WAITING FOR MAMU Makes Theatrical Debut Following Win at Traverse City Film Festival

Human Pictures, Llc., the production company founded by filmmaker Thomas Morgan, announced today that its documentary short, "Waiting for Mamu," will make its theatrical debut August 23rd - 29th at the Independent Film Center (IFC) in New York, making it eligible for Academy Award consideration. Earlier this month, the film won the Audience Award in its category at Director Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival, and became the first official pick for the Sedona Film Festival in February 2014.

"Waiting for Mamu," tells the story of Pushpa Basnet, a young social work student in Kathmandu, Nepal, who has changed the lives of more than 100 children who had been incarcerated with their parents in a local prison. It was during a tour of the prison, as part of her course work, that Pushpa was shocked to see children sitting on the prison floors. The children had been incarcerated with their parents, which is typical when they lack another guardian. As she turned to leave, an 8-month-old girl tugged at her shawl. "Without saying a word, this little girl was saying 'Don't leave me,'" Pushpa recalled.

Less than a year later, at age 21, Puspha opened the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) and began taking the children out of the prisons across the country. She houses them, feeds them, sends them to school she is their "Mamu," which means mother in Nepalese. She has housed more than 100 children over nine years and has 50 children who live with her at the ECDC today.

Producer/Director Thomas Morgan met Pushpa by chance and knew he had to tell her story. The film is an unvarnished look at the difficult truths these children face and at Pushpa's struggles and successes in changing their lives.

"It is an honor to receive the audience award at the Traverse City Film Festival, and to be the first official selection for Sedona's 20th anniversary. But our main focus remains on Pushpa's organization and her children. Until we are able to use the power of this film to fund her new Butterfly Home and give security to the lives of these children, everything else seems trivial."

"I have had others that have come to me to make a documentary or to tell our story. They come and they go," says Pushpa. "Thomas is the first that has come with the full intention of using our story to help our children, and for that I am forever grateful. He is my guardian angel he has been my Mamu."

Actress Susan Sarandon and Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock ("Supersize Me," CNN's "Inside Man") served as Executive Producers on "Waiting for Mamu."

"One of the most beautiful and hopeful stories I've ever seen. From the moment Thomas first told me about the project, I knew I had to do anything I could to help him get it made," said Spurlock.

"Waiting for Mamu" will run at 12:40pm from August 23rd - August 29th at the IFC, 323 Avenue of the Americas, in New York City.

For more information go to www.waitingformamu.com.

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