2020 Filmmaker In Residence
REPAIRING THE WORLD: STORIES FROM THE TREE OF LIFE, chronicles the tumultuous three years following the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue which took the lives of 11 Jewish congregants in the fall of 2018. Working tirelessly to unpack the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, the documentary features candid and emotional stories from survivors, community members in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood and leaders in the city of Pittsburgh. The film focuses not only on the events of the attack but on the powerful ways people of all walks of life can unite to help one another heal and reject the insidious spread of hate. Embodying the spirit of tikkun olam, Repairing the World offers a beautiful redefinition of what it means to be a good neighbor and community member, calling upon all of us to join in this urgent and crucial mission. Grounded in director Patrice O’Neill’s journalistic roots and the excellent work of reporter and field producer, Charene Zalis, a former JFI Filmmaker Resident, REPAIRING THE WORLD: STORIES FROM THE TREE OF LIFE, tackles the challenging topics of hate, trauma and the long path toward healing with inspiring determination.
Charene Zalis is a documentary filmmaker and journalist who has spent the last decade making films about human rights issues and people who are standing up to hate. She has covered the traumatic consequences of bigotry, engaging with survivors and community members who have emerged from violence with remarkable stories of resilience and action. Charene’s PBS/Not In Our Town films, including Light in the Darkness and Waking in Oak Creek, continue to spark dialogue in town halls and schools across the country. She began her career at NBC News and Sports, where she won an Emmy Award for a documentary about Muhammad Ali, produced for the Olympic Games and NBC News programs and specials. For public television, Zalis produced for the Frontline documentary The Arming of Saudi Arabia, and reported stories from the U.S., the Middle East and Asia for the global human rights series Rights and Wrongs.
Project description and bios courtesy of the Resident