Genre
Synopsis
ROOTS OF FIRE 2 [Title TBD] takes audiences on a journey deep into the vibrant tapestry of Zydeco music and the individuals who dedicate their lives to living and preserving its rich heritage.
As the narrative unfolds, the film weaves together interconnected stories of five award winning musicians. While each artist represents a distinct voice within the Zydeco community, their journeys converge on common themes: issues such as family expectations, the pressure to honor ancestral legacies, racial dynamics within the cultural fabric, gender discrimination, language preservation, and the tension between innovation and tradition. Through captivating live performances, intimate family gatherings, and the lively energy of cowboy trail rides, dance halls and clubs, the film immerses viewers in the unmistakable sense of community that defines this genre and this culture.
Bio
Abby Berendt Lavoi is an award-winning Writer, Director and Producer. She directed the multi-award-winning feature documentary Roots of Fire which earned the prestigious Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Documentary of the Year Award and screened at over 25 film festivals. She is currently in development on the sequel, and in production on an episodic spinoff series, Dry Bones. She was the Showrunner of the 12 episode half-hour unscripted streaming series, My Amazing Cheap Date: New Orleans. Her work has screened at over 35 film festivals and has received awards and honors from the New Orleans Film Festival, Hot Springs Doc Fest, SIFF, Hawaii International Film Festival, SFIndieFest, Indie Memphis, the Telly Awards, Promax, and many others. Her TV staff credits include MTV, TVLand, Nick@Nite, Nickelodeon, and Current TV. Her screenwriting work has been recognized at Austin Film Festival, CineStory, and Stowe Story Labs. In 2021, she was awarded the Women in Film and Television’s Resilient Woman Award. Her series, It’s a Rough Life, was a finalist in the 2014 NYTVF History Channel Unscripted Development Pipeline. Her team won Best Film at the San Francisco 48 Hour Film Festival in 2012, and in 2011 she won Best Editor at Mockfest for the film Rolled, which she also produced. Since 2008, she has successfully run Lavoi Creative, a full service creative agency and production studio.
