Documentary Gives Hope for Dementia Struggle

Day 3 Schedule: American Documentary Film Festival

Site Staff Attractions

No one needs to be told how debilitating dementia is, but the documentary “Do You Know What My Name Is?” gives us hope.

The film reveals research at Cleveland’s Eliza Jennings Senior Care Network using a program of learning therapy has shown to reverse symptoms of dementia. The film is part of the second annual American Documentary Film Festival featuring 100 documentaries, ranging in length from 4 minutes to nearly 2 hours.

The festival runs through Monday (April 8). Film screenings will be split between the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs and Century Theatres at The River in Rancho Mirage.

Here is the April 6 schedule:

Time: 11 a.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 2
Title: Achill (Germany – 9 minutes)
Synopsis: Real excitement is always a little out of focus. All joy lies buried in a blind rush and hasty perceptions. That’s why this filmmaker says she never had her eyes lasered.

Time: 11 a.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 2
Title: A Second Chance (USA – 23 minutes)
Synopsis: Combat Medic Blade Anthony was deployed in Iraq in 2003. While in service, he suffered a brain injury from an IED blast and was left with PTSD and terrifying nightmares. This is the story of how a rescued dog helped Anthony get his place back in society.

Time: 11 a.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 2
Title: K-9 Fusion (USA – 53 minutes)
Synopsis: Musician Steve Brooks rescued a vicious, abused dog and developed a career in dog-training. A story about relationship, rehabilitation, music, and the rhythm of love. Man rescues dog; dog rescues man.

Time: 11:30 a.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 1
Title: Wampler’s Ascent (USA – 77 minutes)
Synopsis: The inspiring tale of Steve Wampler’s six-day (and five nights sleeping on the side of the mountain) ascent up Yosemite’s El Capitan. Wampler — who suffers from severe cerebral palsy and normally relies on an electric wheelchair to get around — uses the sheer power of the human will to overcome his fear and disability in this moving film.

Time: 11:30 a.m.
Where: Century Theatres at The River
Title: The Sardine Tin (Belgium – 9 minutes)
Synopsis: The tiny mermaid Eva develops a crush on a fisherman, Emile, and jumps into his fishing net. Emile then finds her in a sardine tin.

Time: 11:30 a.m.
Where: Century Theatres at The River
Title: Village at the End of the World (U.K./Denmark – 76 minutes)
Synopsis: Shot over the course of a year in Niaqornat, a remote village in Northern Greenland with more dogs than people, this film focuses on four townsfolk from the tiny population of 59: a teenager, a huntsman, an outsider, and an elder.

"Love Alien"

Time: Noon
Where: Camelot Theatre 3
Title: Jeff Gibbs’ Film School: How to 
Make A Blockbuster Documentary
Synopsis: Jeff Gibbs (Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11) shares secrets to making great documentaries, with invaluable tips such as: Rule number one— don’t make a documentary; make a movie. Learn what it takes to keep an audience on the edge of their seats. Free admission.

Time: 1:30 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 2
Title: Do You Know What My Name Is? (Japan/USA – 82 minutes)
Synopsis: A sure fire hit with people who have friends or family with dementia or are worried about their own future with this debilitating malady. This film will give you hope.

Time: 2 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 1
Title: Chillin’ With Her (USA – 10 minutes)
Synopsis: An investigation into prostitution becomes an lesson in love and intimacy, taught by women in the world’s oldest profession.

Time: 2 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 1
Title: Love Alien (Germany – 74 minutes)
Synopsis: Imagine turning 30 without being initiated into the mysteries of love? A filmmaker explores the world of lovers, encountering relationship counselors, Valentine’s Day shoppers, a neighbor’s cat, his own family — and women — along the way. A cinematic attempt to find the first girlfriend.

Time: 2 p.m.
Where: Century Theatres at The River
Title: Right to Play (Germany – 41 minutes)
Synopsis: As the founder, President and CEO of Right To Play, Olympic gold medalist Johann Olav Koss and his army of volunteers, teachers, coaches, and diplomats use the power of athletics to elevate the lives of the world’s neediest children.

Time: 2 p.m.
Where: Century Theatres at The River
Title: Leba (USA – 50 minutes)
Synopsis: Jumapili is a talented Sandawe hunter. His son, Leba, is gently and timid. This is the story of a father, stealing his son away from school (illegally and against the will of his wife), and embarking on a walkabout that becomes Leba’s gateway to manhood.

