BEYOND*THE*RIBBON- Jennifer Welker

documentary film

Jennifer Welker – Film Maker

Jennifer Welker
Jennifer has been active in the arts for over ten years and a human rights activist for over seven years as a member of UNHCR. She earned a degree in fashion design from F.I.T, later creating the clothing line D-Jeans and co-designing for IC3D.

Jennifer is the founder of War*Angels, a non-profit human rights awareness group. She has been listed in Who’s Who of American Women and was engraved on the "Wall of Tolerance" at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Also active in the film industry, Jennifer has produced, directed, and edited film for various shorts, which include "Are we in the Dark", officially selected by the North Texas Film Festival. Her current project "Beyond the Ribbon" is a documentary that focuses on aspects of war, refugees and soldiers. She is in the process of production with United Digital Films and lives in New York City.

Beyond the Ribbon Synopsis

Beyond the Ribbon is an unflinchingly candid look at the people directly affected by War. Since Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom began the yellow ribbon has been displayed quite prominently in our nation. We see them on cars, tied around trees and flags, yet do we really know what is happening beyond our own border? Beyond the Ribbon asks these questions, providing a vital glimpse of soldiers and refugees, merging together both sides and the similarities.

The film follows a homeless veteran to show just how war has forever changed his life. Issues of mental stability, soldiers come back into society after being trained to kill and experienced things free of imagination. Many soldiers are living with lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse, compounded by a lack of family and social support networks. Beyond the Ribbon, shows the damage war has done to refugees globally to the extent of becoming not only homeless but also stateless. Many Refugees are in the direct conflict, being killed, raped, and mutilated for no other reasons but genocide and corruption. Refugees who survive the violence and upheaval have been ripped from their homes and forced to seek refuge in neighboring countries. From these wars, their land, crops, and homes have been destroyed and drenched with landmines. The Film shows that reality of home and the initial euphoria of going back sour and turns to frustration as families struggle to reintegrate into societies ravaged by war and social dislocation.

B.T.R is currently seeking further funding for Production. For more Information contact the Director welker@beyondtheribbon.com

Documentary Film