Calling The Ghosts

DISTRIBUTION HIGHLIGHTS,
DECEMBER 1998

Dear Friends:

It’s hard to believe that four years have passed since we began this project. Thanks to your continued support, the film has enjoyed exceptional visibility and critical acclaim. Here is a summary of events that have taken place since CALLING THE GHOSTS was completed in June 1996:

• Human Rights Watch launched the film in June 1996 at their International Film Festival.
• Amnesty International sponsored a 25-city U.S. tour of the film featuring the guest appearances of Jadranka Cigelj and Nusreta Sivac at numerous teach-ins, panel discussions, national and regional conferences.
• Women Make Movies launched the film for national educational distribution with a week-long theatrical release in October 1996 at Cinema Village in New York City.
• The film premiered on CINEMAX, HBO’s award- winning primetime cable service, in March 1997.
• HBO sponsored special screenings in March 1997 featuring Jadranka Cigelj and Nusreta Sivac:

  -- At the Council on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, John Shattuck, Under-Secretary of State for Human Rights, Democracy and Labor, Geraldine Ferraro, and Julia Ormond were among the guests in attendance.

  -- In Washington D.C., Ms. Cigelj and Ms. Sivac gave testimony before Congressman Tom Lantos and the Human Rights Congressional Caucus.

• Jadranka Cigelj and Nusreta Sivac also met with Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, and with members of the U.S. Senate and Congress as the White House considered new proposals for the apprehension of war criminals.
• CNN featured the film and the directors on "All About Women" and internationally on "Q and A with Riz Kahn."
• CBS’ SIXTY MINUTES featured Jadranka Cigelj and Nusreta Sivac and excerpts of the film in April 1997, spotlighting the lack of NATO commitment in apprehending war criminals.
• In June 1997, NATO troops, led by the British forces, captured two indicted war criminals involved in the running of the Omarska Camp where Ms. Cigelj and Ms. Sivac were incarcerated. Jadranka Cigelj’s accused torturer has yet to be captured.
• Connecticut Coalition to Save Bosnia hosted Jadranka Cigelj and Nusreta Sivac in May 1997 for a series of public speaking engagements. Ms. Cigelj and Ms. Sivac launched their organization to provide legal aid to returning refugees. Money was raised to support this initiative.

AWARDS: 1998 EMMY: Best Investigative Special 1998 EMMY: Directing 1998 Robert F Kennedy Journalism Award 1997 Cable ACE - Best International Informational Special 1997 Silver Apple - National Educational Media Market 1997 Special Prize - Sarajevo International Film Festival 1997 Special Prize - Minsk International Film Festival 1996 Nestor Almendros Award - Human Rights Watch International Film Festival 1996 Nomination - Best Feature Documentary, International Documentary Association 1996 Honorable Mention - Amnesty International European Film

• Executive Producer Julia Ormond has maintained a firm public commitment over the past 18 months to bring attention to the need for justice and accountability. Working toward this end, Ms. Ormond has participated in campaigns led by the Coalition for International Justice and Human Rights Watch.
• The film has been shown in over 25 international film festivals, including screenings at Toronto, Denver, San Francisco, Berlin, Sydney, Taiwan, Finland, Sao Paulo, Thessaloniki, Sheffield and Sarajevo.
• In September 1997, with support from the Open Society Fund, we had our Bosnian premiere at the Sarajevo International Film Festival and on national Bosnian Television. Our reception in Bosnia was overwhelmingly positive and inspired women from other parts of Bosnia to share similar experiences.
• Foundations have used the film as a tool to illustrate the persuasive power of the medium. The film was also selected for the Council on Foundations’ annual conference and the annual National Network of Grantmakers’ conference.
• International television sales by Jane Balfour Films are steady, with more than twenty countries already having broadcast the film.
• Women Make Movies reports that CALLING THE GHOSTS rates in the top three of their annual national educational sales.
• Television Trust for the Environment has acquired distribution rights for developing countries who can’t afford the commercial rates for broadcast.
• Although the success of the project has reduced our production deficits, we still struggle to recoup outstanding costs.

As you can see, we have had an action-packed year that could not have happened without your support. Together we have shown that media combined with political advocacy can make a difference. We salute your courage to honor the vow that Jadranka Cigelj and Nusreta Sivac took "to keep their story alive." Although the struggle is not over, one thing is certain: the world has finally recognized that war crimes against women merit justice and accountability.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We wish you great success for 1998.

BOWERY PRODUCTIONS
Mandy Jacobson
296 Elizabeth Street, Suite 1 F
New York, New York 10012
tel: 212 677-2286 fax: 212 529-2849
bowery@aol.com
www.peacenet.org/balkans/mandy.html

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Amnesty International Promotional Tour of 25 USA cities

Oct. 12, 1996 - Nov. 24, 1996

Jadranka Cigelj and Nusreta Sivac, the two Bosnian women featured in the film were present on the tour. CALLING THE GHOSTS (60 minutes, 1996) is an intimate story of survival of two women caught in a war where rape was as much an everyday weapon as bullets and bombs.

