Sean Restivo

"Resilience: The Kim LeBel Story" follows the remarkable journey of a woman who overcame a violent, abusive upbringing in Alabama and Georgia to serve honorably in the U.S. Navy. After defending herself from a traumatic family life, Kim joined the military, only to face new challenges—gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and the brutal realities of combat in Afghanistan. Despite being shot and witnessing the horrors of war, Kim's indomitable spirit and courage shine through. Her story is a powerful testament to the resilience of women in the military, offering an intimate portrayal of survival, strength, and triumph against the odds.

“Buffalo Soldiers: George Jordan and the Indian Wars” is a poignant examination of the marginalized history of the Buffalo Soldiers - African American servicemen who bravely served in numerous conflicts only to face scorn, ridicule, and suppression of their stories back home. The film's epicenter is George Jordan, a formerly enslaved man turned soldier whose exemplary courage in battles etches a stark contrast against his forgotten legacy. Juxtaposing the resistance of Apache Chiefs and braves with Jordan's unwavering will to protect his comrades and white settlers, the narrative challenges us to reconcile often overlooked aspects of the formation of the West. With a stark reminder of Jordan’s decline due to his heroic yet under-acknowledged efforts and the refusal of the Army to provide him with care, the film crescendos into a plea for recognition of the Buffalo Soldiers, ultimately asking what we can give to make our country better.

In 1866, as the U.S. modernized its military, the Army Reorganization Act allowed Native Americans to enlist as scouts, heralding a profound era of change. Amidst this backdrop, the film unfolds the story of Baptiste Garnier, a half Oglala Sioux, half French-Canadian scout known as "Little Bat." Torn between his Sioux roots and his U.S. allegiances, he navigated the brutal Indian wars and was at the heart of pivotal battles, including the tragic Wounded Knee massacre. Although perceived as a bridge between two worlds, Baptiste's duality often led him to make heartbreaking decisions. By the time of his untimely death in 1900, shot by a white bartender over a bar tab dispute, he epitomized the complex weave of identity and legacy, raising questions about the cost of serving two peoples in a divided America.

"Racing for Paralympic Gold" is an intimate and inspiring portrait of three unstoppable women on the road to Paralympic greatness, each redefining what strength truly means. Gabrielle “Gabby” Platt, a single mother who survived being shot three times, rides to inspire her young son with every push of the pedal. Ryen Reed, born with cerebral palsy, defies medical expectations as she pushes her body beyond its limits in pursuit of a place at the LA 2028 Paralympic Games. Oksana Masters, born in Ukraine with birth defects linked to the Chernobyl disaster, transforms profound hardship into triumph as a multiple time Paralympic gold medalist. Guiding them is Carlos Moleda, a Brazilian born former Navy SEAL who turned his own catastrophic injury into purpose by becoming a champion of adaptive athletics. Together, they train with relentless intensity, pushing past pain, trauma, and stigma - not just to win medals, but to redefine what resilience looks like.

​​Born totally blind, Christella Garcia fights heavyweight judo by feel—reading opponents through grip, breath, and tremor. Raised wrestling cousins in New Mexico, she found “freedom” on the mat; now in Sacramento she travels to Denver to sharpen under Paralympic legend Scott Moore with coach Heidi Moore (Pan Am bronze) and absorb grip craft from Olympic medalist Edward Liddie. The grind is nonstop. An ACL tear and kneecap arthritis force a brace and a training pivot: swims she hates but guts out with her partner Joe, strength with coach Miguel Sandoval, hard rounds at Team Sacramento Judo, and endless travel that never quite replicates her long-levered, top-ranked rival. In Para judo’s J1 class—where every bout starts in the grip—Christella bends matches by touch, tempo, and pace. Paris tests everything. She blasts a first-round win, hits the world No. 1, resets fast, and fights through four brutal minutes for bronze. Home brings tears, surgery talk—and a new target: Los Angeles 2028.

The dark recesses of American history unfurl as this documentary delves deep into the U.S-Indian wars, an era often shrouded in misconceptions. As the U.S. expands westward, encroaching on Native lands, tensions surge, leading to the strategic establishment of the Bozeman Trail through Sioux territory. However, the promise of peace shatters with the U.S.'s relentless intrusion into the sacred Black Hills. The narrative takes a poignant turn when the Ghost Dance religion emerges, a spiritual outcry born from despair and a yearning to reclaim a lost world. Through intense dialogues and reflections, the film challenges viewers to confront the moral complexities of war and ponder the cost of progress. As modernity dawns, the shared pain of Wounded Knee remains an indelible scar, urging societies to remember, reconcile, and respect.