Musher

Musher peels back the veil behind the bond that four women have between their dogs and the world of sled-dog racing. As each woman prepares for the Copperdog annual race, we reveal the intimate insight into the mushing community, devotion to that lifestyle, and how women influence the sport.

Anuradha Rana | Director and Producer

Born and raised in India, Anuradha Rana’s immigrant roots create the lens of a curious interloper at the heart of her films, where everyday characters push conventional boundaries. She was a 2019 CAAM (Center for Asian American Media) Fellow, a finalist at Tribeca Film Institute’s 2019 If/Then Shorts program, showcased at the TFI Network in 2020, and selected for the 2021 Chicago Independent Producer’s Lab organized by Full Spectrum Features and the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs. Anuradha is an Associate Professor and Co-Chair of the Documentary Program at DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts, and Creative Lead for the Diverse Voices in Doc Fellowship organized by Kartemquin Films and Community Film Workshop of Chicago. She was named one of Chicago Film’s 50 Screen Gems by Newcity Magazine in 2017 and 2019 and a DCASE Esteemed Artist in 2021.

Laurie Little | Director and Producer

Originally from Canada, Laurie Little is a Chicago based filmmaker, artist and educator. Her films have screened in festivals and exhibitions worldwide and her observational documentaries and short fiction films work to inspire dialogue and advocacy for change. Her film, "Sisters March", a short documentary reflecting on the journey between Chicago and DC, connects voices of hope, empowerment, and intersectionality during the Women's March. "Totalité" about Photographer/Umbraphile Richard Bellia, looks at Bellia's passion for the creative process and its parallels to nature. Her latest feature documentary, "Musher" follows four female dog sled racers ranging from ages 13 to 64, on the Lake Superior race circuit a collaboration. Little is currently producing "The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt's Monument for Ida B. Wells”. Her short film, Canopy screened at "Night of Ideas" at the Field Museum just before the pandemic hit. Little holds a BFA from York University and an MFA in Film and Video from Columbia College Chicago where she teaches the classes Documenting Social Injustice and Culture Race and Media. Her work as a freelance digital artist/colorist helps to support her passion projects.