Cultural Thursday – Crafting Stories with Representation, featuring Filmmaker Leah Xiuzhen Rathe

Join CLC for a captivating presentation by Asian-American and adoptee filmmaker Leah Xiuzhen Rathe, a Brainerd High School alum and award-winning filmmaker. Rathe, a 2023 Ignite Rural Artist-in-Residence and 2024 StorySeeds Screenwriting Fellow, holds a B.A. in Digital Media Arts with a Paralegal Certificate from Hamline University and operates a freelance creative business in the Brainerd lakes area.

Rathe will share excerpts from her acclaimed works, including her debut animated short film “CHOPSTICK” and the documentary featurette “The Accelerators: Brains, Braids, & Bots”. Inspired by her own journey as a Chinese adoptee growing up in the United States, “CHOPSTICK” tells the poignant story of an adopted chopstick navigating self-discovery in a land of forks. “The Accelerators: Brains, Braids, & Bots” follows the inspiring journey of an all-girls First Robotics Team from Cass Lake, MN.

Through her storytelling, Rathe highlights the power of representation in film and its ability to bridge perspectives and foster understanding. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with a talented filmmaker whose work has earned accolades at numerous film festivals.