Synopsis

US, 2015; 76 min.

Plagued by her teenage brother’s 1978 murder, Manhattan art collector Martina Batan hires a private investigator to find out the truth behind her brother's death. Meanwhile, she diligently seeks out the artwork of New Orleans so-called "gangster" Roy Ferdinand, a deceased outsider artist whose violent imagery resonates with Batan's afflicted mind. Filled with surprising revelations, Batan’s journey eventually takes her to New Orleans, where she forms an unexpectedly emotional bond with Ferdinand's sisters. A mix of true crime investigation and heart-wrenching story of grief and healing, Missing People has been called a “quiet stunner” (Toronto Film Scene) and “subtly touching portrait of psychological trauma” (Indiewire.com). Winner, Best Documentary at the Hamptons International Film Festival; Special Jury Mention at DOC NYC. 

director bio

David Shapiro is a producer and director, known for Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale (2000), Missing People (2015) and Finishing Heaven (2008).