A Forest in Flames

A bilingual short detailing the socio-environmental impacts of soy cultivation and cattle herding on Bolivian lowland forested areas.

  • Kai Nealis
    Director
  • Salvador Vaca Justiniano
    Key Cast
  • Randall Taylor
    Score
  • Zach Chapple
    Sound
  • Ryan Graves
    Color
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Un Bosque En Llamas
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Environmental
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Bolivia, Plurinational State of
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    3:2
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Ithaca College
Director Biography - Kai Nealis

b. 1996: Chicago, IL; live/work: Portland, OR

I grew up in Great Falls, Montana and Olympia, Washington. I graduated from Ithaca College in Upstate New York with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Cinema and Photography Production and Latin American Studies. My work ranges from the documentary study of site-specific economic and environmental concerns in Latin America to narrative inquiries into social realist issues in contemporary domestic American life. The direction of my research continues to be influenced by the Latin@ community as well youth urban mentorship initiatives and immigrant youth case management for The Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Focusing on issues of land use, class, and globalization, my films have been exhibited most notably at The Cannes Film Festival and The Ivy Film Festival, among others. My video art has been featured in the Ladder exhibition, a pop-up gallery in Upstate New York, and in Feast Your Eyes at Root Division in San Francisco.

I have also written and played drums in the rock projects Fir, Cameraperson, Pale Violet, and Unseen Object.

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