A woman’s guide to the world

Sponsors & Distributors: Air New Zealand, Outside TV, Amazon, Hulu // | Production Company: Apollonia Productions + Wrestler NZ

The dna of adventure

“The DNA of Adventure” tells the story of filmmaker and adventurer Apolla Echino, who discovers that she has more in common with her recently passed Indigenous Canadian grandmother than she ever could have imagined.

With our A-list crew from New York in tow, we flew out to Drumheller, Alberta, to film and conduct interviews with Apolla’s family members. Armed with a camera and anamorphic lens package from Panavision worth over $300K, we gathered gorgeous cinematic b-roll around western Canada. The post-production process was in-depth and creative, utilizing an abstract style of documentary editing without sacrificing storytelling. We finished the film with the help of industry-leading colorists at Nice Shoes, and a beautifully textured sound mix by Mixology Post. The film went on to screen at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.

hard labour

Khloe Ferguson (nee Joe) moved to the small oil and farm community of Lloydminster, Alberta, in search of work in the oilfields. As she makes her way up the ranks in the rigs, marries the woman of her dreams and has a daughter, she continues to fight something deep within her. The fact that she is a woman in a man’s body. Unable to leave, due to the restrictions on seeing her 8-year-old daughter, Khloe is fighting to work again. Since coming out, she has been demoted from her rig manager position, divorced her wife, and denied custody privileges. And now, with her recent reassignment surgery, she is on disability as her body heals. This film is about Khloe’s perseverance through hate, bigotry and finding the small gestures of kindness in this isolating town. We champion her strength and the simple life she leads now. To fight against yourself and ultimately, to free yourself to become who you always felt you could be. 

AWARDS & FESTIVALS: First Prize for Alternative Spirit Award (Documentary) at The Rhode Island International Film Festival, which is an Academy Award, BAFTA and Canadian Screen Award qualifier. Best LGBTQ Film at the Cannes World Film Festival. Best Short Documentary at the Toronto International Women Film Festival. Best LGBTQ Short at the San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival. Official Selection at the INDIE SHORTS AWARDS NEW YORK, the Edmonton International Film Festival and the Calgary International Film Festival.