THE NEW ABOLITIONISTS Documentary Gaining Steam on the Festival Circuit

"The New Abolitionists," a documentary by actress/producer Christina Zorich, tracks her journey as she follows committed abolitionists throughout Southeast Asia as they attempt to affect change and put an end to human sex trafficking. The film is continuing its successful festival run, competing at Utah's Red Rock Film Festival (November 4-7), Louisville International Film Festival (November 5-7), Studio City Film Festival (November 6- 12) and Milan International Film Festival (November 18th - December 16th). Red Rock Film Festival will hold both virtual and in-theater screenings, while the rest of the festivals will be virtual only.

In the course of the film, Zorich tracks the trajectories of the Christian ministries and NGO's (non-government organizations) who save children and teens entrapped and enslaved in the sex trade throughout Cambodia and Thailand. They educated her on the causes and conditions that led to the blossoming of this criminal industry, the government's complicity, and the structure they used to solve the problem: Rescue, Rehabilitation, Prosecution and Prevention. Heartbreaking stories ensue of young people of both sexes, many betrayed by close family members who sell them off to traffickers for financial gain. The programs that many of these organizations offer help these victims gain financial freedom and self esteem through vocational training in a safe and loving space. Because of the danger involved, some of the people Zorich met along with way could not get involved with the film as the exposure would undercut their visas and ability to safely do their renegade work.

The film was a long journey for Zorich. She made 2 trips to the region, the first in 2015, where she laid the groundwork for a longer shoot, meeting the people involved in these rescues. She utilized the footage from the first trip to hone the film she would eventually make- testing the footage with focus groups and took an online course with documentarian Darren Wilson. She returned to the region a year later, shot 600 hours of footage and spent the next 3 years editing her film.

"With this film," says Zorich, "I set out to not only expose the causations of trafficking, but to reveal practical solutions. My hope is that learning from these brave abolitionists will inspire others to join the fight in whatever way they can."

Zorich Directed and Produced the film. Landon Satterfield served as the film's Story Editor as well as Co-Editor with Zorich. The pair worked together over a period of 3 years shaping the story. Zorich's mother, Academy Award winning actress Olympia Dukakis, came on as a producer during post production, to help complete the film.

Now in its 14th year, the annual international Red Rock Film Festival & RFM Conference has a mission to encourage "film that portrays the human race in a positive light." It is an artist's retreat for film, cuisine, parties, and workshops with approachable professional people.

For over a decade, the Louisville International Festival of Film has explored, encouraged and enriched the next great generation of film-making and new media artists. Filmmakers form all over the world have been thrilled by the enthusiastic audiences and the one-of-a-kind Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat inscribed with the name of the winning film in each category.

Studio City Film Festival's mission is to present the very best in provocative and/or informative entertainment to a wide range of viewers. All genres are welcome. They wish to encourage all cultures and ethnicities, seeking to give a voice to all segments of the population, especially those that have been under-represented in the past - with the firm belief that the arts are a unifying force that serve to bridge all cultural and ethnic gaps.

MIFF (Milan International Film Festival), nicknamed by the press as the "Milanese Sundance", has been recognized and distinguished as the official International Cinema exhibition festival of Milan. MIFF existed as a conventional film festival for 10 years, until 2010, when MIFF reinvented itself as MIFF Awards, a brand new genre in the sphere of film events that featured an avant-garde format pointed at the best of the best through a tough Winner category's selection.

An high recognition formula specifically designed to make independent filmmakers - and their films - more successful and marketable. A new and unique film event concept based on the traditional award "Nomination" categories selection format - originated by the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) or Oscar system, merged along with a traditional film festival of "only Winner category's" screenings program, to select a final Best Film of all.

Organized by the non-profit Italian cultural association Leonardo Da Vinci Film Society (LDVFS), MIFF Awards wIth its Independent Spirit Identity, it's an event studied for filmmakers/distributors who always necessitate to raise the prestige and the Media impact of their films.

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