Blind Angels: Durham, North Carolina
In Durham, North Carolina, a vibrant and diverse queer chosen family has formed around José Romero, a charismatic organizer who is living with HIV. Together, in a place with unique and daunting challenges, José and their friends are modeling grassroots change, working together to create a community of love, activism, and mutual support. “Sunflowers turn to each other when they can’t find the sun,” Romero says, describing their mission. “That’s the kind of work I want to do: finding the light, even when it seems impossible.”
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Otto BellExecutive Producer
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Umbreen ButtDirector
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Kim BoortzCo-Executive Producer
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Andrea PorzioCo-Executive Producer
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Paul SundueCreative Director
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Bennett MadisonStory Producer
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Fenix RamosResearcher
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Jessica GleasonHead of Production
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Sara IntratorProducer
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Kate LaBrecqueProject Manager
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Stephen VocaturoProject Manager
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Shlomo GodderDirector of Photography
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Jonathon AlvarezGaffer
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Piper KesslerProduction Sound Mixer
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Neal GettingerProduction Sound Mixer
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Jonathan AlvarezCamera Assitant
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Aaron KellySwing
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Catherine RiersonField Producer
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Jessica De La RosaProduction Manager
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Shontá RogersProduction Coordinator
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Aaron KellyProduction Assistant
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Devine UtleyProduction Assistant
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Daniel DuclosPost-Production Supervisor
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Margot RothEditor
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John O'HaraEditor
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Dak StigaAssociate Editor
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Sanja BlauColorist
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TJ DumserPost-Production Sound Mixer
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Marites AlgonesAssociate Art Director
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Andrea TorresDesigner
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Ed ChowVFX and Motion Graphics Designer
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LHICOVID Compliance Services
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Project Type:Documentary, Short
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Genres:LGBTQ+, Social Issue, Health
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Runtime:9 minutes 16 seconds
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Completion Date:January 10, 2022
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Production Budget:125,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English, Spanish
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Shooting Format:Digital Alexa Mini
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Umbreen Butt is an award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker with a background in HIV/AIDS advocacy. Her non-fiction work focuses on health storytelling, the body and identity.
The HIV epidemic is not over. Despite major advances in medicine and education, the disease continues to affect tens of thousands of Americans–and its impact is felt disproportionately in the American South, especially among communities of color. But all over the South, ordinary people are finding extraordinary ways to fight back. Blind Angels honors these grassroots activists.