About TRUSTED MESSENGER
The world still grapples with COVID-19 and herd immunity eludes us, with vaccine skepticism posing a huge obstacle. During the early months of the vaccination effort, filmmaker Chris Newberry and his crew followed a diverse ensemble of dedicated health care professionals as they set out to gain the trust of at-risk communities across Minnesota. The resulting 57-minute documentary is a tribute to the doctors, nurses, organizers and influencers who are embracing community-led efforts to overcome vaccine hesitancy.
We celebrated our official film festival premiere at the 2021 Twin Cities Film Fest on October 24. See photos here. Trusted Messenger was also the only Minnesota film nominated for the Robert Byrd Documentary Film Award.
Trusted Messenger aired locally in Minnesota several times throughout the fall and winter of 2021 on Twin Cities PBS, and there are a few upcoming encore broadcasts.
The film will air on the following local channels:
tpt MN* - APRIL 10 8am Central
tpt MN* - APRIL 17 2am Central
tpt MN* - APRIL 17 8am Central
tpt MN* - APRIL 17 2pm Central
tpt MN* - MAY 1 9pm Central
(other broadcast dates TBA)
To find these channels in Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, check out the channel guide here.
*tpt MN is available throughout Minnesota. Check local listings.
Other viewing opportunities TBA, including 2022 screenings at the Big Water Film Festival, Frozen River Film Festival, Europa Film Festival, Fargo Film Festival, and North x North Int'l Film Festival.
What are people saying about TRUSTED MESSENGER?
From the BIG WATER FILM FESTIVAL:
"You may ask yourself, 'Haven't I heard and seen enough about COVID-19 and vaccines, and can't I just take a break from that?' Well, you could, but you'd really be missing out. In Trusted Messenger, Twin Cities filmmaker Chris Newberry takes the time to explore why some individuals in communities of color are reluctant to get the COVID vaccine, and what health care professionals across Minnesota are doing to convince them to vaccinate-- like maybe trying to win over a skeptical but respected North Side Minneapolis barber. The people Chris shows us in his film teach us that we have to reject false information about vaccines, but we also have to reject the automatic demonization of all people who have hesitancies about them. This is a serious subject but an enjoyable film. Chris is a good storyteller-- it's why he won the Big Water Audience Favorite Award in 2014 for his film, American Heart."
From the FARGO FILM FESTIVAL:
"an exemplary example of independent filmmaking. Of course Covid remains a critical issue in our society and your film explored in fascinating detail the issues we face, as well as the difficult issue of convincing people to get vaccinated."
From MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO:
Read or listen to the radio story about TRUSTED MESSENGER: "The film also highlights the efforts of health care workers who provide accurate information about the vaccine. They are the trusted messengers."
"You may ask yourself, 'Haven't I heard and seen enough about COVID-19 and vaccines, and can't I just take a break from that?' Well, you could, but you'd really be missing out. In Trusted Messenger, Twin Cities filmmaker Chris Newberry takes the time to explore why some individuals in communities of color are reluctant to get the COVID vaccine, and what health care professionals across Minnesota are doing to convince them to vaccinate-- like maybe trying to win over a skeptical but respected North Side Minneapolis barber. The people Chris shows us in his film teach us that we have to reject false information about vaccines, but we also have to reject the automatic demonization of all people who have hesitancies about them. This is a serious subject but an enjoyable film. Chris is a good storyteller-- it's why he won the Big Water Audience Favorite Award in 2014 for his film, American Heart."
From the FARGO FILM FESTIVAL:
"an exemplary example of independent filmmaking. Of course Covid remains a critical issue in our society and your film explored in fascinating detail the issues we face, as well as the difficult issue of convincing people to get vaccinated."
From MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO:
Read or listen to the radio story about TRUSTED MESSENGER: "The film also highlights the efforts of health care workers who provide accurate information about the vaccine. They are the trusted messengers."
TRUSTED MESSENGER in the News!
