“I didn’t care what anyone thought of the film except the Marshallese community,” McMahan said. “Once they felt well represented, everything else felt like a bonus.” That momentum led to unexpected international attention. Representatives from the United Nations working in human rights and climate change asked permission to cite the film in an upcoming report, noting that while the Marshall Islands have been widely studied, far less attention has been paid to Marshallese communities living in small-town America. “When the United Nations calls and says they want to use your film to help save the world, even in a small way, that’s beyond just seeing it on a big screen,” Kobs said. While the film was shot primarily in Enid and was therefore not eligible for Oklahoma City’s film rebate, the filmmakers said support from the City of Oklahoma City’s Film and Creative Industries Office still played an important role. Jill Simpson, director of the OKC Film and Creative Industries Office, worked with the team as they navigated the broader incentive landscape and explored state-level options. “Supporting projects like 67 Bombs to Enid is about strengthening Oklahoma City’s creative ecosystem,” Simpson said. “Even when a film is produced outside the city limits, helping filmmakers navigate the process and connect with resources benefits the entire state’s creative economy.” At its core, the film centers the Marshallese community itself, which the filmmakers found focused not on anger over the past, but on education, opportunity and preserving culture. “If the film sparks curiosity and makes people want to learn more,” Kobs said, “that’s a win.”
When filmmakers Kevin Ford, Ty McMahan and Brandon Kobs describe their documentary 67 Bombs to Enid , the reaction is often disbelief. The film examines the legacy of U.S. nuclear weapons testing in the Marshall Islands and the lasting consequences that followed, including the relocation of a large Marshallese community to Enid, Oklahoma, thousands of miles from the islands they once called home. What begins as a historical inquiry becomes a deeply human portrait of survival, culture and resilience. “It puts a real human face on the dangers of nuclear testing,” Kobs said. “But just as important, it shows the triumphs. These are people who are overcoming trauma and building lives here.” That balance shapes the film’s tone. “There’s a lot of uplift in the film,” Ford said. “You don’t walk out feeling crushed. You feel like you’ve actually spent time with people.” After premiering at the deadCenter Film Festival, where it won Best Documentary, 67 Bombs to Enid screened in Los Angeles, New York City and Dallas, resonating with audiences far beyond Oklahoma. 67 BOMBS TO ENID BRINGS OKLAHOMA STORY TO INTERNATIONAL STAGE
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