National Geographic Society

The 2008 All Roads Film Festival arrived in Hollywood, CA providing a refreshing glimpse into our planet's many cultural treasures amidst the staid breeze of uncertainty that had settled within the west coast valley. As K'NAAN's "Smile" oozed from the stage and into the LA night, a sense of positive vibrations seemed to sweep the prudence one faces when encountering a new discovery. According to All Roads Film Project director, Francene Blythe, "All Roads is place to travel around the world without going too far awary from home." She officially opened the festival reflecting upon the pillars that set the 5th year into being.

"Images & Stories: A New Generation" provides the thematic centerpiece for the film and photography showcased throughout the 2008 festival. With 29 dynamic films and 4 captivating photography exhibits collectively representing 20 cultures from 15 countries, the LA launch provided the broad strokes of a vast cultural landscape of past traditions, contemporary stories and new ideas. Stand out films and programs included, The Linguists, which chronicles a whirlwind expedition of Enduring Voices, a National Geographic initiative, that seeks to document endangered languages before the last fluent speaker dies. Two of the film's principals, lead researcher David Harrison and Johnny Hill Jr., one of last fluent speakers of Chemehuevi, were on hand to provide greater depth into the film's back-story and revitalization efforts, an omnipresent theme addressed throughout the festival. Last night, All Roads hosted a pre-festival event at the Mexican Cultural Institute showcasing the revitalization of the son music tradition along the Tesechoacán.River in the state of Veracruz, Mexico Persian Portraits was also a refreshing surprise. Programmed by Iran's Documentary Experimental Film Center as a cultural bridge through film, the program's five dynamic films portray a wide range of thematic ideas and emotions through the eyes of contemporary Iranian society. The festival also served host to three All Roads Seed Grantees making their North American and World Premieres respectfully, Welcome to Ernurmino!, What Was Promised and Keao.