Documentaries

SEASONS OF CHANGE ON HENRY'S FARM
For a quarter-century, Henry Brockman has worked alongside nature to grow delicious organic vegetables on his idyllic Midwestern farm. But farming takes a toll on his aging body and Henry dreams of scaling back. While his former apprentices run the farm, Henry spends a “fallow year” with his wife Hiroko in Japan. But things don’t turn out as planned, and Henry must grapple with the future of farming in a changing climate on personal, generational, and global levels. This feature-length documentary is currently making the festival rounds and can be booked for screenings via the website: www.seasonsofchangeonhenrysfarm.com/
Director, producer, cinematographer: Ines Sommer
Co-producer: Terra Brockman  
Editors: Liz Kaar, Melissa Sterne

COUNT ME IN
An innovative experiment in direct democracy – called participatory budgeting – empowers ordinary people to propose and vote directly for publicly funded projects in their neighborhoods. COUNT ME IN was supported by the MacArthur Foundation and presented by Chicago's WTTW-11. The documentary aired on PBS stations across the nation, as well as the PBS WORLD channel in late 2016. COUNT ME IN offers an engaging way to start a dialogue about democracy, community development and direct citizen participation and is available for screenings via the website: www.countmeinmovie.com
Director, producer, cinematographer: Ines Sommer
Editor: Susanne Suffredin

WINDOW DRESSING
Chicago-based artist Diane Simpson shares the artistic process behind her installation Window Dressing at the Racine Art Museum, Wisconsin. This short documentary was featured in Simpson's retrospective at the Chicago Cultural Center, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Boston, and other venues.  More info about the artist at: dianesimpson.net/
Director/editor: David E. Simpson
Producer/camera: Ines Sommer