"VISIONS OF WARRIORS" TO SCREEN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS, MINNESOTA

We’re excited to announce another screening of “Visions of Warriors” in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The University of St. Thomas, Minnesota/Area of Emphasis in Military Practice (AEMP) Scholars will be hosting a public screening of our feature documentary. According to their website, “Founded in 1885, the University of St. Thomas is a Catholic university based in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The largest private university in Minnesota, St. Thomas offers bachelor’s degrees in over 85 major fields of study and more than 45 graduate degree programs including master’s, education specialist, juris doctor and doctorates.” The University of St. Thomas offers a unique AEMP Scholars program, which brings together military social work students, faculty, and community members that includes courses, course assignments and events specific to military service members, veterans, and their families. Susan Quaglietti, a nurse practitioner and founder of the Veteran Photo Recovery Project, and Ryan Gardner, a clinical social worker who runs the program with her, will be attending the screening and participating in a Q&A afterward. Thank you to Lisa Thomas, the AEMP Scholars, and the university for hosting this great screening and our friend, Dr. Will Wong, for his generous support. 

Screening and Q&A with Susan Quaglietti and Ryan Gardner: 
Friday, 10/20/17, 5:45 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
University of St. Thomas, Minnesota
John Roach Center (JRC) for the Liberal Arts, Room 126
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55105
651-962-5000

To reserve tickets for the screening:
https://www.stthomas.edu/socialwork/events/events/20171020aempvisionsofwarriors.html

To learn more about the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota:
http://www.stthomas.edu/

To learn more about the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota Area of Emphasis in Military Practice (AEMP) Scholars program:
https://www.stthomas.edu/socialwork/graduate/financing/aescholars/military/

“VISIONS OF WARRIORS” TO SCREEN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SCHOOL OF NURSING

We’re thrilled to announce that the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in Minneapolis, Minnesota will be doing a private screening of “Visions of Warriors.” We’re honored to be able to share our film with their respected nursing program. According to their website, the “School of Nursing is ranked #13 out of more than 200 nursing graduate schools in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report. Also, “the school celebrated 100 years of leading nursing and health innovation in 2009.” One of the subjects of our feature documentary is Susan Quaglietti, a nurse practitioner and founder of the Veteran Photo Recovery Project. She’s been caring for veterans for more than 25 years. Susan will be attending the screening and participating in a Q&A, along with clinical social worker Ryan Gardner, who runs the program with her. Thank you to Elaine Darst, Clinical Associate Professor and Co-Director BSN Program, School of Nursing, and the university for hosting this great event. 

Screening and Q&A with Susan Quaglietti and Ryan Gardner:
Friday, 10/20/17, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
University of Minnesota School of Nursing
5-140 Weaver-Densford Hall
308 Harvard Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
*This is a private screening for the university and not open to the public. 

To learn more about University of Minnesota School of Nursing:
https://www.nursing.umn.edu/

SUSAN QUAGLIETTI OF THE VETERAN PHOTO RECOVERY PROJECT AND “VISIONS OF WARRIORS” IS COVERED IN DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS

Susan Quaglietti, the founder of the Veteran Photo Recovery Project and one of the subjects in the feature documentary “Visions of Warriors,” is covered in Dominican University of California’s news. Susan received a M.A. in Humanities at the historic university, founded in 1890. Her studies there helped inspire her to create the Veteran Photo Recovery Project. The university will be hosting a screening of “Visions of Warriors” as part of its Democracy and Equity Initiative, sponsored by its School of Liberal Arts and Education and its departments of Psychology, Health Sciences, and Nursing. 

Screening and Q&A with Susan Quaglietti, Ryan Gardner, and Ming Lai*:
Tuesday, 9/12/17, 6:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.
Dominican University of California
Edgehill Mansion
Garden Room
50 Acacia Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
415-457-4440
*This event is open to the public.

To read the article:
http://www.dominican.edu/dominicannews/alumnas-inspiring-project-featured-in-visions-of-warriors-documentary

HUMANIST FILMS’ PRESENTATION AT ALHAMBRA SOURCE’S COMMUNITY VOICES MEETING

We had the pleasure of speaking about filmmaking at the Alhambra Source’s Community Voices meeting on Tuesday, 8/29/17 at the Alhambra Civic Center Library. We appreciate the opportunity to share our thoughts about our work. Thank you again to Phoenix Tso, Managing Editor of Alhambra Source, Dominic Tovar, Community Outreach Coordinator of Alhambra Source, and everyone who attended the meeting.

To read a summary of the presentation:
https://www.alhambrasource.org/story/what-we-learned-from-a-documentary-filmmaker-about-journalism

To read an earlier interview by Alhambra Source:
https://www.alhambrasource.org/story/healing-through-a-lens-alhambra-filmmaker-sheds-light-on-photography-program-for-veterans-with-ptsd

HUMANIST FILMS TO SPEAK AT ALHAMBRA SOURCE COMMUNITY VOICES MEETING

We’re excited to speak about filmmaking at the next Alhambra Source Community Voices Meeting. According to their website, “The Alhambra Source is the only local news website dedicated to coverage of Alhambra, a multiethnic Los Angeles suburb of 86,000 and the gateway to the San Gabriel Valley.” They explain, “Community engagement is the core of what we do, collaborating with local organizations, businesses, and residents.” We’re proud to be based in Alhambra and appreciate Alhambra Source’s in-depth coverage of our great city. Thank you to Phoenix Tso, the managing editor of Alhambra Source, for this wonderful opportunity. 

