Meet the Filmmaker: Michael Perlman & Kean Wong

“Free China: The Courage To Believe” 

Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Location: NY NATAS, 1375 Broadway (between 37th and 38th Streets), Suite 2103

Reception: 6:00-6:30 PM ~ Program: 6:30-8:00 PM

*Free to NY NATAS Members!

$15 for those without current NY NATAS membership.

"Free China: The Courage To Believe"

Produced & Moderated by Sumner Jules Glimcher.

“Free China: The Courage To Believe” This award winning documentary film tells the story of a mother and former Communist Party member, Jennifer Zeng, who along with more than 70 million Chinese were practicing a meditation system that combined Buddhist and Daoist beliefs until the Chinese Government outlawed it. The Internet police intercepted an email and Jennifer was imprisoned for her faith. As she endured physical and mental torture, she had to decide: does she stand her ground and languish in jail, or does she recant her belief so she can tell her story to the world and be reunited with her family? As China’s prisoners of conscience are subjected to forced labor and even organ harvesting, this timely documentary exposes profound issues such as genocide and unfair trade practices with the West. The film also highlights how new Internet technologies are helping bring freedom to more than 1.3 billion people living in China and other repressive regimes throughout the world. For more info please visit www.FreeChinaMovie.com.   

On the heels of 5 international film festival awards and more than 400 hundred private screenings including the US Congress, European Parliament, British Parliament, Amnesty International and Google Headquarters, “Free China” has been released theatrically in 12 major US markets in 2013. The New York Times has praised the film as “stirring…[with] narrative power.” Karen Curry, former CNN New York Bureau Chief has described the film as “Intensely compelling” and indieWIRE has hailed the film as “deeply inspiring.”

Michael Perlman, director of “Free China”, is an award winning filmmaker, performing artist, attorney and founder of two not for profit organizations. He has traveled to over 60 countries, and spoken to thousands of people on issues related to politics, human rights, activism, law, media, conflict resolution, religion, spirituality and positive thinking. Perlman helped found, and served on the board of Cross Cultural Solutions (CCS), one of the largest volunteer organizations in the United States. He produced, wrote and directed the New York Times Critics Choice film “Eyes of the World”, revealing the physical and emotional price paid by photojournalists as they document human rights atrocities. Perlman produced, wrote and directed the award winning PBS International documentary, “Tibet: Beyond Fear”, highlighting the story of Ngwang, a Buddhist nun and Bagdro, a Buddhist monk, who at the ages of 13 and 20, led freedom protests in Tibet.

Kean Wong, the producer of “Free China” is a human rights activist, TV producer/host and founder of Parigon Partners, a strategy and marketing consulting firm specializing in new media and social entrepreneurship. In 2005 he left Australia and moved to New York where over the last 8 years has been an award winning host, anchor and producer for New Tang Dynasty Television, a non-profit TV network headquartered in New York City and pioneers in broadcasting uncensored programming into and out of China via Satellite and the Internet. Back in 2001 he met Jennifer Zeng, the main subject of the film and helped her apply for asylum in Australia. Years later in 2009, in New York, he met Michael Perlman, and shared her incredible story with him, thus beginning the journey of the film and movement that is ‘Free China’.

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED DUE TO BUILDING SECURITY. ALL NAMES MUST BE ON GUEST LIST. Please RSVP via email info@nyemmys.org to reserve a seat. Please write “Free China” in the subject line. Space is limited.