Brooklyn Arts Council

Dana Bartle is a documentary filmmaker based in New York City and originally from Somers Point, New Jersey. Her short film "Bend & Bow," about the notorious "Saw Lady" of the New York Subway, premiered at the 2008 Hot Docs International Film Festival with additional screenings at Dokufest International Film Festival in Kosovo,Detroit Docs International Film Festival and at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival 2009. Her short film "Blind Faith: A Film About Seeing," which reconsiders the notion of "disability" by exploring the creative space between light and dark, was winner of the Best Soundtrack award at Hot Docs in 2007. The film also screened at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in 2008. "Shadows of Guilt," a 23 minute film that follows the story of a convicted murderer and his struggle to reenter society is currently screening on the Documentary Channel. Bartle is currently in pre-production on her first feature documentary "Raise It Up For Ma Dukes." For more information about the film visit www.raiseitupformadukes.com

In 2006 celebrated hip-hop producer J Dilla died from Lupus. Without health insurance his mother, Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey, mortgaged her home and life saving's to help save her beloved son. In 2008 she lost her home and learned that her son's estate would be turned over to the government due to the overwhelming debt brought on by his disease. Today Ma Dukes is not only fighting for her son's estates, she is also fighting the same disease that took her son. Raise it up for Ma Dukes.

Dana A Bartle