Announcing the Twin Cities Filmmakers Selected for 'The 2020 Project' on Twin Cities PBS
Film documents efforts to protect people hardest hit by COVID on Minnesota Public Radio
TWIN CITIES FILM FEST ANNOUNCES 2021 AWARD FINALISTS at TCFF
"Trusted Messenger" in the Fargo Film Festival on KFGO Radio
Trusted Messenger: Bringing Stories of Local Leaders Encouraging COVID-19 Vaccination on Migrant Clinicians Network
TRUSTED MESSENGER
Film Credits
PRODUCED AND DIRECTED
BY
CHRIS NEWBERRY
SENIOR ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
DR. WILLIAM STAUFFER
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS
MARIA ISABEL VALDIVIA
ABDI MOHAMED
EDITED BY
CHRIS NEWBERRY
MARIA ISABEL VALDIVIA
MILES PAINTER
ERICA TICKNOR
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
CHRIS NEWBERRY
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY / SECOND-UNIT DIRECTOR
ERICA TICKNOR
SPANISH INTERPRETING & TRANSLATION
MARIA ISABEL VALDIVIA
DR. MIGUEL RUIZ
LEGAL SERVICES
DAN SATORIUS, SATORIUS LAW FIRM PC
FOR TWIN CITIES PBS
COLORIST / ON-LINE EDITOR
EZRA GOLD
AUDIO SWEETENING
ERIC PAGEL
GRAPHIC DESIGN
JON VAN AMBER
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
ABDIFATAH ABDI
MEDIA ASSET MANAGER
ALYSSA FRANKLIN FULLER
MEDIA ASSET SPECIALIST
NASTJA NYKAZA
SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND MEDIA OPERATIONS
TED HINCK
SUPERVISING PRODUCER
ADAM GEIGER
VICE PRESIDENT, MN CONTENT & DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION
JOHN DAENZER
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER
MELISSA WRIGHT
FEATURING
DR. FOZIA A. ABRAR
COLETTE CHE
IRIS DE LA ROSA
ROXANNE DESJARLAIT
BARBARA GARCIA
REBECA GONZALEZ
RODOLFO GUTIERREZ
DR. HODA HASSAN
DR. ZEKE MCKINNEY
DR. FRANK RHAME
KELLY ROBINSON
VINCE ROCK
DR. MIGUEL RUIZ
CARLA SARAT
DR. CHRISTINE THOMAS
ELDER VILLATORO
ANGELA WILLIAMS
TETO WILSON
SPECIAL THANKS TO
DR. ASHLEY NEWBERRY
DR. JENNIFER RHO
JOHN ROSENOW
LWEPAW KACHER
EVERY GYI
HOLLY BARBORAK
MEGAN HOWER
CARONDELET CATHOLIC SCHOOL
DR. JONATHAN KIRSCH
MIA WELLS
TRISHELLE EVANS
PABLO MONTERROSO
WEEMA MADANI
ABHINAB KC
TRACI BADU
DR. TSIGE GEBRESLASSE
DR. SALAHUDIN MAALIM
NORAH SHAPIRO
CY DODSON
ESTEFANY VALDIVIA
AMY SCATLIFF
DR. ANTENEH ZEWDE
DR. SELOME GEZAHEGN
HODAN GULED
KIEN MIYA CHE
LYNA NYAMWAYA
LYNN BAHTA
ANN LINDE
DAI VU
DANUSHKA WANDURAGALA
JOHN SHADL
EDDIE HAUBRICH
JESSE STOCK
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DAN FEEHAN
JOHN MICEVICH
VAULT HEALTH
SHELLY GODDARD
CINDY BOUDREAUX
JULIA MENDOZA
TRI-VALLEY OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL
CONNY BERGERSON
ALLINA HEALTH
DR. BRADLEY BENSON
BETH NELSON
SCOTT WEBER
DANIEL ISCHE
M HEALTH FAIRVIEW
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MEDICAL CENTER
SCOTT BEEDY
DAVID MARTINSON
JODI DESCHENE
JEANNE METTNER
HEALTHPARTNERS
REGIONS HOSPITAL
CHRISTINE HILL
HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE
WILSON’S IMAGE BARBERS & STYLISTS
BLACK NURSES ROCK – TWIN CITIES
IGLESIA EVANGÉLICA EL ALTO Y ETERNO DIOS
GEORGE GOGGLEYE
DR. MICHAEL SUNDBERG
DR. ELIZABETH RADUEGE
DR. WILLIAM RADUEGE
ANTONY STATELY
AIDA STROM
DR. THOMAS WYATT
KOUSHIK PAUL
DR. CUONG PHAM
RACHEL KERN
NANCY ANN LATTIE
DALE PEDERSEN
DARLA JOHNSON
MEGHAN PAQUETTE
LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE
IRSHAD ISLAMIC CENTER
ABDULLAHI ADEN
ABUBAKAR AS-SADIQUE ISLAMIC CENTER
ALLISON THRASH
LORI IMSDAHL
HENNEPIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
ERIN MANN
SYREETA WILKINS
SAYYEDA KARIM
GERMAINE GRUENEBERG
ABHI ANDLEY
HOMELAND HEALTH SPECIALISTS
LINDSAY KOLSRUD
JAMES BURROUGHS
JENNIFER BLASCHKO
AND ALL THOSE WHO APPEAR IN THE FILM
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING
FOR PROVIDING MEDIA
NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS, AND MIGRANTS
DR. HODA HASSAN, SOMALI MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
ELDER VILLATORO
LILLIAN MCDONALD, TPT NOW
TETO WILSON
IGLESIA EVANGÉLICA EL ALTO Y ETERNO DIOS
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AT ATLANTA
COPYRIGHT 2021
TWIN CITIES PBS
AND
TERMINAL ONE