FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Reva Goldberg (reva@cinereach.org)
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2009 CINEREACH AWARD PRESENTED TO
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILMMAKERS
FABRIZIO LAZZARETTI AND PAOLO SANTOLINI

Back Home Tomorrow tells moving parallel stories of young boys in Kabul and Khartoum

www.cinereach.org
www.hrw.org/iff

NEW YORK, NY (June 22, 2009) – To help celebrate the 2009 Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, Cinereach has presented the 2009 Cinereach Award, a $5,000 prize, to Fabrizio Lazzaretti and Paolo Santolini for their film Back Home Tomorrow. The festival concludes today, June 25th.

In Back Home Tomorrow, directors Fabrizio Lazzaretti and Paolo Santolini deftly weave together the stories of two children affected by war during their stays in the caring hands of Italian aid organization Emergency. Yagoub fled with his family from Darfur to the Mayo Refugee Camp in Khartoum. He has to undergo a serious heart operation, but neither his family nor his fellow tribesmen can come up with the money to pay for it. Murtaza is recuperating in a hospital in Kabul after losing his left hand to a landmine. The directors expertly interweave these two fascinating and heartfelt stories without commentary to create a film of complexity, resonance, and hope.

“Back Home Tomorrow exemplifies the meaningful and artistic filmmaking that Cinereach is committed to supporting,” said Cinereach Creative Director Michael Raisler. “We’re proud to join with Human Rights Watch in acknowledging the achievements of these and other filmmakers who use the power of film to promote dialogue and facilitate cross-cultural understanding.”

Last year’s Cinereach Award went to The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) directed by Ellen Kuras and co-directed by Thavisouk Phrasavath. The film went on to win Best Documentary at the Ann Arbor Film Festival, the Spectrum Award at Full Frame among others, and was nominated for an Academy Award and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary. It will air on PBS’ acclaimed P.O.V. series July 21, 2009.

About Cinereach

Cinereach was created in 2006 by young filmmakers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs with the goal of championing socially relevant films. Its three key areas, Grants & Awards, Productions, and The Reach Film Fellowship facilitate the creation of films that challenge, excite innovate, offer new perspectives and inspire action. Cinereach has awarded close to $2 million in grants and achievement awards since its inception. Past recipients include: A Jihad for Love, an acclaimed documentary exploring the complex intersection of Islam and homosexuality and Entre Nos a narrative feature film from IndiePix that premiered to great acclaim at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Cinereach’s first in-house documentary, The Road Ahead: The First Green Long March, was a selection of the Hamptons, Queens (Best Intl. Documentary), and Cleveland International film festivals and has screened in connection with leading environmental organizations. www.cinereach.org.

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In Back Home Tomorrow, directors Fabrizio Lazzaretti and Paolo Santolini deftly weave together the stories of two children affected by war during their stays in the caring hands of Italian aid organization Emergency. Yagoub fled with his family from Darfur to the Mayo Refugee Camp in Khartoum. He has to undergo a serious heart operation, but neither his family nor his fellow tribesmen can come up with the money to pay for it. Murtaza is recuperating in a hospital in Kabul after losing his left hand to a landmine. The directors expertly interweave these two fascinating and heartfelt stories without commentary to create a film of complexity, resonance, and hope.

“Back Home Tomorrow exemplifies the meaningful and artistic filmmaking that Cinereach is committed to supporting,” said Cinereach Creative Director Michael Raisler. “We’re proud to join with Human Rights Watch in acknowledging the achievements of these and other filmmakers who use the power of film to promote dialogue and facilitate cross-cultural understanding.”

Q&A with Fabrizio Lazzaretti (director), Paolo Benzi (producer) and Paolo Santolini (director)

Cinereach presented the award to the filmmakers at their Friday night HRWIFF Screening, where Lazzaretti, Santolini and Back Home Tomorrow Producer Paolo Benzi participated in a lively Q&A with an audience that was deeply moved by the film.

Last year’s Cinereach Award went to The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) Directed by Ellen Kuras and Co-Directed by Thavisouk Phrasavath. The film went on to win Best Documentary at the Ann Arbor Film Festival, the Spectrum Award at Full Frame among others, and was nominated for an Academy Award and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary. It will air on PBS’ acclaimed P.O.V. series July 21, 2009.

Cinereach Award Recipient "Back Home Tomorrow"

Cinereach has chosen “Back Home Tomorrow” to receive a Cinereach Award, a film making its US premiere at NYC’s Human Rights Watch International Film Festival. The film, directed by Fabrizio Lazzaretti and Paolo Santolini, depicts the moving story of two children affected by war. The Cinereach Award is presented to filmmakers who convey vital messages through artful storytelling. Last year’s inaugural award was given to Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath, for their film “The Betrayal (Nerakhoon).” For more on the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, please click here.