The Birch Grove

Caught between love and death, two brothers wrestle with their past in a dance towards reconciliation. A poetic film about the power of family ties, inspired by the novella of the same name by the Polish author, Jaroslaw Iwaszkiewicz.

Featuring, Lonnie Poupard Jr., Matthew Reeves, Colette Krogol, Hela Sage Giaever, Hannah Tamminen

Director, Gabrielle Lansner
Cinematographer, Brian O'Carroll
Producer, Roweena Mackay
Writer, Ellen McLaughlin
Executive Producer, Dean Taucher
Composer, Joel Pickard
Editor, Marilys Ernst

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT:

As an innovative filmmaker, my work is influenced by my extensive background in choreography and
performance. I am interested in creating a new narrative form that does not rely primarily on language.
Evoking story and character through a physical language that is both emotional and psychological.
Through dance, wordless scenes, and a sparse narration, the film moves fluidly between reality and the
interior lives of the characters.

Festivals & Screenings 2016 - 2018

Budapest Film Awards, Hungary
Rivertown Films, NY
FilmColumbia, NY
Female Eye Film Festival, CA
New Filmmakers, Anthology Film Archives, NYC
Zubroffka FF, PL
Yofifest, NY
NYWIFT Member Screening, NYC
Stories We Dance, IT
Short Waves Festival,  PL
Scena Tanca Studio, Warsaw, PL
Speechless Film Festival, MN
Dance On Camera Festival, NY, NYC Premiere, 2016
ScreenDance Miami, FL
Chelsea Fashion & Film, NY

Festivals 2015

Underexposed Film Festival, SC
San Francisco Dance Film Festival, CA
Lund Int'l Architecture Film Festival, Sweden
Sao Carlos Videodance, Brazil
Cannes Short Film Corner, Cannes
Newport Beach Film Festival, CA, US Premiere
Cinedans, Amsterdam,  European Premiere