"To Touch the Soul" About Art and AIDS in Cambodia to Screen at October 2007 LA Femme Film Festival

Beverly Hills, CA, October 06, 2007 --(PR.com)-- “To Touch the Soul,” a 70-minute feature-length documentary about the experiences of artist educator and social activist, Carlos Silveira, and 27 California State University, Long Beach students who traveled to Cambodia to create art projects with impoverished children impacted by HIV/AIDS, will screen during the LA Femme Film Festival on Thursday, Oct. 11, between 3-5 p.m., at the Wilshire Screening Room, 8670 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, Calif. Directed by Ryan Goble, with cinematography by Erin Henning and narration by Cassandra Hepburn, the film captures the emotional context as Carlos and the students bond with the children and discover the true meaning of kindness, selflessness and courage.

“My team and I thank the LA Femme Film Festival for making us a part of their event, and we are thrilled to have an opportunity to share this story with the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles communities,” said Teresa Hagen, producer and owner of Cut Loose Productions, located in Rancho Palos Verdes. “It was a privilege to follow Dr. Silveira and his students as they worked with Cambodian youth who are either infected with HIV/AIDS or have become orphans due to their parents dying from the disease (a population expected to grow to 108,700 over the next five years). Seeing these children, some abandoned by their families and all by society, happy and joyous despite their circumstances was wondrous to behold, and they became the mentors who empowered the Americans to turn outward from themselves and realize a global need for their energy, passion and new ideas. In a country where only 35 percent of HIV-infected children receive treatment, it is my hope that our story's perspective will help an audience realize how much potential a child with AIDS can offer the world if only they can receive care.”

“I focused on capturing both the beauty that surrounds Cambodia and the tragedy that hides within,” commented Goble, who is making his feature film directorial debut. “Our goal was to make the viewer feel like they were in Phnom Penh working with these kids. We chose to use the point of view of the Cal State Long Beach students because they had no idea what to expect when they arrived. They were naïve. That’s easy to relate to because the majority of the viewers have probably never worked with Cambodian children infected with H.I.V.”

“To Touch the Soul,” which recently won a prestigious Best of Show Award as well as an Honorable Mention (motivational/inspirational category) from the Accolade Competition, features original music by composer Martin Herman. The Accolade recognizes film, television and video professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change.

For information on purchasing tickets for the screening, visit http://www.lafemme.org/. Contact Teresa Hagen at 310-346-3650 or via e-mail at scifigal@cox.net; or visit www.totouchthesoul.com to learn more about “To Touch the Soul.”

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