Jadranka Cigelj and Nusreta Sivac, childhood friends and legal professionals, lived the lives of "ordinary modern women" in Bosnia-Hercegovina, until one day their neighbors became their tormentors. CALLING THE GHOSTS chronicles the transformation of these women as their personal struggle for survival transforms into a larger fight for justice. Putting rape into the international lexicon of war crimes becomes their mission. Due to their brave efforts, their very torturers now stand indicted by the International War Crimes Tribunal.

In June of 1996, the United Nations' International Tribunal, for the first time in history, determined that rape will not, as in previous postwar courts, be tolerated as a by-product of war. Still it remains to be seen if those charged with rape will be convicted. "Despite well-documented reports of the whereabouts of more than 34 indicted war criminals, there are currently over 67 at large, including Zeljko Mejakic, Jadranka Cigelj's accused torturer. This film calls attention to this unconscionable situation: the international community must act now to capture these women's torturers.", said Mandy Jacobson, producer and co-director of the film.

CALLING THE GHOSTS is accessible to the public through a diversified distribution campaign that targets national and international television, educational institutions, and grassroots social service organizations. See what's new.

The national tour of CALLING THE GHOSTS offered direction on how individuals can actively respond to the need for strict enforcement of international law for crimes committed against women.

CALLING THE GHOSTS, directed by Mandy Jacobson and Karmen Jelincic, edited by Susanne Rostock, and executive produced by Julia Ormond is now available for sales and rental.

For more information: Bowery Productions (212) 677-2286, fax (212) 529-2849

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Information on The Amnesty International National Tour:

From October 12, 1996 to November 24, 1996,

Amnesty International was sponsoring a national promotional tour of the award-winning documentary CALLING THE GHOSTS: A Story about Rape, War, and Women.

Jadranka Cigelj and Nusreta Sivac, the leading women featured in CALLING THE GHOSTS, accompanied this promotional tour to share their own personal experiences as victims of torture, and their efforts to mobilize women to document rape as a war crime and to rebuild peace in the region.

This tour coincided with Amnesty International's annual regional conferences. The following cities hosted screenings and discussions with Ms. Cigelj and Ms. Sivac:
Revised October 30 ,1996

SCHEDULE FOR TOUR OF CALLING THE GHOSTS

WITH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

For Information on any of the screenings, call 212/ 677-2286

November 2 and 3: November 2 5:30 PM

Amnesty International Southern Regional Conference
Quality Hotel, Metairie
2261 N. Causeway Blvd.
Metairie, LA 70001
(504) 833-8211
New Orleans, October 31 - November 4 ( 4 days )

BOSTON:

Nov 5, 1996: Screening at the Braddle Theatre 7:00 pm
November 6:
12:00 - 2:00: Clarke University, Wooster, MA
4:00: Friends of Bosnia, Amherst, MA
413 586 6450 Glen Ruga
47 East Street, Hadley, Mass 01035
Saturday, November 9: Amnesty International Regional Conference, Boston
Boston University 9:00 - 12:30
George Sherman Union
Commonwealth Avenue
$15 for students

SO CALIFORNIA

Saturday, November 9 Amnesty International Regional Conference
Screening at The Pavilion, Irvine Marriott Hotel, 8:00-9:30
Sunday, November 10, 6:00 pm: open screening with Croatian Society, San Pedro

SAN FRANSCISCO

Monday, November 11: Screening at Pacifica Film Archives, Berkeley
University Art Museum, 7:00 PM
2625 Durant Avenue (across from Durant Hotel)
Tuesday, November 12: AM: lunch with San Francisco women's groups
Contact: Cosette Thompson (415) 291-9233
2:00 - 3:10 PM Student screening at Crystal Springs
2:30 PM: Dept of Justice Refugee Program Robin
Hillsborough, CA 7:00 PM (open to the public): Crystal Springs/Uplands High School Benefit
Sheraton Palace Hotel, 7:00 PM: Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome Conference

SEATTLE

Wednesday, November 13: AM: SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL

PORTLAND

Friday, November 15: Screening at North West Film Center 7:00PM
Contact: (Theater) Howard Aaron (503) 221-1156

VIRGINA BEACH

Friday, November 15 - 17: Amnesty International Regional Conference

WASHINGTON DC

November 19: PM: Benefit with Women for Women in Bosnia & AI

PHILADELPHIA

Wednesday, November 20: AM: Women Make Movies Screening

PRINCETON

Thursday, November 21: Princeton University 6:pm

Please join us in making this tour successful!

In each of the cities, we need:

help setting up networks to ensure that the film is widely distributed. Grass root groups, educational institutions and human rights advocates are encouraged to organize screenings, benefits and events and meet with Ms. Cigelj and Ms. Sivac; television, radio, and newspaper contacts in any of the cities; financial support for the logistics of the tour (donated airplane tickets, accommodation, venues for benefits, and translators); and organizations and individuals who can garner support for the work of Ms. Cigelj and Ms. Sivac.

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For more information, sales and rental call:
Mandy Jacobson
Bowery Productions
108 Bowery, #5, New York, NY 10013
Tel: (212)677-2286, Fax:(212)529-2849, e mail: bowery@aol.com