Festivals - SBIFF 2021 : Reclaim Idaho : Meet the co-directors

By Mulder, 03 april 2021

Reclaim Idaho, the film is making its world premiere at the prestigious west-coast film festival (The Santa Barbara International Film Festival) which runs 3/31-4/10. It is virtual so all films are available online. Jim and Laura, the co-directors of this much-buzzed about film, were both on this morning talking about the film and their experience of working with Luke Mayville and all of the Reclaim Idaho folks back in 2018.

With the lives of 62,000+ uninsured Idahoans at stake, a tiny grassroots team, led by a married couple with a newborn and almost no political experience, hit the road in a 1977 RV to campaign for the state’s desperately needed Medicaid expansion bill. This is their story.

Reclaim Idaho, a feature documentary, will light up screens across America as it makes its world premiere at the 36th Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) which debuts virtually on Saturday, March 31, 2021. The independent documentary production was shot on the roads of Idaho and in the cabin of a temperamental, bright green 1977 RV during the 2018 election cycle. Directed by husband-and-wife team Laura Wing-Kamoosi and Jim Kamoosi, Reclaim Idaho will also unspool at an outdoor screening on Friday, April 9, 2021 at 4:30 PM at a beach-side outdoor drive-in set up exclusively for SBIFF.

“In a political climate that is often vicious, it was a joy to witness the kindness and respect with which Reclaim Idaho ran their Medicaid Expansion campaign”, said co-Director Laura Wing-Kamoosi, “They reached people in a way that was genuinely compassionate. They didn’t scream on social media or refuse to speak to people based on party lines. They simply talked to people, one at a time, answering their questions, addressing their fears, and eventually, winning them over. If positive change is to happen in this country, this is how.”

Reclaim Idaho is a documentary feature shot on the roads and in the neighborhoods of Idaho during the final days of the 2018 election cycle. Directed by the husband-and-wife filmmaking team, Laura Wing-Kamoosi and Jim Kamoosi, the pair followed the grassroots citizens movement of the same name as they rode along inside the Medicaid Mobile, a temperamental 1977 Dodge RV painted green with “Medicaid for Idaho'' spelled out on the side in white duct tape. Originally organized as part of an initiative to strengthen and protect public schools, Reclaim Idaho also works to protect public lands and to extend healthcare to all Idahoans. Traveling to every corner of the state while reaching remote communities often ignored by traditional political campaigns, Reclaim Idaho was shot entirely in Idaho. The eye-opening feature length documentary offers audiences front-seat access to witness democracy in action as over 2,000 ordinary Idahoans, volunteering in over 25 counties, from every part of the state, come together to accomplish what the Idaho legislature failed to do. And, as these regular Idahoans became citizen lawmakers, Laura and Jim were there with their cameras, and their five-year old daughter in tow, to capture it all for the world to see.

“We’re incredibly honored to see the story of Reclaim Idaho told and to have that story serve as a ‘how to guide’ for anyone feeling inspired to effect change in their communities”, said Reclaim Idaho co-founder Luke Mayville. “We began this long shot journey because the fight alone gave people all around the state something to believe in and forced the political conversation to focus on kitchen table issues. Thousands of people joined the fight because they heard the stories of those in the gap and saw their power manifest as their efforts snowballed into Proposition 2 and the eventual passage of Medicaid Expansion. When we organize, when we band together, when we commit to talking to everyone, we can create change in our states no matter and often in spite of the composition of the legislature.”

The great thing about this year’s SBIFF is that it is all virtual and Everyone in Idaho who supported Reclaim Idaho or would like to see the film can do so by going to www.SBIFF.org and buy a ticket. Tickets are $10 per household/ device, so it you got a Covid-safe-pod together you’ll have a great night. Also Reclaim Idaho will have its Drive-In screening on 4/09 at 4:30 PM. Tickets are Free but you need to reserve a spot online starting 24 hours before the screening.

Synopsis :
In 2011 many Republican-run states refused to expand Medicaid in protest of the Affordable Care Act. In Idaho that left an estimated 62,000 people without health insurance. Idaho legislators did nothing to address the issue. In 2018, Emily and Garrett Strizich set out with a friend, driving from town to town, knocking on doors, and collecting signatures. The result was something no one expected: Medicaid expansion would come to a vote for the very first time.

Reclaim Idaho
Directed by Laura Wing-Kamoosi, Jim Kamoosi
Written by Laura Wing-Kamoosi
Starring Emily Strizich, Garrett Strizich, Luke Mayville, Tim Faust, Dan Schmidt
Music by Michael J. McCurdy
Cinematography : Jim Kamoosi, Laura Wing-Kamoosi
Edited by Edith R. Newman
Release date : April 1, 2021 (SBIFF)
Running time : 60 minutes

(Source : press release)