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A Christmas Mission: Sierra Leone

After a decades long civil war and an ebola epidemic, with only four volunteer doctors, Dr. Jah Hawanatu Jah, organized a medical to treat the poorest of the poor. Over the Christmas Holiday, in four days, they saw over 600 patients and performed over twenty operations. Narrated by participant and Dr. Jah's sister, actress, Zainab Jah ("Homeland", "Deep State" and "Farewell Amor"). In one of the poorest regions of the world, see how real superheroes save lives.

  • Timothy Naylor
    Director
    The Henchman of Notre Dame, Buried Deep, The Brazilian Dilemma
  • Timothy Naylor
    Writer
    The Henchman of Notre Dame, Buried Deep, The Brazilian Dilemma
  • Zainab Jah
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 19, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Sierra Leone
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital UHD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • African Film Festival, New York, Lincoln Center
    New York
    United States
    May 21, 2018
    North American Premier
    In Competition - Lincoln Center Screening
Director Biography - Timothy Naylor

T.S. Naylor, born in Michigan, moved to New York City to study film production at New York University's Graduate Film Program. His Thesis Film, "Generic Metal Titan", screened at Los Angeles Film Festival, AFI FF, won Bronze at Houston World Fest, Best Short at The American Film and Video FF and was awarded the Warner Brothers Production Grant. His short, “Buried Deep” screened at Urban World FF and Palm Springs Short FF. His most recent short drama, "The Henchman of Notre Dame" will debut at this year's Houston Worldfest.

Upon graduation he went on to become a cinematographer, having shot scores of indies, spots, music videos and docs. He's also credited as the camera operator for Steve McQueen’s, "Shame" and Comedy Central's "Inside Amy Schumer".

Recently, he’s returned to his true passion, directing - making a run of short dramas and documentaries in the past two years. Inspired by everyday life, not a day goes by where he doesn't see something that makes him say, "wouldn't that look great on film?"

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Director Statement

“Let’s do something different this Christmas”, said T.S. Naylor’s wife, Zainab Jah. Zainab's sister Hawanatu suggested why not volunteer at a medical mission she runs in Sierra Leone.

Zainab hadn’t been home in over twenty years and T.S. had never set foot in Africa. In her absence, the country had suffered from a decade long civil war and an Ebola epidemic. Meanwhile, in 1986, her Father, Dr. Sheik Umar Jah with his wife, nurse Betty, started the The Pauper’s Kitchen and Medical Mission (PKMM). Hawa has now taken the reins as the acting director.

In a space of two weeks, Zainab and T.S. raised close to twenty thousand dollars, to buy a truck load medical supplies and drugs. While Zainab helped out with dispersing prescriptions, T.S. with just a mirrorless still camera, an onboard mic and one lens, did what he was trained to do - capture it on film.