Filmmatters Symposium

Film and lecture symposium, “Filmmatters”, brings awareness of social change through film to dallas FEATURING renowned ACTORS, WRITERS, FILMMAKERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES



Dallas, TX, OCT 5, 2011: FilmMatters, a film and lecture symposium, will be returning to Dallas on November 3, 2012 to raise awareness of facilitating social change through film. Emmy nominated filmmakers, PBS executives, national media and key leadership for several extraordinary non-profit organizations will come together for a three-part discussion that will explore the common challenges filmmakers, activists and non-profits often face in the long journey to make “a movie with a mission”. The primary topic of the Symposium will be Human Rights with a focus on the Global Clean Water Crisis. A VIP brunch and “Conversation with Michael Cain” featuring Larry Hagman, star of the television series “Dallas” and human rights advocate Brigid McConville will kick off the day’s events on Saturday, November 3.



Presented by Founding Sponsor M3 Films LLC, Host Sponsor The Hilton Anatole and supported by SMU Embrey Human Rights Program, and co-founded by Stephen Nemeth, Susan Thomson and Melina McKinnon, FilmMatters has been curated to specifically engage, educate and inspire an audience to support film as a means to stimulate social action. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Filmanthropy Fund of the Dallas Foundation. The brunch and conversation with Larry Hagman and Brigid McConville on November 3 will focus on Hagman’s implementation of environmentally-conscious practices and how he has parlayed his success as an actor into raising awareness for alternative energy. McConville will speak of her efforts to use film to bring about worldwide awareness regarding fetal and maternal health. Immediately following the brunch, national experts will participate in three panels called “WHY?”, “WHAT?” and “HOW?” film can be utilized to effectively promote social change.



Melina McKinnon, producer of FilmMatters and CEO of M3 Films LLC comments: “The power of film can truly make a difference in people’s lives. Filmmakers have a choice on whether they want to use this medium as a way of raising social awareness, but for many they are unsure how to use this to its best advantage. We are thrilled to be able to bring FilmMatters back into the public domain. The brunch, panels and discussions will not only help guide a path for filmmakers, they will also help expand the minds of anyone interested in social issues and what they can do to help promote Human Rights and fight the global clean water crisis.”



The VIP brunch will take place at SĖR Steaks + Spirits on the 27th floor of the Hilton Anatole at 11AM on November 3, 2012. To ensure a seat, RSVP to FilmMatters co-producer Julia Geyer at 214-458-4807. Tickets are $75 each.

The FilmMatters panels will take place at the Obelisk Room at the Hilton Anatole at 1:00PM, 2:30PM and 4:00PM on November 3, 2012. Tickets are $10. RSVP to filmmatters@m3filmsllc.com. Once RSVP’d, tickets can be purchased at the door.



The panel line-up is as follows:

FilmMatters Panel #1 – WHY? Saturday, November 3 – 1:00 PM

Theme: WHY – Make movies about the Global Clean Water Crisis?



Moderator: Brigid McConville

Director of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (UK), McConville is an award-winning author, journalist, and human rights advocate. Her recent focus has been to expose and seek change for the worldwide injustices of maternal mortality.

Panelists

Chris Cotner: Executive director, Water4Foundation

Kate Galbraith: Energy & Environment Reporter, Texas Tribune

Angela Mason: Special advocate for Women & Children, World Vision

Todd Burns: Founder and COO, Mpower Pictures



Film Matters Panel #2 – WHAT? Saturday, November 3 – 2:30 PM

Theme: WHAT – Kinds of films can be created to stimulate change?



Moderator: Keith Maitland

Maitland began his career in film as an assistant director, working on several feature films and television shows, including seven seasons with NBC’s “Law & Order”. In 2001, he created illegalfilms and is now producing and directing independent documentaries, the most recent of which, THE EYES OF ME, was nominated for an Emmy award and aired on PBS.



Panelists

Alison Ellwood: Editor, producer (ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM)

Paul Lazarus: Director, (UGLY BETTY, MELROSE PLACE, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND)

Courtney Spence: Executive Director and Founder, Students of the World

Derek Watson: Director and producer (OKLAHOMA’S FALLEN)



Film Matters Panel #3 – HOW? Saturday, November 3 – 4:00 PM

Theme: HOW – do you build an audience?



Moderator: James D. Faust

With a background in radio and film, James Faust started his film festival career as a volunteer, director of programming and managing director of the Deep Ellum Film Festival and is now the artistic director of the Dallas Film Society and Dallas International Film Festival



Panelists

Corinne Brinkerhoff: Emmy nominated television writer and producer (THE GOOD WIFE, BOSTON LEGAL, SHERLOCK)

Steve Dollar: Freelance film journalist for The Wall Street Journal, GreenCine Daily and many others

Ken Topolsky: Producer for TNT, TV Series “Dallas”

Judith Vecchione: Executive producer, PBS/WGBH Educational Foundation



Sponsors of FilmMatters include: Presenting Sponsor: M3 Films LLC; Host Sponsor: Hilton Anatole; Sponsors: Earthbound Farm, Earth Day Dallas, Embrey Family Foundation, Faulkner Design Group, Scott + Cooner, SMU Embrey Human Rights Program