Silhouette of Nafanua: An Evening of Film, Music, and Awareness

Please join the Stein Luminary, in recognition of Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, for an evening of live music, dance, and short films that center around themes of domestic, substance, and sexual abuse.

The program will begin with a screening of The Legend of Nafanua, which is a short documentary narrated by survivor and story teller, Ruby Talataina. The film, directed and produced by faculty member Rulon Wood, was selected for the Kew Gardens International Film Festival (New York City, NY), the Canadian Diversity Film Festival (Toronto, Canada) and the Chandler International Film Festival (Chandler, AZ) where it was named “Best Short Documentary.”

The Luminary is also proud to screen the official Boise State premier of Silhouette, a short dance film, written, performed, and filmed by Boise State faculty. Silhouette aims to draw attention to the ubiquitous theme that members of society have to masquerade in order to blend in, anxiously minimizing aspects of their own identity in order to avoid judgment.

Directed and Produced by: Rulon Wood, Alex Sjobeck, Marla Hansen
Composer: Alex Sjobeck, Performed by David Baker and Alex Sjobeck
Choreographers: Marla Hansen, Yurek Hansen, Libby Schmoeger
Dancers: Yurek Hansen and Libby Schmoeger
Directors of Photography: Asher McMurren and Tanner Blecha
Edited by Paige Harwood

The evening will also incorporate live music performed by Alex Sjobeck on piano and Michael Rinko on bass, which will be accompanied by a dance performance by Yurik Hansen.

There will be a Q&A with the artists and filmmakers at the conclusion of the performances.

Through partnerships with Boise State’s Health and Counseling Services, the Gender Equity Center, Campus Safety, and The Women’s and Children’s Alliance there will be free resources available for those in attendance.

This event is free and open to the public.

Content Warning: Themes of relationship and substance abuse. These films may not be suitable for children.