California's Forgotten Children

California's Forgotten Children is an American feature documentary directed by Melody C. Miller.^[1] Winning Best Documentary at the 2018 Soho International Film Festival,^[2] the film follows a diverse group of resilient survivors who have overcome commercial sexual exploitation of children and are changing the world by ensuring no child is left behind.^[3] The film features stories from Time 100 Most Influential People Withelma "T" Ortiz Walker Pettigrew,^[4] attorney Carissa Phelps,^[5][6][7] academic scholar Minh Dang,^[8][9] activist Leah Albright-Byrd,^[6][10] therapist Nikolaos Al-Khadra,^[11] and educator Rachel Thomas, M. Ed.^[3]

California's Forgotten Children
Directed by	Melody C. Miller
Written by	Melody C. Miller
Produced by	Jerry Heverly
Starring	Withelma Ortiz Walker Pettigrew
Cinematography	Jason Knutzen
Edited by	Eric F. Martin
Music by	Stephen A. Spies
Release date	14 October 2018 (2018-10-14) (San Diego International Film Festival)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The film supports the stories of survivors with current statistics and perspectives of sexual exploitation from professionals in social services, law enforcement, advocates, and child welfare; such as California Against Slavery, Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, Saving Innocence, Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting & Serving Sexually Exploited Youth, National Center for Youth Law , Oakland Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Runaway Girl Inc., Nancy O'Malley District Attorney for Alameda County, iEmpathize, Bay Area Women Against Rape, Survivor Alliance, SHADE Movement, Heat Watch, Sowers Education Group, Bridget's Dream, and many more.^[12]

The documentary focuses on those who were wrongfully criminalized in the judicial system; manipulated and coerced by family, friends, and caretakers; and exploited by multiple slavery industries.^[13]

On June 26, 2019, the film screened at the United States Senate to educate policy makers implementing laws to combat human trafficking.^[14][15][16] It was honored at the United State of Women Summit in May 2018.^[17][18]

Internationally through film festivals, community screenings, and schools, the documentary continues to educate audiences and mobilize action to help victims of child sex trafficking.^[19][15][14]

Awards and honors

• Winner for Best Documentary at the Soho International Film Festival, 2018 ^[2]
• Winner of Rising Filmmaker Award at the Riverside International Film Festival, 2018 ^[20]
• Honored at the United State of Women Summit, 2018 ^[21]
• Winner of Best Director at the Chico Independent Film Festival, 2018 ^[22]
• Winner of the Orson Welles Award at the California Film Awards, 2018 ^[23]
• Winner for Best Documentary at the Angeles Documentary, 2018 ^[24]
• Nominated for Best Social Issue Documentary at the San Diego International Film Festival, 2018 ^[25][26]
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival, 2018 ^[27]
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival, 2018 ^[28]
• Nominated for Special Jury Award at the Montana International Film Festival, 2019 ^[29][30]
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Oakland International Film Festival, 2018 ^[31]
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Newport Beach International Film Festival, 2018 ^[32][33]
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Riverside International Film Festival, 2018 ^[34]
• Nominated for Audience Choice Award at the Riverside International Film Festival, 2018 ^[35][36]
• Nominated for Best Social Awareness Award at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival, 2018 ^[37][33]
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Long Beach Indie International Film Festival, 2018 ^[38]
• Nominated for Dolores Huerta Award at the Long Beach Indie International Film Festival, 2018 ^[38]
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Chico Independent Film Festival, 2018 ^[22]
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Awareness Film Festival, 2018 ^[39][40]
• Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the Justice for All Film Festival, 2018 ^[41]
• Nominated for Special Jury Award at the BraveMaker Film Festival, 2019 ^[42][43]
• Finalist in the Women In Film Mini Upfront's Film Trailer, 2017^[44][45]

