About
the Film

In 1922, a frail, 29-year old Edith Warner bucked both the demands of industrial Philadelphia and the limitations on early 20th century women, striking out for the untamed Pajarito Plateau of New Mexico.

It took her 6 years to land a permanent, if unlikely job, living alone at the remote Otowi Crossing in Frijoles Canyon guarding the freight left by the D&RG Railway’s “Chili Line.” Earning only her rent as “station mistress,” Edith built a way to stay in her beloved canyon by opening a teahouse miles from the nearest neighbors, the San Ildefonso Pueblo. Slowly but surely Edith and the teahouse drew an avid, if scant, following. More importantly, the people of San Ildefonso Pueblo began to take her in.

One of the Tewa people, Atilano, “Tilano,” Montoya came to build a fireplace for Edith—and essentially never left. He had returned from touring the country performing traditional dances and seemed to find himself at a crossroads as well. The two of them created a unique, unexpected life and Otowi Crossing became a bridge between worlds.

Then the U.S. military arrived and changed everything.

About the Team

  • Andrea Swift

    DIRECTOR

    An award-winning cinematic storyteller with over 20 years experience producing, directing, writing, and consulting on independent films, and content for PBS, AMC, History, New York Knicks, Nat Geo's educational wing, the Southern Ute Tribe, and the State of Texas, among many others.

  • Amanda Brzezowski

    PRODUCER

    Amanda is a documentary producer and educator with a background in film studies and programming. She has worked with POV on PBS, screened films in consideration for major festivals like DOC NYC, Tribeca, and Camden International Film Festival, and directed short documentaries for community nonprofits.

  • Katsi'tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, Kanien’kehá:ka Nation (Mohawk), Turtle Clan

    ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

    Award-winning documentarian, artist and Indigenous Human Rights activist, Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, first became known to the public when she was chosen by the People of the Longhouse and her community of Kanehsatà:ke to be their spokesperson during the 1990 Siege of Kanehsatà:ke, or, as the media called it, the “Oka Crisis.” Her award-winning short documentary, WHEN THE PINE NEEDLES FALL, captures the events that started that 78-day standoff between the police and the community, who eventually prevailed, protecting their Pines from being destroyed for a golf course.

    Currently, Ellen is editing a feature documentary which covers the full siege as it played out in both Kanehsatà:ke and their sister community, Kahnawake.

  • Bob Eisenhardt, A.C.E.

    EDITOR

    Bob Eisenhardt has edited over 60 films including the Academy Award winning documentary, FREE SOLO (Nat Geo). A two time winner of the coveted “Eddie” (American Cinema Editors Award) and four-time Emmy Award winner, his work has also earned additional Academy Award nominations, a BAFTA, a Peabody, the Audience Award and three Grand Jury Award nominations at the Sundance Film Festival--even a Grammy nomination. 

    Eisenhardt’s films include THE RESCUE (Nat Geo), MERU (NatGeo), EVERYTHING IS COPY (HBO), VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR (SONY), DIXIE CHICKS: SHUT UP & SING (CBS) and SPACES: THE ARCHITECTURE OF PAUL RUDOLPH (Self-Produced). Eisenhardt also shares a director’s credit, and Emmy, IDA and DGA Awards with legendary documentarian Albert Maysles.

  • Claudia Raschke

    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

    Claudia Raschke is an internationally renowned cinematographer whose work has earned five Academy Award nominations, three Emmy Awards, three Peabodys and two Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prizes.  Among her many notable films are: Oscar-nominated and Emmy winning RBG (Magnolia/ Participant/ CNN Films), Oscar-nominated GOD IS THE BIGGER ELVIS (HBO), Oscar short-listed JULIA (CNN Films/ Imagine Entertainment/ Sony Classic) and MAD HOT BALLROOM (Paramount), as well as the Oscar short-listed, Sundance and Emmy winning BOYS STATE (A24).

    Additional accolades include awards from BAFTA, the duPont-Columbia Awards, Cinema Eye Honors, and the Critics Choice Awards and her selection as one of Canon’s prestigious Explorers of Light.

  • Scott Campbell

    Scott has been an independent producer and filmmaker since 2012. He has written and produced 15 short films on economic and environmental topics for North Carolina PBS in partnership with the North Carolina Arboretum. He produced the award-winning feature documentary Julian Price: Envisioning Community. Investing in People. He is currently producing Mora is Burning about the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon fire disaster, and Honoring Long Man in partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Lately, he has been working with Collaborative Visions of Mora County, NM launching Mora Media Commons, a community-based film and digital media training and work collective, and a founding member of The Greater New Mexico Media Collective. Through American Commons Media, he has helped in the birth of Magazine Moreño, a Mora County, NM-based YouTube Channel dedicated to local news and cultural topics.

  • M. Melete Finch

    Melete Finch has more than 20 years of experience as a photographer, art director, producer, prop stylist, and prop maker for print media and TV commercials. Her clients include Neiman Marcus, Horchow, Hermes of Paris, JC Penney, Pier 1, The Container Store, and many more. Since May of 2021 she has been working with American Commons Media and Magazine Moreño, helping produce short documentaries about Mora, NM. Melete is currently Associate Producer and Assistant Director on the award-winning film Mora is Burning.