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The Eagle Huntress

Synopsis

THE EAGLE HUNTRESS follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old girl, as she trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her Kazakh family to become an eagle hunter, and rises to the pinnacle of a tradition that has been typically been handed down from father to son for centuries.

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The Filmmakers

Otto Bell Director

Otto Bell is a British creative director based in New York. He has directed over 15 short documentary films as far afield as Egypt, Japan, Uganda, and Vietnam. Bell fell in love with Aisholpan's story after seeing a photo essay online in April 2014. He and his crew have been following her remarkable coming-of-age ever since.

Stacey Reiss Producer

Stacey Reiss is an Emmy award-winning producer whose experience includes more than ten years with "Dateline NBC." Stacey has written, directed, and produced documentaries and long form programs for HBO, WNET, NBC, CNBC and National Geographic.

Stacey produced the Emmy-nominated documentary, I KNEW IT WAS YOU, about the late actor John Cazale, best known as "Fredo" in the "Godfather" movies. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival and aired on HBO in 2010.

Current projects include THE DIPLOMAT, a feature length documentary about the late Ambassador Richard Holbrooke; and IT'S ME, HILARY: THE MAN WHO DREW ELOISE, a portrait of the artist behind the iconic "Eloise" books.  The film will premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and will air on HBO in March 2015.

Other programs include JOACHIM PRINZ: I SHALL NOT BE SILENT, a one hour documentary about the Jewish representative at the March on Washington; VISION QUEST, the documentary about an experimental treatment for blindness for which she won the prestigious Front Page Award for Best Documentary; and multiple episodes of TREASURES OF NEW YORK a documentary series for WNET/PBS.

She's a veteran television news producer covering major events such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina (Emmy nom), the NY Blackout (Emmy nom) and the Elizabeth Smart case (Emmy.)  Stacey has produced countless hours of long form programming and network specials.

Stacey also produces documentary style campaigns for a number of corporate clients including Comcast, the Reebok Foundation and Diageo.

Stacey holds a journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and was a Harvard Medical School Journalism Fellow.

Morgan Spurlock Executive Producer

Morgan Spurlock is a New York based writer, director and producer. His first film, SUPERSIZE ME, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004, winning Best Directing honors. The film went on to win the inaugural Writers Guild of America Best Documentary Screenplay award as well as garner an Academy Award nomination for Best Feature Documentary.

Since then he has directed, produced and distributed multiple film, TV and digital projects, including the critically acclaimed CNN television series MORGAN SPURLOCK INSIDE MAN, the FX series 30 DAYS and the films WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?, CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERHERO, CZECH DREAM, CHALK, THE FUTURE OF FOOD, WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY?, the WGA Award-winning and Emmy nominated THE SIMPSONS 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: IN 3-D! ON ICE!, FREAKONOMICS, POM WONDERFUL PRESENTS: THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD, COMIC-CON: EPISODE IV – A FAN’S HOPE, MANSOME, and ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US.

Morgan is currently working on season three of MORGAN SPURLOCK INSIDE MAN FOR CNN and 7 DEADLY SINS FOR SHOWTIME. His upcoming digital projects include “CONNECTED,” the first long-form series for AOL and “SMARTISH,” a new premium branded content channel for Maker Studios.

 

Festivals & Awards

Sundance Film Festival

2016

Official Selection

Telluride Film Festival

2016

Official Selection

Toronto International Film Festival

2016

Official Selection

Cinema Eye Honors

2016

Nominee - Outstanding Achievement in Production - Stacey Reiss, Sharon Chang and Otto Bell

Nominee - Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - Simon Niblett

Nominee - Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film - Otto Bell

Nominee - The Unforgettables - Aisholpan Nurgaiv

Producers Guild Award

Nominatee - Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures 

DGA Awards

2017

Nominee - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

Academy Awards

2016

Shortlist - Best Documentary

BAFTA Awards

2017

Nominee - Best Documentary

Producers Guild Awards

2017

Nominee - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

Critics' Choice Documentary Awards

2016

Nominee - Best First Documentary (Theatrical Feature)

Reviews

A documentary that’s as unlikely as it is enchanting…falling under its sway is inevitable.”

-Kenneth Turan, LA Times

Real-life inspirational adventure.”

-Variety

Thrilling...this is a movie that expands your sense of what is possible.”

-A.O. Scott, The New York Times

THE EAGLE HUNTRESS will have audiences soaring...an inspiring story for children of all ages.”

-New York Daily News

It's the face and skill of of Aisholpan you'll remember. Over the end credits, Sia sings a song with the lyrics, "You can do anything." No need for the reminder. We've just seen it with our own astonished eyes.”

-Rolling Stone

A breathtaking documentary that shows when we encourage our daughters, amazing things happen. ”

-Vice