In the midst of a frozen Minnesota winter, a Japanese drum master and Korean adoptee from North Dakota join forces to assemble the world's best Taiko drummers in a bold effort to claim a cultural spotlight that has historically been reserved only for men. Their rhythm revolution includes rock stars from the world of Taiko: Tiffany Tamaribuchi, Kaoly Asano, Chieko Kojima, Megan Chao-Smith, and Jennifer Weir. Through grueling rehearsals, Jennifer weaves together their disparate voices and styles. Vulnerability, pain, and joys are shared. We quickly see the bonds of friendship form as these talented women navigate their way through differences in culture, age, language, and performing styles. As the clock ticks toward their first performance, it becomes clear that their story has become much larger than Taiko.

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Directors - Keri Pickett, Dawn Mikkelson

This film has a largely Asian and female/nonbinary crew to create an intimate production that reflected the drummers of FINDING HER BEAT. This intimacy with the subject matter results in both unprecedented access and authenticity to this film. Director Dawn Mikkelson and Producer/Principal Participant Jennifer Weir have been friends for over half of their lives, so when Jennifer asked Dawn to lunch, she shared her All-Women, Taiko All-Star Concert dream. She wanted Dawn to film the concert. As a queer female filmmaker, Dawn resonated with Jennifer’s struggle to work in an art form that is still largely dominated by straight males, and the struggle to balance art, work, and family. Dawn saw more than concert footage, She envisioned the beginnings of a feature film. Together they launched FINDING HER BEAT.