Frame by Frame (film)

Frame by Frame (2015), is a documentary film that follows four Afghan photojournalists – Farzana Wahidy, Massoud Hossaini, Wakil Kohsar and Najibullah Musafar – who face struggles as they report during the “photo revolution” that is occurring in the post-Taliban free press. It is directed by Mo Scarpelli and Alexandria Bombach.[1] It had its world premiere at the South by Southwest 2015 Festival in Austin, Texas, and was nominated for a 2015 Cinema Eye Honors Award in the category “Spotlight Award.”

In late 2012, Scarpelli and Bombach traveled to Afghanistan to film a documentary short about photographers.[2] This turned into the feature-length film Frame by Frame, a personal look at the lives of four Afghan photographers working where photography was formerly banned by the Taliban government. Scarpelli and Bombach raised more than $70,000 using Kickstarter to bring Frame by Frame to life.[3]

The film was shot in a cinema vérité style, which presented a unique challenge to the filmmakers because they did not speak the native language; oftentimes, they wouldn’t know exactly what they had filmed until they got to the editing room and worked with a translator.[4] Both filmmakers have said that being foreign women and having an all-female crew gave them unique access and allowed them into places that foreign men would have had a much harder time entering.[5] Because of Scarpelli’s background in journalism, she characterizes the film as long-form journalism. “The point of it is to inform and spark dialogue about local journalism under fire.”[6]

Frame by Frame was shown at over 50 film festivals[4] including Hot Docs Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival.[7] Scarpelli and Bombach received enthusiastic praise from film critics. The Hollywood Reporter called Frame by Frame “a work of profound immediacy, in sync with the photographers’ commitment and hope"[8] and BBC Culture proclaimed “the film features photographers passionate about telling stories of the true identity of Afghanistan – whether they are newsworthy or not.”[9]

Scarpelli has said she was influenced by character-driven films with strong narratives, including films like Cutie and the Boxer (2013), Virunga (2014), Stories We Tell (2012), and After Tiller (2013).[10][11]

References
  1. Robert Abele. "'Frame by Frame' follows four Afghan photojournalists focused on the future". latimes.com. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  2. "Frame by Frame: Team". Frame by Frame | a documentary about Afghanistan's photojournalists. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  3. "Frame by Frame". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  4. Ginsburg, Elaine Sheldon and Sarah. ""… If you're not trusting yourself, you can't be creative": Mo Scarpelli and Alexandria Bombach on She Does podcast". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  5. Berger, Laura. "LFF 2015 women directors: Meet Alexandria Bombach and Mo Scarpelli - 'Frame by Frame'". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  6. Holdman, Emily (2013-08-23). "Documenting the story of photojournalism in Afghanistan: A remarkable interview with Mo Scarpelli, co-director of Frame By Frame". Medium. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  7. "Frame by Frame: Upcoming screenings". Frame by Frame | a documentary about Afghanistan's photojournalists. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  8. "'Frame by Frame': SXSW Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  9. "Frame by Frame: Unseen Afghanistan". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  10. Logan, Elizabeth. "Meet the 2015 SXSW Filmmakers #10: Mo Scarpelli and Alexandria Bombach felt immense responsibility in making 'Frame By Frame'". Indiewire. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  11. Kamen, Tory. "SXSW Women Directors: Meet Alexandria Bombach and Mo Scarpelli - 'Frame by Frame'". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
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