Blog

Impact Film Festival '09 Alum Libby Spears is poised to see excerpts from her film, PLAYGROUND, screened before a senate committee hearing on sex trafficking for the second time in three months. She will also participate in the hearing, provided the DC inclement weather doesn't result in a reschedule.  The film is shaping attitudes and legislation as increasing numbers of policy-makers are exposed to its powerful portrayal of sex trafficking of children in the US.

Senator Richard Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law will convene a Subcommittee hearing entitled "In Our Own Backyard: Child Prostitution and Sex Trafficking in the United States" this week, a direct result of viewing PLAYGROUND, which outlines the problem in the US.  They plan to present excerpts from the film at the hearing.  This follows a hill briefing Senator Ron Wyden held in December and legislation he introduced that targets federal funds to regions of the country with the greatest need.  According to the legislation, each pilot project would receive a grant of $2.5 million.  The money would be used for:

• Shelters to provide separate housing for trafficking victims;
• Clothing and other daily needs to keep victims from returning to the street;
• Victims' assistance counseling and legal services;
• Education or job training classes for victims;
• Training for law enforcement and social services providers;
• Police officer salaries-patrol officers, detectives, investigators;
• Prosecutor salaries and other trial expenses;
• Investigation expenses-wiretaps, expert consultants, travel, other "technical assistance" expenditures (currently, there is a cap on "technical assistance" that is too low.);
• Outreach, education, and deterrence/prevention efforts.

Libby Spears, who also participated in Senator Wyden's event, told us, "We're thrilled that PLAYGROUND is being utilized by policy-makers in their efforts to end sex trafficking and increase support for victims in the US.  These hearings are the beginning of the battle and more legislators and citizens need to engage in the conversation that PLAYGROUND is trying to jumpstart."

We'll check in with Libby after the hearing and keep you updated on what happens, as well as any change-making from other films we've championed as they move beyond awareness to achieving real impact.

To all of the artists, panelists, partners, programmers, supporters, vendors, and volunteers for the Impact Arts + Film Fund (IAFF) programs in 2008-2009, a very hearty thank you!  It has been such an honor to showcase high-caliber work, build prestigious and exciting panel discussions and celebrate your accomplishments. 

It is always a thrill when films that you've championed receive the second highest filmmaking honor: Academy Award nominations (the highest of course being the Oscar win).  A special shout out of congratulations to the 2009 films we screened in DC:

FOOD, INC - Best Documentary Feature

THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS - Best Documentary Feature

IN THE LOOP - Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

THE MESSENGER - Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Woody Harrelson, THE MESSENGER - Best Supporting Actor Role

When my fellow co-founders Jamie Shor, Kimball Stroud and our friends and partners at IAFF set about creating this organization, we weren't entirely sure what we were building.  But we knew a few things: (1) we were committed to elevating the themes and topics in the arts through film screenings, panel discussions, promotional events and the press to educate and enlighten audiences; (2) our location in the nation's Capital and our backgrounds in politics, policy and entertainment enabled us to provided benefits to filmmakers and artists beyond what other organizations can; and (3) we are measured by the success we share with our artists and their education campaigns.  The tagline for our Festivals and screenings has been "Where Film Crosses the Aisle" and we're happy to report, our events are populated with politically-diverse points of view and representatives who value the insights conveyed in Impact films.

Tina Daunt wrote of our Kick-off in the Los Angeles Times, "One of the most successful innovations at both conventions this year is also one of the most unlikely: A film festival."  Since launching at the Democratic and Republican Conventions with a nine-film slate including IOUSA, TROUBLE THE WATER, FLOW, BOOFIE MAN: THE LEE ATWATER STORY, KICKING IT and BATTLE IN SEATTLE, we have held successful policy-focused screenings in 2009 of Oscar-nominated FOOD, INC and IN THE LOOP, plus GOOD HAIR and ME AND ORSON WELLES.

Our 2009 Impact Film Festival, with most screenings in the US Capitol building, included Oscar-nominated THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS and THE MESSENGER, as well as MONEY-DRIVEN MEDICINE, PLAYGROUND and a private screening for CLIMATE REFUGEES, which had its acclaimed public World Premiere at the Just concluded 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Senator Barbara Boxer was in attendance at both events, to drive home climate change as a national security issue.  All our screenings include such policy-maker attendance to enhance the dialogue and increase engagement, which you can find elsewhere on our site.

We have also launched books with impactful subjects.  Most recently, an event with Anne E. Kornblut for her book Notes From The Cracked Ceiling: Hilary Clinton, Sarah Palin, And What it Will Take For A Woman To Win.  It included a discussion with Dee Dee Meyers, Nicolle Wallace and Kathleen Parker, introduced by The Fix's Chris Cillizza.  See Video clips here: http://tinyurl.com/y8f37ql

IAFF held successful events for Douglas Brinkley's The Wildnerness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt And The Crusade For America and Dan Mirvish and Eitan Gorlin's I Am Martin Eisenstadt: One Man's (Wildly Inappropriate) Adventures With The Last Republicans.

None of this would have been possible without our "Artists Making an Impact" Presidential Inauguration event and "First Amendment Party" as part of the White House Correspondence Dinner weekend, which helped elevate our mission and raise funds for our programs.

We hope you will browse our site to learn more about our mission and sign up for updates for our 2010 activities.

May all your artistry have impact in 2010 and beyond.

Jody Arlington, Co-Founder