New Zealand Documentary Film, 'A Grandmother's Tribe', raises CA $50,000 for African grandmothers
Auckland, NZ - November 23, 2007
New Zealand Company, Borderless Productions', latest film, 'A Grandmother's Tribe' has already raised CA$50,000 for African grandmothers.
The film, which tells the story of two grandmothers in Kenya - one rural and one urban - caught in the riptide of HIV/AIDS and left to raise their orphaned grandchildren, premiered a few weeks ago in a black-tie Gala Screening, sponsored by Canadian Company Element & Associates in Vancouver, Canada. After the film had been seen, a man in the audience raised his hand, and asked what it would cost to build a house for one of these grannies. The answer was $3,000. The man said he wanted to write a cheque. Another person raised their hand, and said they would like to build a house too. Within minutes, 10 houses had been pledged!
Developed as a model for "media and social enterprise", proceeds from 'A Grandmother's Tribe' special screenings, fund-raising & film distribution will be directed, through the 'A Grandmothers Tribe Fund - held in trust by Borderless Foundation NZ'. This Trust will work with community-based projects in Africa that support grandmother initiatives.
Documentary film, 'A Grandmother's Tribe' awarded SPECIAL MENTION in the 2007 DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival, Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland, NZ - October 3, 2007
Today it was announced that the Borderless Productions' documentary film, 'A Grandmother's Tribe', is awarded a SPECIAL MENTION after being selected a finalist in the 2007 DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival competing for the honor of Best New Zealand Documentary. The world premiere, which was held on September 29, 2007 in Auckland, attracted one of the biggest audiences the festival has seen. 'A Grandmother's Tribe' now travels to Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington for further screenings as a part of DOCNZ Festival.
DOCNZ is considered Australasia's leading documentary film festival and competition.
About the Documentary
Set between a tiny village and the largest slum in Africa, comes a story of two remarkable grandmothers. A Grandmother's Tribe is a 54-minute documentary that reveals the lives of countless grandmothers of Africa, left behind after the loss of their own children, who, with determination and tenderness are now responsible for the rearing of their orphaned grandchildren.
• It is estimated that in sub-Saharan Africa, there are now 16 million AIDS-orphaned children.
• In some regions, up to 60% of orphaned children are being raised by their grandmothers.
• Very little aid is reaching these women to help them with food, shelter, health care and education.
Directors, Dean Easterbrook and Qiujing Wong, of Borderless Productions Limited (NZ) bring audiences an unobstructed story of Emmanuel Makokha and Silas Odhiambo and their grandmothers who have selflessly stepped forward to raise, educate and prepare them for a better future. Their story begins seven days before, and leads up to Christmas Day as we witness the struggle, survival and reality of these grandmother-headed homes.
A Story that is Already Creating Impact
During the nine-month editing phase of the film, the story began to attract interest and momentum. Filmmakers, Dean Easterbrook and Qiujing Wong had launched Borderless Productions, as a "globally conscious" enterprise, with the vision to create films that would positively impact the world. Proceeds from 'A Grandmother's Tribe' will benefit the Stephen Lewis Foundation, a Canadian based organisation which supports community-based African organizations that benefit women and children living with HIV/AIDS and, in particular, grandmothers. Stephen Lewis, former UN Envoy to Africa, describes these women as "the unsung heroes of Africa".
The Vancouver Gala Screening will be presented by the Dalai Lama Center for Peace & Education. It is the first time the Center has hosted a film event, which will be held on October 31, 2007 (sponsored by Element & Associates).
The documentary will be entered in film festivals throughout North America, Asia and Europe before distribution through theatrical and broadcast release. There will also be a DVD and companion book released at a later date.
