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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."
​

​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


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TWIN CITIES PBS
AND
TERMINAL ONE