From its conception as a dance|theater project through its evolution in film, MUD WATER is a tribute to the people and culture that it revolves around. The power of this film lies in its sincerity and its efforts to approach its audiences from a place of authenticity and bold ingenuity, bringing with it a perspective that often goes unseen and unheard.

Filmed entirely in 6K on the RED Cinema Camera with a brilliant and dedicated cast and team of filmmakers, and a lot of generosity from the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation, Dance Mission Theater, and our community who helped us at every turn, the film premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival, the longest-running film festival in the Americas. SFFILM Festival is deeply rooted in the culture and process of film appreciation (film as an art form and as a meaningful agent for social change) and is an important showcase for the most searching and innovative films from around the globe.

synopsis

MUD WATER is a short film primarily set in Oakland, CA that blurs the lines between narrative and screen dance, as two stories connecting a crew of street dancers unfold concurrently: In one, Yung Phil navigates the tensions between his loyalty to his friends and his loyalty to his own dreams and ambitions. In the other, a man calls upon the moon to separate him from his own shadow, and then immediately regrets getting his wish.