Five Years North, a feature documentary that explores the dreams and struggles of an undocumented boy in modern New York City, will screen virtually at Telluride’s Mountainfilm Festival in May. It will also screen at other festivals in Fall 2020.
The film was scheduled to premiere at some of the most prestigious spring film festivals in the United States, but all festivals and other large gatherings have been cancelled or postponed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The film’s credits include executive producer Kellie Rastegar and her husband, successful entrepreneurs from Austin. Kellie serves as co-founder and Creative Director of Rastegar Property Company, a private real estate equity firm expanding rapidly throughout Texas and beyond.
“I’m so proud to be a part of this project,” says Kellie. “Luis’s lived experience in Five Years North is heartbreaking and uplifting all at once. Documentary filmmaking gives us such a powerful tool to dissect society and the human condition.”
Five Years North follows a boy named Luis as he works, studies, and lives life in New York City — all awhile evading Judy, a Cuban-American ICE agent who patrols his neighborhood. Besides staying one step ahead of ICE, Luis also struggles with mounting debt and the needs of his impoverished family back in Guatemala. The film offers viewers a rare and powerful portrait of immigration in America.
“Kellie’s excitement to work on this project is palpable,” says her husband. “This project unites her passion for great filmmaking and her experience growing up as the daughter of a Guatemalan immigrant. We can’t wait to share Five Years North with the world!”
Five Years North was made by Optimist, a non-profit film studio whose documentaries have helped raise $91 million for poverty alleviation and refugee education. Optimist’s films and series have been viewed over 35 million times across digital platforms, building a dedicated following and sparking positive social change. The film will be distributed on major digital platforms. Part of the proceeds will help fund an impact campaign to support undocumented minors like Luis.