The Rescue List

Name: The Rescue List
Director: Alyssa Fedele,Zachary Fink
Released: 2018

Alyssa Fedele Zachary Fink 2018

In a hidden safehouse in the Ghanaian forest, social workers help two children recover from a childhood enslaved to fishermen on Lake Volta – the largest man-made lake on Earth. But their story takes an unexpected turn when their rescuer embarks on another rescue mission and asks the children for help. The Rescue List charts the unfolding drama of these rescue operations alongside a stirring portrait of the boys’ recoveries as they prepare to return to their families. The film depicts a moving story of friendship and courage that transcends the trope of victimhood, exploring what it means to love and to survive.
Winner of the 2021 Emmy for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary.

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Running Time:

79 min.

Spoken Languages:

English

Subtitles:

English

Directors:

Alyssa Fedele Zachary Fink

Producers:

Alyssa Fedele, Zachary Fink, Davis Coombe

Cinematographers:

Zachary Fink

Editors:

Alyssa Fedele, Davis Coombe

Production Companies:

Collective Hunch

Press

The Hollywood Reporter

'The Rescue List': Film Review | San Francisco 2018

Stephen Farber

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Indiewire

‘The Rescue List’ Review: An Eye-Opening Documentary About One School’s War Against Human Trafficking in Ghana

David Ehrlich

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Variety

Film Review: ‘The Rescue List’ A hotbed of child slavery in Ghana is targeted by activists in this involving activist documentary

Dennis Harvey

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Hollywood Reporter

“A film of compassion and insight.”
Indiewire

“Eye-opening and empathetic.”
Indiewire

“The patience and sensitivity with which “The Rescue List” renders the children is remarkable.”
Indiewire

“Few environments could better express the power of a basic education.”
Film Threat

“Remarkable. The power of this film is that it’s all real.”
The Independent Critic

"Sneaks up on you with its power and impact.”
SFFILM

“The Rescue List portrays an artful balance of ethnography and visual poetry while it brings to light the overlooked reality of child labor and slavery in Ghana.”

Festival Participation

News & Documentary Emmy Awards - 2021
Outstanding Social Issue Documentary Winner
San Francisco International Film Festival - 2018
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival - 2018
DocLands Film Festival - 2018
Mountainfilm Telluride - 2018
Black Star International Film Festival - 2018
BendFilm Festival - 2018
Best Documentary Award
Heartland International Film Festival - 2018
Richard D. Propes Social Impact Award
Denver Film Festival - 2018
DOC NYC Film Festival - 2018
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - 2018
Greater Farmington Film Festival - 2018
Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival - 2018
Ashland Independent Film Festival - 2018
James Blue Award

Educational Resources

Discussion Guide

The guide includes the filmmaker's statement, synopsis, key participants, key issues, article sources, points to raise after watching the film and discussion prompts. The document also lists film-related websites.

Gina Tillis

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Lesson Plan

The plan covers the collateral consequences of modern slavery on childhood. It lists objectives, materials, activities, step by step preparation when watching the film and engagement options through reflection and writing. The document lists helpful sources and resources for further learning.

Vivett Dukes

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Reading List

Over 20 publications, many from recent years, divided into 4 audience and genre categories: either adult or younger readers, either nonfiction or fiction.

Various

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Additional Materials

Distribution Company

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