Come to the Grange Theatre for a FREE viewing of Lost Nation followed by Q&A with writer, director Jay Craven

An epic tale of Vermont's fight for self-determination, led by Ethan Allen; and Lucy Prince, the first black female poet, and her quest for justice and peace.

Lost Nation is a Revolutionary War action drama set in the early upstart territory now known as Vermont. The area was fiercely contested between New York land barons and a corrupt governor of New Hampshire, leading to poor settlers from upstate New York and southern New England rushing to buy and settle 50 and 100-acre plots. Lost Nation stars Irish actor Kevin Ryan as Vermont founding father and rebel schemer, Ethan Allen and Kenyan actress Eva Ndachi as pioneering poet, Lucy Terry Prince, who was enslaved at the age of 3 in western Massachusetts – and settled a Guilford, Vermont homestead with her family during this same time.

Jay Craven is an award-winning director, writer, and producer, whose narrative films include High Water (1989); Where the Rivers Flow North (1993); A Stranger in the Kingdom (1997); In Jest (1999); The Year that Trembled (2003); Disappearances (2006); Northern Borders (2012); Peter and John (2015); Wetware (2018), and Martin Eden, based on Jack London’s autobiographical novel. Craven also directed, produced, and co-wrote the 2005 Emmy Award-winning public television comedy series, Windy Acres, along with four episodes of the Queen City Radio Hour—a comedy and music variety show performed before a live audience and broadcast over Vermont Public Radio. His documentaries include After the Fog: Interviews with Combat Veterans (2006); Dawn of the People (1984); and Gayleen (1985). Jay directs the biennial Cinema Sarah Lawrence program (formerly Movies from Marlboro) where 25 professionals mentor and collaborate with 35 students from multiple colleges to make an ambitious narrative feature film for national release. Craven founded and directed Catamount Arts (1975-91) in St. Johnsbury and directed its film and performing arts program. In 1987 he co-founded Circus Smirkus, America’s only touring youth circus. And from 1979 to 1991 he co-produced Don Sunseri’s G.R.A.C.E. project for older indigenous visual artists.

2024 | 107 min.