Fork Films

Stand with Women & share this video

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:45:57 -0400

Ready to Change the World? Stand with the women who already do, always have and always will. Share this video with your friends and families to show how much you care about women’s rights, and please urge them to do the same. This video was directed by Abigail E. Disney of Fork Films for Global Fund for Women. #gfwXXV

Please Support OUT IN THE NIGHT

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:35:32 -0400

Please Support OUT IN THE NIGHT:

On a hot August night in 2006, under the neon-lights of the tattoo parlors and movie theaters of the gay friendly West Village, a group of young African American lesbian friends from Newark, New Jersey, out for a night, passed by a man selling DVDs of his new film on the street. He cat-called one of them, the smallest of the group, Patreese, and said “Let me get some of that.” When she responded, “Mister; I’m gay.” he spit at her and threw a lit cigarette. Two of Patreese’s friends, including gender non-conforming friend Renata, stepped to her defense. A fight broke out involving a few of the women, this man, and strangers on the street. When the fight dangerously escalated, the women left. The fight resulted in the man being stabbed and spending 5 days in the hospital, Renata and another woman left with black eyes, bloody lips and strangle marks on their necks. Another of the women had a handful of dread locks pulled from her scalp.

Only the women were rounded up by police, charged with varying degrees of assault and gang assault, and locked on Rikers Island. A year later, four of the women pled not-guilty and were tried in court. They were egregiously sentenced to between 3 and 11 years in prisons upstate New York.

This film tells their story – the challenges they faced on trial, in prison and by the media that labeled them a “Wolfpack” and “Gang of Killer Lesbians”.

President Obama Signs New Directive to Strengthen our Work to Advance Gender Equality Worldwide

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:41:18 -0500

President Obama Signs New Directive to Strengthen our Work to Advance Gender Equality Worldwide:

A growing body of evidence — and our own experience — shows us that families, communities and countries are more prosperous and secure when, as President Obama said this month, “you unleash the power of everyone, not just some”.

Fadia Tunis

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:53:34 -0500

Fadia Tunis:

It is now two years since street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire, triggering a revolution in Tunisia that led to the overthrow of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, then president, and a series of revolutions and political change throughout the Arab world. Women were at the heart of that change and today they find themselves at the battlefields of a war of ideologies post Arab Spring.

The Iran Job - A Remarkably Apolitical Political Film

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:44:32 -0400

The Iran Job - A Remarkably Apolitical Political Film

The Iran Job is in theaters now!

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:46:49 -0400

The Iran Job is in theaters now!:

The L.A. opening of The Iran Job last Friday generated reviews from national press far beyond anyone’s expectations! Take a look at their recent newsletter, check out the reviews and sign up for more info!

Sun Come Up Screenings by the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:22:51 -0400

Sun Come Up Screenings by the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change:

DVDs of Sun Come Up are available on a first-come, first-served basis for $10 to groups who wish to screen the film. Please visit the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change for more information on how to host a screen, or to find details about a screening near you!

Have sex strikes worked?

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:35:22 -0400

Have sex strikes worked?:

Women who are members of a civil rights group in Togo are staging a week long sex strike as part of their push to demand the resignation of the country’s president. Slate.com wrote a small piece about the history of simular non-violent actions, and they referenced both Pray the Devil Back to Hell and Mighty Be Our Powers.

Why world must react to Taliban execution

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:47:59 -0400

Why world must react to Taliban execution:

“You see, women are like the canary in the coal mine: What happens to them is an indicator of a larger political direction for the society.”

Taliban Execution of Afghan Woman Causes Outraged Activists to Mobilize

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:44:14 -0400

Taliban Execution of Afghan Woman Causes Outraged Activists to Mobilize:

Women’s rights activists marched in Kabul to protest the videotaped execution of a young woman, apparently by the Taliban. Protesters say the killing shows the Taliban has not changed—and is a harbinger of what’s to come if they return to power.

Meet The League Of Extraordinary Women: 60 Influencers Who Are Changing The World

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:13:50 -0400

Meet The League Of Extraordinary Women: 60 Influencers Who Are Changing The World

Voting Open: N-Peace Awards 2012!

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:30:50 -0400

Voting Open: N-Peace Awards 2012!

