University of Santa Monica Freedom to Choose Documentary Has Been Accepted Into the American Pavillion Emerging Filmmakers Showcase at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival

(LOS ANGELES) --- The University of Santa Monica's short documentary, Freedom to Choose, has been chosen as one of ten finalists for the 2009 Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival, May 13-24, 2009.

The 2009 Emerging Filmmaker Showcase provides an opportunity for young filmmakers to have their work seen by Cannes Festival and Market attendees. Prizes are awarded to filmmakers and the top ten films will be screened in a special “Emerging Filmmaker” showcase at The American Pavilion in Cannes. All films accepted into the showcase will be available for screening on an ongoing basis at The American Pavilion during the Festival, and the winning films will be featured in a special showcase screening for an invited audience of industry professionals.

The Freedom to Choose full-length documentary has also received the Aloha Accolade Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the 2009 Honolulu International Film Festival. It has also been chosen for inclusion in the 2009 White Sands Film Festival being held in Las Cruces, New Mexico, April 23-26. In addition, the Freedom to Choose short version has been selected as one of 12 finalists for the Very Short Film Festival.

The documentary shares the story of the Freedom to Choose Workshop that was provided to over 160 inmates at Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla, California. Forty-six volunteer graduates from USM's M.A. Program in Spiritual Psychology traveled to this maximum security women's prison (one of the largest in the world) to bring the principles and experiential practices of Spiritual Psychology to the inmates. The film illustrates how the tools and skills taught in the Graduate Program at USM can have a positive impact on anyone regardless of situation, circumstance, or environment.

"This all started with an inmate sending us a letter. We had no idea where it would go - we just were called to respond and said, 'yes.' Now it's five and one half years later. USM recently completed its 11th workshop at the prison. The Freedom to Choose film's acknowledgement is great feedback from the Universe. By simply answering a call to be of service, miracles occur.

"We also discovered something else. As it turned out, women in prison are just as human, and as Divine, as people who are not in prison. It seems as though whether one is in prison or not makes very little difference."
- Dr. H. Ronald Hulnick, President, University of Santa Monica

"The film highlights the universality of the human experience - whether living in prison literally or just figuratively. This film was a labor of love and we are filled with joy that it's being recognized and acknowledged. We thank all those who put their time, expertise, generous donations and precious energy into the Freedom to Choose documentary as well as the Emerging Film Showcase."
- Dr. Mary R. Hulnick, Chief Academic Officer, University of Santa Monica

USM appreciates and acknowledges a number of key graduates who donated time, energy, expertise, and money to make this film a reality including Executive Producers Heide Banks '96 and Howard Lazar '02; Director and Producer Kirk Souder '06; and Producer Scott Mednick '97, who also serves on USM's Board of Directors. In addition, the University extends gratitude to Producer Jimmy Greenway and Director and Producer Michael Nadeau of Art and Industry Productions for their outstanding work and contribution.

USM also thanks all the women at the Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, California, who had the courage to participate in USM's Freedom to Choose Workshop, the graduate volunteers who have participated in this service project, and University faculty members and Directors of the Freedom to Choose Prison Project, Drs. David and Bonnie Paul.

This University service project is an ongoing work in progress. USM graduate volunteers continue to travel to the Chowchilla Prison for Women regularly to provide the Freedom to Choose Workshop to inmates. The project also recently expanded, with USM conducting the first "community based" Freedom to Choose Workshop to approximately 50 pregnant women currently on parole in Santa Barbara County.

You are invited to view the short film today by clicking here. To learn more about the University of Santa Monica's Graduate Programs in Spiritual Psychology, click here.

http://www.UniversityofSantaMonica.edu