Private Project

Paatuwaqatsi Water is Life

“Paatuwaqatsi/Water is Life” is a short film about the Hopi people’s ancient relationship with the Grand Canyon and Little Colorado River. Featuring the voices of running-activist, Bucky Preston, Black Mesa Trust CEO, Vernon Masayesva, and the musical advocacy of Ed Kabotie & Tha ‘Yoties, “Water is Life” challenges us to rethink our paradigm about the sacred gift of Water

  • David Wallace
    Director
  • Kelly Burke
    Producer
    Born to Rewild
  • Ed Kabotie
    Key Cast
  • Bucky Preston
    Key Cast
  • Vernon Masayesva
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 3 seconds
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival

    April 16, 2023
    North American Premier
    Official Selection
  • Four Corners Film Festival
    Farmington, NM
  • Tucson International Film Festival
    Tucson, AZ
Director Biography - David Wallace

Before founding David Wallace Visuals in 2021, I worked for 20 years as a staff photographer and video producer at newspapers throughout the country. 15 of those years were at the Arizona Republic where I documented issues ranging from the U.S./ Mexico border to the environment. I covered Pope Francis’ inaugural visit to Mexico, disappearing glaciers in Peru, uranium contamination on the Navajo Nation, two Super Bowls, and directed a feature length documentary on child welfare issues. In 2018, I was one of the primary members of the Arizona Republic reporting team that won a Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for their coverage of the U.S./ Mexico border. I am a nine time Rocky Mountain Emmy winner and have won numerous other awards in photo and video journalism. I received a BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

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