Dear Erik

Michael Zahs, an eccentric collector and the self-appointed local historian of a small town in Iowa, leads a quiet, meditative life. But one day he stumbles upon something that will end up consuming him for more than 32 years. In a farmhouse basement he discovers a cache of old dusty film reels and various other movie memorabilia. Within this treasure trove is fascinating rare footage of Teddy Roosevelt, some of the first known moving images from Asia, and, most remarkably, a collection of magical films from cinematic pioneer Georges Méliès. As he digs deeper, he soon begins to uncover the legacy of William Brinton, the driven midwest entrepreneur who brought the first moving pictures to America’s heartland in the late 1800s. In this heartwarming film, Zahs encounters many surprises in his journey to share this historical discovery and makes it his mission to restore Brinton’s name in cinematic history. IN PERSON: Filmmaker John Richard, Film Subject Michael Zahs Preceded by DEAR ERI