What does it means to be a person from a place? BY WALKING provides an intimate portrait of a Korean American adoptee’s journey as she builds her own context in the land where she was raised while seeking connection with her ancestral homeland.

Director Biography - Mindy Cook, Sarah Haas

Mindy Cook is a documentary cinematographer with a love for real stories about everyday people who occasionally directs pieces that find her. She is also an adoptive sibling and worked in the non-profit adoption space for 6 years. Mindy has earned camera department credits on film & TV projects including JUNE (feature doc, Paramount+, Dir. Kristin Vaurio), a hybrid film featuring singer- songwriter Elizabeth Cook directed by Katy Chevigny, and HEROES OF CARENTAN (in post, Dir. Christian Taylor.)

Sarah Haas is a documentary filmmaker who believes a well told story builds empathy and helps make the world a kinder place. She worked as a field producer for documentaries like Invisible telling stories of Gay Women in Southern Music, The First Step following the activism of Van Jones on prison reform, and Phoenix Rising an intimate look at Evan Rachel Wood’s fight for domestic violence abuse victims and the chronicling of Wood’s experience escaping an abusive relationship. Sarah acted as line producer from production through delivery of Emmy Award-winning Girls State (Sundance 2024) for AppleTV+ where it is streaming today.

Director Statement

Beth’s story is special and I want to amplify her perspective as a Korean American adult adoptee who loves outdoor adventures. We are trail buddies (and fellow dog lovers) and have spent countless hours hiking together and traveling to and from different adventures. On these trips, we’ve had an ongoing conversation about adoption, identity, family, and belonging with Beth bringing the perspective of an adoptee and me coming from the perspective of sister to an adopted brother. Through this conversation, we’ve explored the overlap and divergence in our experiences with the complexities of adoption.

I have learned so much from our conversation and believe that Beth’s thoughts are of benefit to anyone who has questioned their place in the world. She wrestles with tough questions with a gentle tenacity and forges on with a determined freedom in both life and on the trail.

Traveling with Beth on her trip to Korea took these discussions to a new level, and I realized we had a potent story on our hands. My main hope in the filmmaking process is to honor Beth’s story by sharing it well. She invited us to document her journey back to South Korea and we have had ongoing conversations about what is filmed and when to put the camera down. We’ve continued this collaboration of trust while continuing to film and now exploring editing and finding audiences for the final project.

In a world that demands rigid absolutes, Beth’s story offers a slice of life that transcends assumptions and offers spacious hope mixed with unexpected joy.