References

1. May-Suzuki, Christian. "Resident filmmaker's documentary on Child Sex Trafficking Making Change throughout the Country | Culver City News". Retrieved 2019-09-08.
2. Desk, BWW News. "Ninth Annual Soho International Film Festival Wraps With Awards Night Honoring Independant [sic] Films Around The World". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
3. "Filmmaker hopes to bring to light Bay Area sex trafficking industry". ABC7 San Francisco. 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
4. Martin, Ricky. "Withelma 'T' Ortiz Walker Pettigrew: The World's 100 Most Influential People". Time. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
5. "TFT alumna's film seeks to shed light on child sex trafficking". dailybruin.com. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
6. "Researcher, activists to speak on human trafficking and immigration". news.unl.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
7. "Human Trafficking | UNL". humantrafficking.unl.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
8. "'California's Forgotten Children' screening sheds light on atrocities of human trafficking". FSView & Florida Flambeau. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
9. "California's Forgotten Children - The University of Nottingham". www.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
10. Parrish, Kevin. "Woman shares her story of survival and battle with sex trafficking". recordnet.com. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
11. Al-Khadra, Nikolaos; survivor, ContributorHuman-trafficking (2013-12-11). "Notes From a Chicago Escort". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-09-08. {{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help)
12. "Leaders in the Film". California's Forgotten Children Documentary. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
13. "California's Forgotten Children Documentary". FOX 24 Charleston. January 16, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
14. "Alumna's documentary to shed light on survivors' stories of sex trafficking". dailybruin.com. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
15. May-Suzuki, Christian. "Resident filmmaker's documentary on Child Sex Trafficking Making Change throughout the Country | Culver City News". Retrieved 2019-08-07.
16. ""California's Forgotten Children" Screening and Discussion". Hill Happenings. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
17. "The 2018 United State of Women Summit: California's Forgotten Children, Documen..." theunitedstateofwomen2018.sched.com. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
18. "United state of women summit". Melody C. Miller Cinematographer & Documentarian. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
19. "Impact". California's Forgotten Children Documentary. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
20. "Our Winners!". Riverside International Film Festival. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
21. "The 2018 United State of Women Summit: California's Forgotten Children, Documen..." theunitedstateofwomen2018.sched.com. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
22. "The Chico Independent Film Festival (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
23. "California Film Awards (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
24. "#3rd edition : February 2018 winners – Talent Factory". Retrieved 2019-12-09.
25. "Documentary | San Diego International Film Festival". Retrieved 2019-12-09.
26. BWW News Desk. "Awards Announced For 2018 San Diego International Film Festival". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
27. "LA International Women's Film Festival Announces 2018 Lineup on International Women's Day". publishedpr.com. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
28. "Selected Films | Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival". nhriff.hrfilms.org. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
29. "California's Forgotten Children". MINT Film Festival | Billings, MT Sept 17-20, 2020. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
30. Paige, Anna. "In second year, MINT Film Festival grows to five days and showcasing 100 films". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
31. "California's Forgotten Children | Oakland International Film Festival". Retrieved 2019-12-09.
32. "Official Selection and nominations Catalogue of Newport Beach Film Festival". issuu.com. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
33. California's Forgotten Children - IMDb, retrieved 2019-12-09
34. "Best Documentary Nominee - California's Forgotten Children". Riverside International Film Festival. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
35. "2018 Festival Program". Riverside International Film Festival. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
36. Writers, Women Wonder (2018-05-06). "Women Wonder Writers Joins California's Forgotten Children to Host Child Sex-Trafficking Awareness Film & Panel Discussion at United State of Women Summit". The Write of Your L!fe Blog. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
37. "Chagrin Documentary Film Fest Announces Film Selections for 9th Annual Festival". PRWeb. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
38. "Long Beach Indie, California (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
39. "Awareness Film Festival, CA (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
40. Tomchuk, Gary. "Awareness Film Festival". Aware Cinema. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
41. "Mrs. Monica Moss Presents: "California's Forgotten Children"". Traffick Free. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
42. "Adult Calendar Events | City of Redwood City". www.redwoodcity.org. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
43. "Screenings". California's Forgotten Children Documentary. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
44. "WIF Mini Upfronts Finalist Announced – Women In Film". Retrieved 2019-12-09.
45. . UCLA School of TFT. Archived from the original on 2017-07-19. Retrieved 2019-12-09.

External links

• Official website
• California's Forgotten Children at IMDb