"People who were at the film called me or sought
me out today to tell me how moved they were." 
                          - Gay Rosenblum-Kumar, United Nations, NY

"How powerful Martin's film and presence were for the folks here. We have had huge feedback - all tremendously positive." - Carol Stanton, San Pedro Center, FL

"Martin, your film and your presence were the centerpiece of our conference."
                                                        - Peg  Falls-Corbitt, Hendrix College

"The film has created tremendous discussion on many fronts"
- Rev. Lana Russel, Kirk in the Hills, MI

"Martin, thanks for the interview. Congratulations on a great documentary. It is excellent."
- Maureen Fiedler, Interfaith Voices, NPR

 An Invitation to Host a Screening and Community Conversation on
A Groundbreaking Documentary Film 

 
The POWER of FORGIVENESS

Journey Films, the award winning filmmakers who brought the feature-length documentary BONHOEFFER to theaters nationwide and to PBS, offers a community-based Lenten screening of The POWER of FORGIVENESS, a 75-minute film that takes an honest look at the intensity of anger and grief that human nature is heir to. It has been watched by thousands of people at special screenings at the Washington National Cathedral, The United Nations and by students at Virginia Tech, as well as in churches, synagogues and community centers across the country. The Lenten screenings will be facilitated by filmmaker Martin Doblmeier (above, left) who led more than 50 showings/discussions of the film nationwide.

The film examines the role forgiveness can play in alleviating anger and grief, as well as the physical, mental and spiritual benefits that come with forgiveness. It combines character-driven stories about the most dramatic transgressions imaginable with other stories that feel more familiar, more understandable to the viewer.

The film includes stories and interviews with people from many faith traditions: Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel on forgiveness in the Jewish faith; Azim Khamisa on forgiveness and Islam; Rev. James Forbes, pastor of Riverside Church in New York, on forgiveness from a Christian perspective. And best-selling author Thomas Moore (Care of the Soul) speaks on forgiveness from a spiritual dimension.

The film has been broadcast on public television as a presentation of South Carolina ETV. Because of the interfaith aspect of The POWER of FORGIVENESS, this is also a chance to reflect on the breadth of faith traditions that value forgiveness.

Public screening rights for the film, without the participation of the filmmaker, (for multiple screenings, with no admission fee) are available for $200.
 

Interested in hosting a screening of - and conversation on - The POWER of FORGIVENESS in your church, school, college, theater or community center? E-mail Dan Juday or phone him at 703-519-8200.

If you want to have a special screening with the filmmaker present to lead or take part in a conversation on forgiveness, here is a summary of our standard terms. 

• There is a standardized fee for our staging the event of $1500
  · We schedule a screening with you in your church, theater, school or community center.
  · We coordinate with you about screen and projection equipment. We can also assist with the promotion.
  · We look for events with 150 to 400 people, trusting you can promote the film and turn out the crowd.
  · After the screening the filmmaker is on hand to take questions and facilitate a conversation.
  · Our "window" of opportunity for bookings is from late February to early April, 2009.
  ·  We support your charging an admission fee (usually $10) to help defray this fee.

Here’s why we think you might want to consider this:

· You are encouraging some serious, and sometimes risky, talk about forgiveness – a topic we believe needs more awareness in our culture.
· You are bringing people together in your "home."
· By promoting the film and turning out a crowd you are raising your visibility within your community.
· You are offering an opportunity to build a broader community.

The film is a presentation of South Carolina ETV. Major funding for THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS was provided by The Fetzer Institute as part of its Campaign for Love and Forgiveness and by TheJohn Templeton Foundation.