Can One Video Stop Hate? Six Semi-Finalists Chosen in Video Competition That Aims to End Intolerance

Can One Video Stop Hate? Six Semi-Finalists Chosen in Video Competition That Aims to End Intolerance

NEW YORK, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Current TV and the Third Millennium Foundation today announced the six semi-finalists for the first "Seeds of Tolerance" video competition.

The competition, a brainchild of the Third Millennium Foundation's President Dr. Marco Stoffel and Current TV, invited aspiring filmmakers to produce short 5-10 minute videos that illuminate the human struggle and consequences of intolerance. The videos were screened by a panel of celebrity judges, including writer-director M. Night Shyamalan, actor Jeffrey Wright, 2006 Oscar winner Paul Haggis (Best Picture, Crash), actor Edward Norton, musician Melissa Etheridge, comedian Margaret Cho and filmmaker Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me).

Stoffel commented, "We're delighted to fund this project with Current. Change starts with listening. Instead of preaching the message of tolerance to young adults, we want to challenge them to discuss the issue by using their own creativity, voices and perspectives. By making compelling content for TV and the Internet, we invite everyone to join the dialogue."

Current CEO Joel Hyatt said, "Understanding and appreciating diversity is important for all of us. The quality of videos we've received in this campaign shows what happens when you allow this generation to showcase their talent and express themselves. This sort of bold filmmaking is what Al Gore and I had in mind when we launched Current, and we hope it inspires more people to pick up a camera and use the medium of video to stir up conversation around these issues."

Current chairman Al Gore stated, "Over the past year, I've discovered first-hand through An Inconvenient Truth, how the power of film can create lasting and meaningful dialogue about critical issues. I'm proud of all six of these filmmakers, and hope that this sparks critical discussion around the issues surrounding tolerance."

The six semi-finalists' videos delve into a wide range of timely, hot- button issues, from sex trafficking to homophobia. The winner will now be decided by the public, who can view and vote for their favorite video online by visiting http://www.current.tv/tolerance until December 1st.

The Semi-finalists are:

-- "Blood Brothers" focuses on a victim of gay bashing who encounters his
attacker years later.

-- The children who have witnessed the genocide in the Darfur region of
Sudan firsthand share their experiences in "Darfur Rising."

-- "Ghost Tribes" exposes the plight of Virginian Indians and explains the
historical reasons why the federal government refuses to legally
recognize their tribes to this day.

-- "The Making of a Girl" gives a detailed account of how some abused and
neglected children can fall prey to traffickers eager to exploit them
for sex and money.

-- "One Nation Under Guard" reveals why prisons are emerging as a thriving
new industry and also shines a light on the disproportionate number of
African Americans in U.S. prisons.

-- The struggle of two gay teens who endured hazing at the hands of
classmates -- and were arrested for it -- and who still had the courage
to speak out and fight for lasting change is detailed in "We Belong."

The grand prize winner will receive $100,000 cash, with an additional $15,000 given to a relevant charity of his or her choice. Two finalists will each receive $10,000 cash. The winners will be announced at a red carpet event in Los Angeles on December 14. All six finalist films will be broadcast on Current TV. In addition to voting on the semi-finalists, visitors to Current TV web site (www.current.tv/tolerance) will find the Third Millennium Foundation's "10 Ways to Unlearn Intolerance," which includes a test developed by Harvard researchers to uncover deep-seated prejudices.

About Third Millennium Foundation

The Third Millennium Foundation (TMF) is a private foundation located in New York City. The Foundation was founded in the year 2000 as an initiative for unlearning intolerance in the new millennium. Its work is focused on childhood education and human rights with emphasis on supporting social entrepreneurs among global youth. It is with that mission that TMF has launched its Campaign for Unlearning Intolerance and partnered with Current TV. Visit www.SpreadTolerance.org to find out more about the campaign.

About Current TV

Current TV, which launched August 1, 2005, is the first national network created by, for and with an 18-34 year-old audience. The network shows young adults what's going on in their world, in their voice. Current is also the first network in history whose programming is supplied in part by the very audience who watches it. It has developed the television industry's leading model of "viewer created content" (VC2), which comprises roughly one-third of Current's on-air broadcast, and allows the audience to submit short-form, nonfiction video "pods," "viewer created ads" (V-CAMs), and mobile video. Its award-winning programming ranges from the hottest trends in technology, fashion, music and videogames, to pressing issues such as the environment, relationships, parenting, finance, politics and spirituality. Current is available in 30 million U.S. homes via Comcast (channel 107 nationwide), Time Warner Cable, and DirecTV (channel 366 nationwide). For more information, please visit the website: www.current.tv.

Contact:
Erica Sackin, Fenton Communications, 212-584-5000 x335, esackin@fenton.com
Amanda Fox, Fenton Communications, 212-584-5000 x313, afox@fenton.com
Amanda Gruder-Rothman, BWR, 310-510-7776

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Third Millennium Foundation

CONTACT: Erica Sackin, Fenton Communications, +1-212-584-5000, ext. 335,
esackin@fenton.com; Amanda Fox, Fenton Communications, +1-212-584-5000, ext.
313, afox@fenton.com; Amanda Gruder-Rothman, BWR, +1-310-510-7776

Web site: http://www.spreadtolerance.org/
http://www.current.tv/tolerance
http://www.current.tv/

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