Julia Siu-Yin Ngeow & Rebecca Basaure
(USA)
Julia Siu-Yin Ngeow is a Chinese-Australian film director based in NYC, who has created award- winning documentaries across the globe.Graduating with a BSc, Julia undertook research with the Australian Cancer Council investigating the anti-cancer potential of traditional Aboriginal medicinal plants. Many of Julia’s recent films revolve around health, wellness, and nature – exploring the intersection between art and science. Her films have screened at Cannes Short Film Corner, SXSW Edu, and Slamdance, gaining global recognition. In commercials, her work has earned a Gold Clio for the Ad Council PSA She Can STEM and a Silver GEMA Award for brand integration.
Rebecca Basaure is a Bolivian-American director and cinematographer with 12+ years of experience working with Netflix, Disney, Apple, PBS, A&E, and National Geographic. Her work blends art, science, and environmental storytelling, including the award-winning short Refugio and the Vans/NOWNESS film Imillaskate: The Cholita Skaters of Bolivia. She is a certified diver, underwater cinematographer, and member of IATSE Local 600.
Asháninka: Wisdom of the Healers
The Asháninka are the largest Indigenous group in Peru’s Amazon, with a traditional system of medicine that combines extensive pharmacopoeia and rituals that jointly restore physical and spiritual balance, and the health of the ecosystem. We’re creating a bilingual photographic “recipe book” documenting Indigenous plant medicines in Peru via Asháninka community healers, prioritizing the female perspective in our storytelling. Showcasing traditions, culture and intimate knowledge of plant remedies, we aim for this book to feature approximately 10 medicinal “recipes” combining stunning photography with individual narratives and cultural wisdom.
From the Judge
