Equipped with nothing more than standard iPads and basic iMovie software, two Wrangell freshmen spent their summer turning personal curiosities into cinema. Now, their work is headed for bigger screens.
Original, short documentaries by high school freshmen Quinton Davies and Erika Jabusch have been selected for prestigious film festivals this fall and winter, marking the second consecutive year that young storytellers from the community will reach wider audiences.
Davies’ documentary, “Standing Tall in Wrangell,” will screen at the Red Nation International Film Festival in Los Angeles, which runs Nov. 6-14, with streaming into the new year.
Jabusch’s film, “New Beginnings — Zanovo, Diving Deep into the Rich Tapestry of Russian Culture,” will travel north to the Anchorage International Film Festival, running Dec. 4-13.
For middle school digital storytelling teacher Laura Davies, who volunteers her time to mentor the students, the festival selections highlight pure grit and creative determination over high-end gear.
Quinton Davies turned his camera toward a milestone community tradition, documenting the multi-day totem raising in July 2025.
Jabusch looked inward toward family history and tradition, interviewing her mother, Natalya Jabusch, who immigrated from Russia to Alaska as a child. She also featured Valentina Bardin and Laris Bardin-Siekawitch, both immigrants as well.
