In early March, 2009 Malachi Leopold attended a weekly networking group called “BNI.” A friend gave him a referral to a woman who volunteers with the Chicago Association of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Given the work Left Brain/Right Brain Productions does with several non-profits in Chicago, he thought Malachi might be able to help them out with their fundraising efforts by making a video.

The volunteer recommended Malachi speak to the Chicago chapter president, Kuek Aleu Garang (Kuek had earlier been featured on Oprah on Election Day in 2008).

Malachi researched the organization, was inspired by their stories and emailed Kuek on 10 March 2009. He responded, telling Malachi he would love to get together and discuss how he could work with them, but we’d have to wait to meet until he got back from his trip. In three weeks he was going back to South Sudan for the first time in 22 years to be reunited with his family. He was only 6 years old when he had been separated from them during the Sudanese Civil War. After seeing his family, he was planning to find a location to build a school.

The moment Malachi read his response, he picked up the phone and called him, asking if anyone going with him to document his journey. He said he felt it was time for him to share his story, but he didn’t know anyone who could do so. Malachi asked if they could meet the next morning!

Malachi began calling and emailing everyone he knew who he thought would have some ability to help. Eventually, through a contact within The Chicago Convergence, he was introduced to Chad Boettcher at the PR firm Weber Shandwick. Through him, he made a connection with the USA for UNHCR which provided us the $10,000 needed to accompany Kuek. (He was also able to get sponsorships from CVS, Kodak, Moosejaw, TapeStockOnline, Target and Trader Joe’s.)

We left Chicago on April 5 with Kuek and 5 cameras, and returned on May 6 with about 100 hours of footage.

22 Years From Home was completed in August, 2009, had a 1-week premier at the Village East Cinema in NYC, and qualified for the 2010 Academy Awards for Documentary-Short Subject. It has been featured in festivals from Chicago to Durango, Belize to London.  Check our Facebook page for information on local and festival screenings.