The Eagle Huntress

[projekktor id=’25914′]

The Eagle Huntress is a documentary from first time feature director Otto Bell. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and features narration from Star Wars: The Force Awakens actress Daisy Ridley, who also acted as an executive producer on the film.

THE EAGLE HUNTRESS follows Aisholopan, a 13-year-old girl, as she trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her Kazakh family to become an eagle hunter, and rises to the pinnacle of a tradition that has been handed down from father to son for centuries. Set against the breathtaking expanse of the Mongolian steppe, THE EAGLE HUNTRESS features some of the most awe-inspiring cinematography ever captured in a documentary, giving this intimate tale of a young girl’s quest the dramatic force of an epic narrative film.

Bell had to build a relationship with Aisholopan and her family, who were all unaccustomed to westerners. “It was hard, as she’s a 13-year-old girl who’s chronically shy, and I didn’t speak the language,” says Bell. “I concentrated on my relationship with her mom and dad first, to get them comfortable. They are very reserved and stoic people, so I had to respect that as I approached them. It took awhile, but over time she and I really built a friendship.”

The Eagle Huntress is rated G.