Filmmaker Spotlight - Ricardo Lobo

Though Ricardo Lobo was born in Brazil and raised in the United States, it is not hyperbole to call him a citizen (and filmmaker) of the world. An articulate and engaging producer of over 30 films, Lobo has shot in four continents, documenting subjects in East Timor, Brazil, Mexico, India, Mauritania, and Iraq. Lobo's films, hard-hitting yet hopeful documentaries, have been showcased on major international television outlets, both network and public. In addition, his independent work has appeared on CNN, the BBC, and APTN. Numerous awards garnered include New York Festival's World Medal, the Prince Rainier Award at the Montecarlo Festival, the Ayrton Senna and Vladimir Herzog awards for special reports on children and human rights. IndiePix first intersected with Lobo when he sent in three of his films for distribution consideration. Struck by their restrained beauty and far-reaching content, we enthusiastically picked them up for release. The two "LoboDocs" we proudly offer are THE SISTERS OF LADAKH, a documentary about Buddhist nuns living on the Himalayan border of India and Tibet, and WOMEN OF THE SAND, a documentary about Nomadic Islamic women in the Sahara Desert. The latter is now part of the permanent collection at New York's Museum of Modern Art. Finally, IndiePix is proud to release FATIMA, Lobo's first foray into narrative. Filmed on location in Baghdad, the story follows a young woman's return to her war-torn city to reunite with her family and fiancé and find her path. "In many ways Baghdad epitomizes the challenges of the twenty-first century. Are human beings going to be able to retain their humanity or descend into a brutal, predatory state?" says Lobo. "This was the real challenge we undertook, more than the physical danger or the unpredictability of the situation. Yes, it was difficult to act and film while gunfire and bombs were exploding nearby. But the biggest challenge for us was to keep our focus on the life-affirming message of the film." Lobo, who is currently shooting in Kurdistan, is a truly important filmmaker; a man whose worldliness, compassion, and positivity shine through every frame of his movies.

Fatima Fatima is an intimate film that tackles how sensitive human beings react to the ominous reality of war and destruction. Using a poetic approach, the film subtly brings the viewer into the psyche of the main character, a 26-year old woman who returns to Baghdad, Iraq to reunite with her family and fiancée, and to follow her dream…    more      Sisters of Ladakh The Sisters of Ladakh is an inquiry into the feminine vision of Buddhism. Filmed on location in Ladakh, on the Himalayan border between India and Tibet, this one hour documentary features stunning photography and compelling testimonies of Tibetan nuns.     Sisters of Ladakh - Download The Sisters of Ladakh is an inquiry into the feminine vision of Buddhism. Filmed on location in Ladakh, on the Himalayan border between India and Tibet, this one hour documentary features stunning photography and compelling testimonies of Tibetan nuns.     Women of the Sand Women of the Sand is a documentary about nomad Islamic women in the Sahara desert. Filmed in Mauritania, it follows the day-to-day activities of women, documenting their work, family and community life, expectations and emotions.     Women of the Sand - Download Women of the Sand is a documentary about nomad Islamic women in the Sahara desert. Filmed in Mauritania, it follows the day-to-day activities of women, documenting their work, family and community life, expectations and emotions.