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IT'S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL

Synopsis

Blending 40 years of home movies, raw film archive, and intimate present-day veritĂ©, a poignant reflection from Amy Ray & Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls – the iconic folk rock duo. A timely look into the obstacles, activism, and life lessons of two queer friends who never expected to make it big.

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The Filmmakers

Alexandria Bombach Director/Cinematographer/Editor

Alexandria Bombach is an award-winning documentary director from Santa Fe, New Mexico. As the cinematographer and editor of her films, she is known for a distinct intimacy with her subjects. Her recent work has focused on exploring ethics in journalism and advocacy, and challenging misperceptions of the refugee crisis. Her feature-length documentary, ON HER SHOULDERS (2018), won Best Directing in the US Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, was nominated for two Film Independent Spirit Awards, and was shortlisted for the Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature. Her first feature-length documentary, FRAME BY FRAME (2015) premiered at SXSW and went on to win over 25 film festival awards. Alexandria is the founder of the Santa Fe Editing & Writing Residency, a 2019 Sundance Institute Momentum Fellow, and a 2019 Chicken & Egg Award Fellow.

Jess Devaney Producer

Jess Devaney (they/she) is a Brooklyn-based producer and Founder & President of Multitude Films. Her latest films include LOWNDES COUNTY AND THE ROAD TO BLACK POWER, presented by Participant (Peacock); Emmy-nominated PRAY AWAY, executive produced by Ryan Murphy and Blumhouse (Netflix); Oscar-shortlisted CALL CENTER BLUES (Topic Studios); and APART, the Emmy-winning episode of the series THROUGH OUR EYES (HBO Max). She also produced Sundance Award-winning and IDA-nominated ALWAYS IN SEASON (Independent Lens) and THE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED (POV), dubbed “a real-world conspiracy thriller” by Variety. Additional credits include Critics' Choice Documentary Award-nominated SPEED SISTERS (Netflix) and Peabody-nominated ROLL RED ROLL (POV, Netflix), among others. Her films have been programmed at top festivals including Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, BlackStar, and Telluride. Jess founded QueerDoc and was a Sundance Institute Documentary Edit and Story Lab fellow, Women at Sundance fellow, and Sundance Institute Creative Producing Lab advisor. She received DOC NYC and Topic Studios' inaugural 40 Under 40 Award, Cinereach Producers Award, and Doc10’s inaugural Vanguard Award.

Kathlyn Horan Producer

Kathlyn Horan is an award-winning independent producer whose latest documentary project, BREAKING 2, won the 2018 Cannes Lion Gold & Silver, Gold and Silver Clios, and Ad Age’s Creativity Award. The project brought together two iconic brands, National Geographic and Nike in a feature documentary following the journey to break the 2-hour marathon barrier. The project spanned six countries on three continents, was globally released and has 6 million views on YouTube. Her recent documentary, THE IF PROJECT, had its World Premiere at Seattle International Film Festival, won the Lena Sharp Award for Persistence of Vision and a Special Jury Prize. She has produced commercials for major brands, music videos for Grammy winning artists, and award winning scripted films from the prestigious AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women and Toronto Film Festival Lab. Her projects have screened around the globe and are always geared toward building a greater connection among communities.

Anya Rous Producer

Anya Rous (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based Producer and Vice President of Multitude Films. Anya advises on impact strategy for films produced by Multitude and leads a movement orientation within the company’s producing model where films are drivers of culture change. Her latest films include Netflix Original PRAY AWAY (Telluride, Tribeca 2020) in partnership with Ryan Murphy and Blumhouse; as well as APART, the Emmy-winning episode of the HBO Max series THROUGH OUR EYES, in partnership with Sesame Workshop. She co-executive produced the Oscar-shortlisted CALL CENTER BLUES (SXSW 2020, TOPIC) and CALL HER GANDA (Tribeca 2018, POV) and co-produced Sundance Award-winning and IDA-nominated ALWAYS IN SEASON (Independent Lens 2020) and Livingston Award-winning THE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED (Tribeca 2018, POV), which was dubbed “a real-world conspiracy thriller” by Variety.

Anya brings a combined 10 years of experience in funding strategy and impact campaigns for stories that further movements for racial, economic, and gender justice. She formerly served as the Director of Strategic Relationships at Just Vision and as a grantmaker at The Nathan Cummings Foundation. Anya was a 2019–2020 Sundance Creative Producing Fellow, a 2019 Impact Partners Documentary Producing Fellow, a 2020–2021 DOC NYC 40 Under 40 filmmaker, and a 2021 Gotham/Cannes Producers Network Fellow.

Festivals & Awards

Sundance Film Festival

2023

Official Selection

SXSW TV & Film Festival

2023

Official Selection

Hot Docs

2023

Official Selection

Tribeca Film Festival

2023

Official Selection

Seattle International Film Festival

2023

Nominee - Best Documentary

Cleveland International Film Festival

2023

Nominee - Best Documentary

Atlanta Film Festival

2023

Nominee - Best Documentary

Reviews

Beyond the music, Ray’s and Saliers’ constant openness to personal self-assessment, including where they each fit on the queer spectrum, is fascinating and remarkable.”

-Variety

The rare confessional rockumentary that envelops you like a soft blanket.”

-The Hollywood Reporter

...An adoring opus befitting two long overlooked musicians and activists.”

-IndieWire