The Invisible War will open in theaters on Friday, June 22nd

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:51:12 -0400

The Invisible War will open in theaters on Friday, June 22nd:

Abigail Disney and Fork Films are proud to be involved with and support this important and moving film. Please see our latest newsletter for more information about the film, how it is sparking a national conversation, and what you can do to take action!

Nato realpolitik and US responsibility for the fate of Afghan women

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:31:00 -0400

Nato realpolitik and US responsibility for the fate of Afghan women:

As the US pulls out of Afghanistan, the issue of women’s rights is being jettisoned – with the connivance of antiwar activists

A longer version of this story appeared on Meridith Tax’s blog and can be read here: http://www.meredithtax.org/taxonomyblog/%E2%80%9Cafghan-good-enough%E2%80%9D

ABA Silver Gavel Awards Honor Documentaries on Fights for Justice

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:55:21 -0400

ABA Silver Gavel Awards Honor Documentaries on Fights for Justice:

The American Bar Association has honored “I Came to Testify” with a Silver Gavel Award. Watch the film online at womenwarandpeace.org!

Happy Mother's Day!

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:45:11 -0400

Happy Mother’s Day!

Arise then…women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

This Sunday, May 13th, is Mother’s Day, and motherhood will be celebrated worldwide.

The above words are the opening lines of the poem Mother’s Day Proclamation written by the abolitionist, social activist and poet Julia Ward Howe in 1870.

She wrote this declaration after seeing some of the worst effects of war from the American Civil War and then the Franco-Prussian war. She called on women to come together across national lines to find peaceful resolutions to conflicts.

What Howe wanted to call “Mother’s Day for Peace” was not formally recognized during her lifetime, but her work was a key influence to the first national Mother’s Day, declared in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson. Learn more about the history of Mother’s Day including how it is celebrated around the world by clicking here »

Pictured above is a still from the film showing Leymah Gbowee at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Monrovia at the Mother’s Day ceremony in 2007.

Principal photography for Pray the Devil Back to Hell began on Mother’s Day in Monrovia in May of 2007, which makes this very special day even more meaningful for us at Fork Films.

We wish you a happy and peaceful Mother’s Day!

Leymah Gbowee on Taylor conviction
	From Pray the Devil Back to Hell: In 2003, Leymah Gbowee presents the womens’ position statement to Charles Taylor (seated on couch in background). Image copyright © Jonathan Sahn, may not be reproduced without permission “When the guilty verdict was handed down, I walked outside and saw a rainbow encircling the sun. Everyone in Monrovia could see it. It was a hot day, 80 or 90 degrees. I don’t remember seeing any raindrops fall. I thought, this is a sign.” - Leymah Gbowee, quote from April 30th Newseek article In a historic verdict on April 26, 2012, an international tribunal found former president of Liberia Charles Taylor guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes (committed in Sierra Leone), including murder, rape, slavery and use of child soldiers. Click here to read the judgment summary, transcript, and press release » Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee has embraced the challenge of working to heal and rebuild a battered Liberia. Her comments on the verdict and the work she has ahead of her are in the April 30th Newsweek article as told to Abigail Pesta, “A Dictator, Vanquished. Read it here »

Women, War & Peace Updates
	RECENT EVENTS: Awards and Festivals Women, War & Peace was awarded two Overseas Press Club Awards this year. On April 25th the series won both the Edward R. Murrow Award for documentaries and the Robert Spiers Benjamin Award for the best reporting from Latin America for its segment on the guerrilla war in Colombia. The Television Academy Honors 2012 Pictured from left to right: Gini Reticker, Abigail E. Disney, Pamela Hogan and Nina Chaudry On May 2nd the series was honored at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors. Read the Variety write up about the awards ceremony and click here to watch the acceptance speech. I Came To Testify screened at the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival in New York on May 5th. Producer Pamela Hogan attended the screening and took part in a Q&A following the film. The festival is an annual event, which features contemporary Bosnian Herzegovinian cinematography and films with Bosnia and Herzegovina as their theme. COMING UP Women, War & Peace will be bestowed with two Gracie Awards, one in the outstanding series categories and one in the outstanding producer category. The awards are presented by the Alliance for Women in Media at ceremonies in Hollywood on May 22-23, 2012. *Watch Women, War & Peace:* View all episodes online* by clicking here » Purchase the Home DVD Set by clicking here » Purchase the Educational / Public DVD Set by clicking here » *Please note that streaming online is only available in the U.S.

