[StBernard] Katrina Documentary Movie: Free Showings on August 20 & 23

[Westley Annis]

Katrina Survivors Share Their Stories in New Documentary Film

While visiting Louisiana in the spring of 2008, documentary filmmaker
Patricia Federico became captivated by the Katrina stories still being
told by the residents who survived the storm. Inspired by their
struggles to overcome a catastrophic disaster, the loss of life, and
the separation of their families, Ms Federico founded ‘peace out
productions’ to create a unique and moving film based on these
courageous and often harrowing experiences.  In ‘Survival Strength
Starting Over’, residents take the spotlight and give their personal
accounts of what happened to them before, during and after the
hurricane – and of the struggles still facing them as they try to
rebuild what the levee breaches destroyed. 

With the voices of restaurant owners, nurses, volunteer workers,
school children, firemen and other citizens who withstood the
hurricane, ‘Survival Strength Starting Over’ tells the gritty stories
of those who lived through the destruction of hurricane Katrina and
how they will forever feel her effects.  Katrina survivors tell their
own stories, in their words, from their mouths, in their homes, within
their communities.

“It’s easy to forget the big stories once they stop being news,” notes
Ms Federico. “’Survival Strength Starting Over’ reminds us that at the
heart of all newsworthy events are real people with real lives who
must pick up the pieces and move on.  The stories are painful,
powerful, and thought provoking, but they are filled with a humanity
and humor that illustrates the best in all of us.” 

There will be two free showings of ‘Survival Strength Starting Over”
in the New Orleans area. The first screening will be held on Thursday,
August 20 at 7pm at the Canal Place Cinemas located at 333 Canal St, 
New Orleans, 504.363.1117.  The film will also be shown on Sunday,
August 23 at 7pm at Celebration Church (St. Bernard Campus), at 7550 W
Judge Perez Dr, Arabi, 504.267.4254.  

There is no charge for either showing of the film. Both screenings are
open to the public and no reservations are necessary.  Part of all
proceeds from screenings, DVD, and merchandise sales will be donated
to the Community Center of St. Bernard (www.ccstb.org) to help this
501c3 non- profit organization feed, cloth and provide assistance to
those who are still working to rebuild their lives and their
communities on the fourth anniversary of Katrina.

###
About peace out productions: peace out productions was started in 2008
in Narragansett, RI by Patricia Federico, a television director with a
background in news production. peace out productions is dedicated to
making documentary films that create awareness and provide information
to facilitate change and encourage viewers to give back to the
community. peace out productions donates part of the proceeds from
each film to a non-profit agency that works directly to benefit the
individuals or organizations that are the subject matter of the film.
For more information about peace out productions, please visit
www.peaceoutproductions.net or contact Patricia Federico : 
info at peaceoutproductions.net  401.932.5251 or Tab Glavin :
tabglavin at gmail.com 401.569.2402 

About the Community Center of St Bernard: The Community Center is a
grassroots 501c3 nonprofit organization located in St Bernard Parish,
at the epicenter of destruction from Hurricane Katrina. Our mission is
to empower residents working to rebuild their lives and their
communities by providing them with local access to the essential
recovery resources they need, including food, clothes, medical care,
legal aid and food stamps enrollment. For more information about the
programs and services available through the Community Center and its
partner agencies, please visit www.ccstb.org