My SDI

We are delighted to invite you to the last In Conversation event of the year, between SDI Founder Noe Mendelle and acclaimed documentary filmmaker Madeleine Gavin, the director of the award winning film Beyond Utopia. 

By RSVPing to this event, you will receive the Zoom details to join us on the day.

Attendees will receive a private link to watch the film after the In Conversation event. 

Madeleine Gavin has edited award-winning narrative and documentary films that have premiered at Sundance, Toronto, Berlinale, and Cannes, among others. Madeleine directed and edited the Netflix Original Documentary, City of Joy, centered around a revolutionary center in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. She is in production on a film that follows an indomitable group of octogenarians in New York City who, while facing debilitating illnesses, are finding transcendence through their relationship with an irascible, larger-than-life music coach. Madeleine is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Beyond Utopia | 115 min | USA

A suspenseful, riveting portrait of the lengths people will go to gain freedom, BEYOND UTOPIA follows various individuals as they attempt to flee North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on Earth, a land they grew up believing was a paradise.

At the film’s core is a courageous pastor, a man of God on a mission to help a mother reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind, and a family of five — including small children and an elderly grandmother — embarking on a treacherous journey into the hostile mountains of China and through southeast Asia. Leaving their homeland is fraught with unimaginable danger — yet these individuals are driven to take the risk.

Gripping, thrilling, and never more timely, Madeleine Gavin’s award-winning film embeds the viewer with the subjects as they attempt their perilous escape, palpably conveying life-or-death stakes. The result is a singular, heart-pounding, and unforgettable experience.

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Our In Conversation series hosted by Noe Mendelle feature inspiring filmmakers delving into the journey of their career and the process of crafting a film - from developing an idea, working with participants, funding, editing and distribution. These free, interactive virtual events are an incredible opportunity to speak to acclaimed filmmakers and learn key tools and insights for working in the industry. 

Stay tuned for more In Conversation events coming up in 2024!