DOCUMENTARY FILM "CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT" TRACING THE INSPIRING LIFE OF NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE DESMOND TUTU PREMIERES AT MONTE CARLO TELEVISION FESTIVAL
World premiere marks global launch of PeaceJam Foundation's One Billion Acts of Peace campaign
Archbishop and 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu today celebrated the world premiere showing of the PeaceJam Foundation's documentary film "Children of the Light" at the Monte Carlo Television Festival hosted by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. Narrated by Tutu's daughter, Naomi Tutu, "Children of the Light" follows the life story of the South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide recognition during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid.
The premiere is part of the global launch of the PeaceJam Foundation's One Billion Acts of Peace campaign, a five-year drive to inspire and enable people around the world to create one billion high quality projects to address some of the most important issues facing humanity. The PeaceJam Foundation is a U.S.-based non-profit organization and global leader in developing young activists and community engagement. Tutu is one of 13 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates who have agreed to use PeaceJam as a vehicle for mentoring those who commit to creating an Act of Peace. Core focus areas for the campaign will address issues such as rights for women and children, access to clean water for all, global climate change and alleviating extreme poverty.
"I am humbled that my life and my work can be the inspiration even one person needs to commit to making a meaningful act," said Tutu. "As one human family, we need to create change every single day because it is each one of our small acts, added together, that truly will have the power to change the world."
"The word 'peace' is powerful, but at the same time, it is not so clear. Peace means a lot of things to a lot of people," said Dawn Engle, Executive Director of the PeaceJam Foundation, which she co-founded with her husband Ivan Suvanjieff. "True understanding comes from seeing and hearing. This is the gift that Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureates have given us, by offering to show ordinary citizens and tell everyday people how one simple act that matters can be a powerful catalyst for change."
"We are all profoundly humbled and honored to have Prince Albert and Archbishop Tutu launch One Billion Acts of Peace with us. We pledge to work tirelessly to make the campaign a huge success in order to deserve the trust and love they have given to us. And we promise not to make them cry " said Chade-Meng Tan, the Jolly Good Fellow of Google and Prince Charming of the PeaceJam Foundation, clearly being his usual jolly good self.
More information, including how to pledge an Act of Peace, can be found at www.1baop.org.
In addition to scenes from Tutu's life, from the struggle against apartheid to the heartbreaking yet inspiring truth and reconciliation process in South Africa, "Children of the Light" will also feature the work of five young activists and leaders who were inspired and formed by the example of Desmond Tutu, and who are now creating social change in their own communities in Peru, Burma, East Timor, India and South Africa.
Starting on June 9, 2014 Google Play is offering it for only 99 cents per view.
"Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful," said Diane Solinger, manager of GooglersGive at Google. "As founding partners of PeaceJam and One Billion Acts of Peace, Google volunteers were thrilled to design the 1baop.org website and we're excited to help make 'Children of the Light' as accessible as possible through Google Play."
"Children of the Light" is the second in a Nobel Legacy series produced by the PeaceJam Foundation. The first film in this series, "Mayan Renaissance," featuring 1992 Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum of Guatemala, was released in May 2012. "Educating the Heart," featuring 1989 Nobel Peace Laureate The Dalai Lama of Tibet, will be released in December of 2015.
One feature-length documentary film will be added to this series every year. Each unique and powerful film will be featured on PBS, in film festivals, on DVD and online. In addition, these films will be made a permanent part of the PeaceJam Foundation's award-winning global youth development curriculum.
For 18 years, the PeaceJam Foundation has been the global leader in developing young activists and community engagement through the mentorship of 13 Nobel Peace Laureates, including the Dalai Lama, Tum, and Tutu. PeaceJam officially launched its One Billion Acts of Peace campaign on May 29, 2014 at the Social Innovation Summit at the United Nations in New York with the announcement of its first four founding partners, including Google, Wells Fargo, Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Chadbourne Parke. To date, one million people have participated in PeaceJam programs worldwide, performing two million acts of peace.
About PeaceJam Foundation
The PeaceJam Foundation is an international organization whose mission is to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Laureates who pass on their spirit, skills and wisdom. The PeaceJam Foundation was launched in February 1996 by co-founders Dawn Engle and Ivan Suvanjieff to provide the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates with a programmatic vehicle to use in working together to teach youth the art of peace. To date, 13 Nobel Peace Laureates, including the 14th Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, President Oscar Arias, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Betty Williams, José Ramos-Horta, Aung San Suu Kyi, Sir Joseph Rotblat (Emeritus), Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee serve as Members of the PeaceJam Foundation.
Contacts:
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Courtney Quattrini, +1-415-281-7187
courtney.quattrini@hkstrategies.com
or
Caroline Duke, +1-415-281-7136
caroline.duke@hkstrategies.com
