Engaged Graduate Student Grants
Above and Below the Ground
Creating a documentary film that highlights an ongoing political and environmental crisis through the stories of native activists in Myanmar
The collaborative documentary Above and Below the Ground tells the story of brave indigenous women activists and punk rock pastors who come together in the struggle for environmental self-determination in Myanmar’s war-torn North. Created in partnership with the Kachin Development Networking Group, the film focuses on a core finding of Emily Hong’s dissertation research with activists, revealing land rights and self-determination as the only path toward sustainable development and peace. The documentary achieves this through stories of frontline environmental defenders affected by the Myitsone Dam. This grant funds a production and story summit, a workshop for partners to reflect on the collaborative process and production shoots to complete the film.
Topics: Access, Equity and Justice; Arts, Communication, Design and Media; Energy, Environment and Sustainability
The Team
- Graduate student: Emily Hong, anthropology
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Special committee chair:
Annelise Riles, Department of Anthropology
College of Arts and Sciences
- Community partner: Kachin Development Networking Group