Alfred University News

Alumni partner in production of documentary on youth suicides at Montana reservation

Alfred University alumnus Trent Cooper ’93, in partnership with fellow Alfred University graduate Kristen Klabin ’92, have produced an award-winning documentary film chronicling an epidemic of suicide of Native American youth at the Flathead Reservation in northwest Montana.


ALFRED, NY – Alfred University alumnus Trent Cooper ’93, in partnership with fellow Alfred University graduate Kristen Klabin ’92, have produced an award-winning documentary film chronicling an epidemic of suicide of Native American youth at the Flathead Reservation in northwest Montana.

“For Walter and Josiah” was produced by Cooper, a renowned documentary filmmaker/producer whose work focuses on issues of social justice, and Klabin, a member of the Alfred University Board of Trustees.

The documentary will be available to stream on AppleTV/iTunes, Amazon, Google and Vudu, beginning Sept. 16. It is available for pre-sale on Apple/iTunes Friday, Sept. 2, through Friday. Sept 15.

According the publicity materials, “For Walter and Josiah” “transports (viewers) to the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana where a small indigenous community is shaken to its core by a teen suicide epidemic that claims 22 Native lives in a single year – including two high school basketball team members. The documentary follows the basketball team during their most recent season as the surviving members play to honor their fallen brothers and uplift their community.”

Trailer, “For Walter and Josiah"

Cooper and Klabin first began discussing the project in 2018 when director Jamie Elias brought them the story of the indigenous community facing unfathomable challenges.

 “The people Jamie met on the reservation were so brave to let us in,” Klabin recalled. “It was an honor to help share their story and we felt an incredible responsibility to get it right.”

Cooper added, “Jamie’s film is beautifully shot and incredibly moving, but I think what we’re most proud of is that the spirit and resiliency of this community really shines through.”

Klabin and Cooper believe that the power of this film is in the important conversations it elicits, both on and off the reservation. Their hope is that the documentary is shared in high schools and colleges around the country, starting with a special screening at Alfred University this fall.

The film has already received numerous accolades, including:

          · Best Feature Length documentary and the Indigenous Spirit Award from the Portland Film Festival

         · Luna Female Director to Watch for director, Jamie Elias from the Sun Valley Film Festival

         · Best Documentary at the Florida Film Festival and Bozeman Film Festival

Cooper oversees NFL Network’s critically acclaimed series “NFL360” and has won five Emmys for sports features and documentaries that he produced and directed for the NFL.