RED CLOUD: A NEW DAY, 80min., USA
Directed by Alex Kruz
Based on Red Cloud Comic Book Issues 1-6. Vigilante contractor Jake Red Cloud wages a covert war against the Yakuza sponsored human trafficking in the golden triangle. Retaliation by the criminal organization strips Jake of his family, forcing him on the run. While in hiding he forms a deep, spiritual bond with neglected young Anne Parker, becoming the protector she never had—until a violent confrontation with his enemies forces him to make a devastating choice that shatters her childhood.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

My background is primarily indigenous from South America, but I’ve also been brought into the North American Apache traditions as an instructor by Robert Redfeather. I am very close to the philosophies and spirituality of Native traditions and I wanted to share those in a project which also pulled from my experience as an independent contractor with NGOs rescuing children from sexual slavery in different parts of the world. There’s this motif of what happens afterwards? Like what happens when you come back from war or putting yourself in bad situations all of the time. How do you relate to the normal world and still manage to love when you’ve seen humanity at some of its worst.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you

to make this film? – One could say 13 years, because we began with the idea and shot the first scene in 2013 with myself (Alex Kruz) and Evgeniya Radilova which you see in the film, but then myself and my two co-directors (Ewa Pirog and Gabriella Kamile) knocked out the rest of the scenes and post prod in a month this year, and now it’s on streaming platforms like Fawesome and others.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Kick Ass!

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Destiny (Standing Rock, COVID, etc). It takes us where we have to go, when we have to go.

Really believe in divine timing.

5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution.

What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

I think we love every stage of the process, but probably post-production because all of the performances are in the bag and you want to check out what goodies you have to play with.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Honestly, it was like a pimple it just appeared and you can’t recall your first one.

7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?

There are so many and y’all going to think I’m crazy, but The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman (1957).

8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with

on a film? I’ve been super lucky to have worked with so many of my heroes, but I think anyone who shows up to work to create, and contribute on a project is exactly who I want to work with.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

The beauty of the festivals are that you get to see other work alongside yours which is not necessarily mainstream, but it has its beauty and merit, and some of these gems never make it out to the public. So you feel honored to enjoy such works.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Humongous foodie, but at the moment it’s Ev’s Turkey Drumsticks!

11. What is next for you? A new film?

What is next? Yes, absolutely we’re in pre-production now on “Fallen:The Mirror” which we start shooting in a month , part two of the Fallen trilogy, part 1 “Fallen: The Search of a Broken Angel” is streaming globally. Once that’s done probably going to pick up on Season 2 of our series Star Envoy, which our distributor has told us is probably 10 years ahead of it’s time, but like any art you do it for yourself because it has to come out through you.