films you believe in at the Moondance International Film Festival happening in Boulder this Sunday and Monday. His documentary the Boy from Geita  will have its US premier at the festival. You can find out more and get tickets at moondancefilmfestival.com

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