O Pioneer
RUNTIME: 1:13:00 ASPECT RATIO: 2.35:1 LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
Watch our Q&A with Directors Clara Lehmann & Jonathan Lacocque below, as well as numerous subjects from the film!
O Pioneer reckons with and redefines the American pioneer. By definition, a pioneer is a leader, a trailblazer, a pathfinder; all of which can sound lofty and unreachable. Surely, the title of pioneer is reserved for other people-'important people.' But therein lies the problem. Too often we leave the solving to others when in reality our own hands can positively impact life's journey. O Pioneer follows three West Virginians-a blacksmith, a seamstress, and a hospital chaplain-as they creatively navigate hardship. Weaving narration with archival pioneer footage, candid moments from each subject, poetic vignettes, and dream-like animation, O Pioneer asks viewers to courageously champion the pioneer within.
Directors - Clara Lehmann & Jonathan Lacocque
Clara and Jonathan co-founded the creative studio, Coat of Arms in 2010 and serve as its directors and producers. Coat of Arms works with Fortune 100 and 500 brands and is a Webby, Telly, Emmy, Cannes Lion-awarded studio. The directing team completed their first documentary, Born in a Ballroom, in 2019. Their second documentary, O Pioneer, received a Cinequest Film Festival Audience Award, the Appalachian Studies Association 2024 Jack Spadaro Documentary Award, and the Rome International Jury Award. They wrote and directed the multi-award-winning animated series entitled Lullaby Theories. Their work has played at over 50 film festivals world-wide, including Cannes, Doc Edge, DOC NYC, SXSW, and Tribeca. They live in Helvetia, WV and balance their filmmaking with community service.