Time: 2:30 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 3
Title: Ru (Water is Life) (USA – 19 minutes)
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Jina Teji is the primary caretaker of five younger siblings and a sickly grandmother in southern Sudan. Jina’s daily trek to the village’s unsanitary water hole dominates her life. What happens when this young girl is suddenly provided with a fresh water well?

Time: 2:30 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 3
Title: Threatened (USA – 40 minutes)
Synopsis: Brought back from the brink of extinction, sea otters are again in peril and are at the center of a bitter controversy regarding the Fish & Wildlife Service’s decision to eliminate their “No Otter Zone” from Southern California waters.
A film about the sea otter’s struggle for survival.

Time: 2:30 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 3
Title: Watershed (USA – 54 minutes)
Synopsis: “Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting” is a well-worn saying when it comes to water politics, but in the Colorado River Basin, where the most dammed, dibbed, and diverted river in the world struggles to flow, some think fighting may be the only way left to reclaim this valuable resource.

"The Blockade"

Time: 4 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 2
Title: Counter Cultures Sagada (Philippines/USA – 24 minutes)
Synopsis: Discover how the small town of Sagada, Philippines, stays true to itself and traditional cultures and the influence of Christianity, while adjusting to changes ushered in by tourism, youth, and a hashish trade.

Time: 4 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 2
Title: Finding Mercy (New Zealand – 75 minutes)
Synopsis: A heart-wrenching search for a childhood friend becomes a dramatic guided tour through Zimbabwe’s Mugabe era. This fresh documentary extends beyond black and white, exposing the lost promise of a country that two little girls once represented.

Time: 4:30 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 1
Title: The Blockade (Croatia – 89 minutes)
Synopsis: Reminiscent of protests in the 1960s, this film details the politically significant student protest in Croatia in April 2009 at the faculty of humanities and social sciences in Zagreb. The rebellion against the commercialization of education and the blockade of teaching classes lasted for 34 days and spread to more than 20 faculties across the country.

Time: 4:30 p.m.
Where: Century Theatres at The River
Title: My World (Peru/Spain – 6 minutes)
Synopsis: A filmmaker explores Madrid, Spain after coming to the city as a foreigner more than seven years ago. “But nobody can tell, unless I speak,” he says.

Time: 4:30 p.m.
Where: Century Theatres at The River
Title: Walking the Camino (USA – 84 minutes)
Synopsis: This documentary follows six determined strangers who embark on a 500-mile pilgrimage across northern Spain; it’s a life-changing journey that results in a profound reawakening for both viewers and the adventurers alike.

Time: 5 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 3
Title: Beyond the Burqa (Afghanistan – 22 minutes)
Synopsis: This film follows two Afghan women who have the courage to voice to the world what they want from their society. A rare picture of how the priority of women from a strict nation is changing and heir dilemmas, hardships, and triumphs.

"I Am Not A Rock Star"

Time: 5 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 3
Title: Girl From Birch Creek (USA – 57 minutes)
Synopsis: A woman faces tragedy and hardship as a young girl in Depression-era Kansas, but grows up to fight the battle for women’s equality during the 1970s. The compelling story of how women came together to fight the battle for equality.

Time: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 2
Title: Seasons with Brian and Julia (USA – 87 minutes)
Synopsis: An intimate portrait of the lives of two farmers in rural Virginia, documenting their daily challenge to live sustainably and responsibly on a small farm while also struggling to make the farm support them.

Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 1
Title: I A, Not A Rock Star (USA – 90 minutes)
Synopsis: The dramatic story of classical music phenom Marika Bournaki as she develops into a world-class performer.  Shot in verite style featuring stunning piano performances, the film follows her from age 12 to 20 and provides a visual narrative that reveals the rewards and costs of a life dedicated to music. Marika Bournaki will perform after on stage following the screening.

Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Century Theatres at The River
Title: Adventure in the Kindness of Strangers (USA – 100 minutes)
Synopsis: Armed with nothing but curiosity and a camera, Sarah and Greg travel through America relying on the kindness of strangers on a fate-driven journey that takes them through 30 states and five towns in the country called Bear.

Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 3
Title: Sleeping With Siri (USA – 28 minutes)
Synopsis: Journalist Michael Stusser explores the technological divide. After gorging on social media, he drops out entirely for a week — no computer, email or social networks — and must rely on phone booths, landlines, libraries, paper maps, and letter writing.

Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Camelot Theatre 3
Title: H2indO (USA – 76 minutes)
Synopsis: If you liked the ’60s classic, The Endless Summer, you will love this film that immerses the viewer into the world of paddleboard surfing