Presentation:
Tuesday, 8/29/18, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Alhambra Civic Center Library
101 S. First Street
Alhambra, CA 91801
626-570-5008

To learn more about Alhambra Source:
https://www.alhambrasource.org/

“VISIONS OF WARRIORS” TO SCREEN AT THE SKYLINE INDIE FILM FEST

We’re excited to announce that “Visions of Warriors” will be screening at the Skyline Indie Film Fest in Westchester, Virginia. We’re very honored to be a part of this growing festival. We deeply appreciate being able to share our film with this vibrant community. According to Skyline Indie Film Fest’s page on Film Freeway, “At Skyline Indie Film Fest, we bring to the Shenandoah Valley the absolute best in independent, undistributed films from around the world.” Thank you to Brian Patrick, the director of the festival, Tim Puttre, and the entire festival team for selecting our film and offering their warm hospitality.

Screening:
Friday, 9/8/17, 3:00 p.m.
Dharma Studio
160 North Loudoun Street
Winchester, VA 22601
540-212-8623

To learn more:
http://www.skylineindiefilmfest.org/

To buy tickets:
http://www.skylineindiefilmfest.org/schedule/visions-of-warriors/

“VISIONS OF WARRIORS” SELECTED FOR AN HONORABLE MENTION AT THE SAMHSA 2017 VOICE AWARDS

Thank you so much to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for selecting our feature documentary, “Visions of Warriors,” for an Honorable Mention at the SAMHSA 2017 Voice Awards. We’re deeply honored by this wonderful recognition. The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, 8/16/17 at UCLA’s historic Royce Hall in Los Angeles, CA. Chef Robert Irvine (“Chopped,” “Dinner: Impossible,” “Restaurant: Impossible”) was the host. We were moved by the compassionate work of SAMHSA, their program partners, and all the honorees. Hopefully, with this honor, we can raise awareness about the rise of veteran mental illness and the power of innovative photography therapy to treat it. We congratulate all the winners and nominees of the SAMHSA 2017 Voice Awards for their outstanding work in educating the public about behavioral health.

To learn more:
https://www.samhsa.gov/voice-awards/award-winners#HonorableMention

“VISIONS OF WARRIORS” FEATURE DOCUMENTARY TO BE RELEASED ON VETERANS DAY (11/11/17)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Ming Lai: 626-372-1301, shoot[at]humanistfilms[dot]com
 

Los Angeles, CA. August 11, 2017—“Visions of Warriors," a feature documentary about veterans who use photography therapy to treat their mental illness, directed by Ming Lai, will be released on Veterans Day (11/11/17).

Humanist Films will be self-distributing the film digitally through Amazon Video Direct, Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Vimeo on Demand as well as on their website: visionsofwarriors.com/store

In “Visions of Warriors,” four veterans from the Vietnam War era to the Iraq War participate in the groundbreaking Veteran Photo Recovery Project at the VA Menlo Park and use innovative photography therapy to treat their mental illness. 

The film features veterans Mark Pinto, Homerina “Marina” Bond, Ari Sonnenberg, and Priscilla “Peni” Bethel. 

The film also profiles the Veteran Photo Recovery Project team—founder and nurse practitioner Susan Quaglietti, art therapist Jeff Stadler, clinical social worker Ryan Gardner, and clinical psychologist Kristen McDonald. 

In addition, the film introduces other dynamic veterans who participated in the program.

The film received a generous grant from the Stanford Medicine & the Muse Program, premiered at the prestigious Vail Film Festival, and has been nominated for a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2017 Voice Award. 

Since its premiere, the film has been screening at film festivals, conferences, universities, and special events. 

Ming Lai, the producer/writer/director of “Visions of Warriors,” relates, “After learning about Susan Quaglietti and the Veteran Photo Recovery Project, we were inspired to create a feature documentary about her compassionate work. We were deeply moved by the veterans’ powerful stories.”

He acknowledges, “Our film wouldn’t have been possible without all the extraordinary veterans and mental health providers in the film, our talented crew and post-production team, and our generous grantors, sponsors, donors, and supporters. Hopefully, our film raises awareness about the rise of veteran mental illness and the power of innovative photography therapy to treat it.”

To learn more about Visions of Warriors: 
visionsofwarriors.com

To obtain an Electronic Press Kit: 
visionsofwarriors.com/electronic-press-kit

ABOUT HUMANIST FILMS, LLC & MING LAI:
Humanist Films, LLC is a film and photography production company, based in Los Angeles. Founded by filmmaker and photographer Ming Lai, Humanist Films is less of a traditional production company than an innovative think tank, gathering the brightest minds to research, plan, create, and change. Our interdisciplinary work ranges from narrative and documentary films to commercials and corporate videos to fine art and documentary photography projects. The name of our company honors legendary director, Akira Kurosawa, who was praised for his humanist compassion and inspired us to become filmmakers. 

To learn more about Humanist Films:
humanistfilms.com