Abigail E. Disney public appearances

Secretary Hillary Clinton holds up the NYWF Century Award with Abigail E. Disney
May 9, 2012 - Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered the keynote address at the 25th annual 2012 Celebrating Women Breakfast on May 10, 2012 in New York City, sponsored by The New York Women’s Foundation.

Abigail E. Disney presented the Century Award to Secretary Clinton in what ABC News called a “glowing, yet humorous introduction of Clinton.” (Read the article here.) Secretary Clinton honored her late mother, saying “I was always struck at how despite a life that was much more difficult than anything I’ve ever experienced – abandonment and abuse and just really unfortunate kinds of early experiences – my mother had a resilience and a commitment to her family that she worked hard on every single day.”

Watch the introduction and speech or read the transcript by clicking here »

Photo by Jon Styer

Abigail also recently addressed thousands of college graduates at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) with a commencement speech highlighting the need for a greater role for women in politics, especially with peace negotiations.

She cited Julia Ward Howe and a United Nations study. Read more about her speech on EMU.edu »

On May 20th, Abigail will deliver a speech entitled, “What’s Peace got to Do with Me?” at Mary Baldwin College.

Fork Films updates

Catch RETURN, the incredible feature debut from director Liza Johnson, now available on demand!

When Kelli returns home from war, she expected to settle back into her life with her husband and kids. Instead, she finds herself lost in a world that no longer feels familiar or makes any sense. Linda Cardellini delivers a tour de force performance, leading an all-star cast that also includes John Slattery and Michael Shannon.

RETURN is now available on:

A documentary about sexiness & the cyber age

SEXY BABY filmmakers, Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus, have started the spring off with a bang! The film premiered to a sold out crowd at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. IndieWire said the film is “harrowing, graphic and poignant — essential viewing for everyone living in a post-Internet age.”

Sexy Baby continues on the festival circuit. To find out about upcoming screenings check out their website at SexyBabyMovie.com

THE IRAN JOB’s filmmakers have been hard at work after running one of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns of all time.

They will have its world premiere at the LA Film Fest on June 15th in the Documentary Competition category. Read more about the festival here or visit their official website at TheIranJob.com.

A story of men who want to hit like girls.

THIS IS HOW I ROLL, a film that poses questions about how conflicting ideas about gender influence our perceptions of sports, athletes, ownership and entitlement through the unique lens of men’s roller derby.

The film will premiere this month at the Seattle True Independent Film Festival. For more information about the project visit the website ThisIsHowIRollMovie.com

"Women, War & Peace" has won 2 Overseas Press Club Awards!

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:49:00 -0400

"Women, War & Peace" has won 2 Overseas Press Club Awards! :

“Then there is the monumental series by Thirteen / WNET called “Women, War & Peace” — which looked at the role of women in a half dozen conflicts around the world. The production won both the Edward R. Murrow Award for documentaries and the Robert Spiers Benjamin Award for the best reporting from Latin America for its segment on the guerrilla war in Colombia. “

Please Vote for Women, War & Peace

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:12:29 -0400

Please Vote for Women, War & Peace:

This is the last week of voting for the Webby Awards! We would be grateful for your support!

A Poet of Unswerving Vision at the Forefront of Feminism

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:18:09 -0400

A Poet of Unswerving Vision at the Forefront of Feminism:

“Adrienne Rich, a poet of towering reputation and towering rage, whose work — distinguished by an unswerving progressive vision and a dazzling, empathic ferocity — brought the oppression of women and lesbians to the forefront of poetic discourse and kept it there for nearly a half-century, died on Tuesday at her home in Santa Cruz, Calif. She was 82.”

Leymah Gbowee: Unlock the intelligence, passion, greatness of girls

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:43:30 -0400

Leymah Gbowee: Unlock the intelligence, passion, greatness of girls:

Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee has two powerful stories to tell — of her own life’s transformation, and of the untapped potential of girls around the world. Can we transform the world by unlocking the greatness of girls?