GW Student Documentary Named Best Film by D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and SnagFilms Founder and Chairman Ted Leonsis
“Released to Life” is Winner of Washington’s Best Film Competition
Jan 30, 2012
WASHINGTON— “Released to Life,” a film produced by George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) students enrolled in the university’s Documentary Center, was named Best Film by SnagFilms and the D.C. Office of Motion Picture and Television Development. D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and SnagFilms Founder and Chairman Ted Leonsis announced the winners of Washington’s Best Film today at GW.
The student filmmakers, under the direction of Nina Seavey, director of the Documentary Center, are: Jason Wilder Evans, Jatryce Jackson, Kripa Koshy, Yavar Moghimi, Hua “Lily” Qin, Erika Rydberg, Rebecca Taylor and Greg Upwall. Their winning film, “Released to Life,” tells several powerful stories of ex-offenders returning home after incarceration. Followed by past convictions, these recently released, D.C.-based ex-offenders struggle to redefine themselves in a society that they no longer know.
“This contest is the first of many that will highlight the incredible talent that exists here in our nation’s capital,” said Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray. “I congratulate these extraordinary young filmmakers on successfully tackling such an important topic and being a shining example for budding filmmakers all over the District.”
“Released to Life” will debut on Snagfilms.com today, and the film will be available for free On Demand worldwide. Additionally, the film will soon be available on mobile devices via SnagFilms mobile apps for iPad, Android tablets, Kindle Fire and Android smartphones.
“SnagFilms joins the Mayor and the D.C. Office of Motion Picture and Television Development in congratulating these young filmmakers, and the George Washington University, on having produced such an outstanding and important film,” said Ted Leonsis, SnagFilms’ founder and chairman. “We are proud to showcase ‘Released to Life’ on the SnagFilms digital network and shine a light on such a critical issue for our city and country. We hope the SnagFilms audience will watch this film, share it with others and be inspired to take action. It’s what we call ‘filmanthropy,’ and this film is a wonderful example of how ‘filmanthropy’ can engage our community and change our world."
Washington’s first-ever Best Film competition was created to celebrate the District's talented filmmakers and to find original storytellers who display the spirit and quality that D.C.-based SnagFilms looks for in all films showcased on its digital network. Above all, the competition was designed to honor dynamic stories that focus on improving the world around us. Participating filmmakers had to be living in Washington, D.C. or have a production company based within the District.
“This is the greatest honor a first time filmmaker could want for their film!” said Yavar Moghimi, who produced the film along with his classmates as part of the 2010 GW Institute for Documentary Filmmaking. “Not only is our film available to everyone online, but also the D.C. mayor and local legislators will be watching the film and taking the message back with them to City Hall. We all went into documentary filmmaking because of its power to tackle tough social issues and inspire change. This recognition will help spread the film's ultimate message: that incarcerated people are transitioning back into society more than ever and we need to make sure they are prepared for the struggles that await them.”
About SnagFilms
SnagFilms features free, sponsor-supported, on demand viewing of more than 3,000 award-winning, fiction and non-fiction titles from some of the greatest names in film. SnagFilms’ curated collection is viewed on its own site and a digital network of more than 110,000 affiliated sites and webpages worldwide, including partners such as Comcast's XfinityTV.com, Hulu, the Starbucks Digital Network, IMDb, AOL/Huffington Post, hundreds of non-profits, special interest sites and blogs — and via its applications for tablets. SnagFilms’ titles have been featured on more than 3.5 billion pageviews across its network.
About the D.C. Office of Motion Picture and Television Development
The District of Columbia Office of Motion Picture and Television Development is responsible for initiating and managing programs aimed at generating revenue and stimulating employment and business opportunities in the District through the production of film, television, video, photography and other multimedia projects. Washington, D.C.’s instantly recognizable landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, cultural amenities and first-class accommodations are just some of the many features that make the District of Columbia a venue of choice for motion picture and television production. A film-friendly city with the resources to accommodate any size production, Washington, D.C. continues to draw feature and independent films, television, documentaries, commercials and other video and multimedia projects.
About GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs
GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs teaches how ideas and information are communicated through the media. The school combines liberal arts education with professional training, promoting a combination of theory and practice through its master’s and two undergraduate degree programs. The faculty consists of award-winning journalists and internationally recognized research scholars.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jill Sankey - 202-994-6466 - jpsankey@gwu.edu
Taylor Tibbetts - 202-994-5631 - taylor_t@gwu.edu
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