Starring America Ferrera and Wilmer Valderrama
Initiative Sponsors Include
Blue Star Families and Lanmark Technology Inc.
New York, NY (May 11, 2010) – The Creative Coalition announced today that under their Spotlight Initiative, the organization will be hosting a series of events for The Dry Land, starring America Ferrera, Wilmer Valderrama, Ryan O’Nan, Jason Ritter and Melissa Leo. Through this effort, The Creative Coalition hopes to bring increased awareness to the unique challenges facing members of America’s armed services, our veterans and their families. Partners that The Creative Coalition has brought on board to support the film include Blue Star Families, an organization with 70 chapters across the nation which serves the millions of families of active service men and women; and Lanmark Technology, Inc.
The film, which made its debut at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, looks into the life of an American veteran and examines the disconnect he faces upon his return to life at home. The feature length film is the debut of writer/director Ryan Piers Williams. The Dry Land depicts the harsh realities of post-traumatic stress disorder.
“We are very proud to join The Creative Coalition to put a spotlight on this important film,” said Ms. Ferrera, who also serves as an Executive Producer on the project. “We hope that through The Dry Land audiences gain an understanding that our soldiers and their families need our support not only during their tours, but also when they return home.”
The Creative Coalition will host a special kick-off screening of The Dry Land for Members of Congress, government officials and military leaders in Washington D.C. on May 24, 2010 at the NavalHeritage Museum (701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Washington, D.C.). Honorary Co-Hosts of the event include Senator Chuck Grassley, Congressman Chaka Fattah, Congressman Samuel B. Graves, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congressman James P. Moran, Congressman Joe Baca, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, and Congressman John Tanner.
The Dry Land is produced by Heather Rae (Frozen River); Executive Producers are America Ferrera and Sergio Agüero (Quarantine, No Reservations). The film, which was financed and produced by Maya Entertainment, recently won the Target Narrative Feature Audience Award at the 2010 Dallas International Film Festival, and is scheduled for a July 30 national release through Maya Entertainment and Freestyle Releasing. The Washington D.C. special kick-off screening is sponsored by Lani Hay, President and CEO of Lanmark Technology, Inc.
About The Creative Coalition and The Spotlight Initiative
The Creative Coalition (www.thecreativecoalition.org) is the premiere 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating and mobilizing its members on issues of public importance, primarily public education, the First Amendment, and arts advocacy, and is headquartered in New York City. The Spotlight Initiative was launched in 2008 by The Creative Coalition to support independent films with messages that make a positive difference in the world.
Spotlight Initiative sponsors include HBO, The Weinstein Company, Oscilloscope, Focus Features, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Showtime, Paladin, Baltimore Films, Abramorama, Incognito, Original Media, and Maya Entertainment.
About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families was formed in December of 2008 by a group of military spouses to strengthen and support military families and to raise awareness of the challenges of military family life with our civilian communities and leaders. BSF has grown to include spouses and families from all services and all walks of life, including National Guard and Reserve, as well as veterans and civilians who strongly support us.
About Maya Entertainment
Founded by award winning filmmaker, producer, entertainment executive and entrepreneur Moctesuma Esparza, Maya Entertainment is the only Latino media content company providing full service motion picture distribution and production. Maya produces, acquires and distributes multicultural and Latino themed product for all distribution platforms throughout the world. Since its inception in 2008, Maya Entertainment has taken on a significant social goal of transforming the image and understanding of American Latinos in our society and the world through media. With a talented group of Latino Executives committed to this mission, Maya has given rise to some of the most prolific young voices in Latino entertainment today.
About Lanmark Technology, Inc. (www.lmt-inc.com)
Headquartered in Vienna, VA, LMT is an SBA 8(a) certified, Woman-owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-owned, Small Disadvantaged Business providing the full range of Information Technology Services, Telecommunications Solutions, Program Management Oversight, and Administrative Support to clients in the government and commercial sectors.
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CONTACT:
Dennis St. Rose
P: 212-512-8570
DStRose@TheCreativeCoalition.Org