Brad is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker specializing in adventure, social issues, music and Spanish-language films that inspire audience engagement. He has worked on many documentaries including My Village, My Lobster, the CINE-winning documentary about indigenous lobster divers in Nicaragua; 120 Days: Undocumented in America, which tells the story of an undocumented immigrant’s last days in the United States with his family; Waiting for Oil, a half-hour film about the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill; and Songs from Bosawas, an adventure film that documents the first professional recording of Mayangna Indian musicians in the rainforests of Nicaragua. Brad’s most recent film, Landfill Harmonic, has been screened in over 200 festivals and honored with more than 40 audience and jury awards, including the SXSW Audience Award, AFI Fest Audience Award and the Green Film Network Award, considered the Oscar of environmental filmmaking. In addition, Brad won the Humanitas Prize in 2016 for his work on the film. Before transitioning to filmmaking, Brad spent 3 1⁄2 years as a community health volunteer in the Peace Corps in rural Nicaragua. He holds a M.A. in Film and Video Production from American University and a B.S. in Biology and Geology from the University of Georgia.
About the Film
Film: Landfill Harmonic
Filmmakers: Brad Allgood, Graham Townsley
Runtime: 84 minutes
Film Representative: Brad Allgood
Synopsis:
LANDFILL HARMONIC follows the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a Paraguayan youth orchestra that plays instruments made entirely out of garbage. When their story goes viral, the orchestra is catapulted into the global spotlight. Under the guidance of idealistic music director Favio Chavez, the orchestra must navigate a strange new world of arenas and sold-out concerts. However, when the largest flood in over 20 years devastates their community, Favio must find a way to keep the orchestra intact and provide a source of hope for their town. The film is a testimony to the transformative power of music and the resilience of the human spirit.