39 Pounds of Love's theatrical release shows Angelus Awards impact

November 22, 2005

Angelus Awards Student Film Festival continues to have an impact in Hollywood and on its sponsors and winners.

Priddy Brothers Entertainment, which sponsors the $5,000 Triumph Award, has released theatrically an award-winning documentary, 39 Pounds of Love, directed by Dani Menkin. The senior producer is Hilla Medalia, the 2004 Angelus Awards Documentary winner. In addition, the Priddy Brothers, Boise, Idaho, are producing an expanded, theatrical release of Ms. Medalia's Angelus winner Daughters of Abraham, which she is writing and directing.

39 Pounds of Love, which won Best Documentary at the Israel Academy Awards, also took first place at the Boston Jewish Film Festival. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced last week that the film is among 15 documentaries that made the cut for Oscar consideration.

39 Pounds of Love will be released in theaters in 11 major cities, Nov. 23-Jan. 13, with more cities expected to be added "with a little help from their friends."

"This would not be happening if it wasn't for the Angelus Awards," said Monika Moreno, Family Theater's director of the student film festival. "Hilla met Ed and John Priddy (pictured above, left and right respectively) at the 2004 Angelus Awards. We were all at dinner, discussing producing Daughters of Abraham as a feature, and Hilla urged the Priddys to screen 39 Pounds of Love ." After doing so, they immediately signed on as executive producers, got HBO Cinemax Documentary Films on board and arranged for its theatrical release, she added.

39 Pounds of Love is the heart-warming and powerful story of medical miracle Ami Ankilewitz and his courageous road trip. Diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy at age one and given five years to live, Ami, now 34 and weighing just 39 pounds, works as a 3D animator with the help of a specially designed computer. In this film, he sets out on a journey that shows the world that anything is possible.

"In his own words, Ami asserts the dignity and value of every human person," said Father Willy Raymond, CSC, National Director of Family Theater Productions. "Pope John Paul II would be proud of this young man's courage and valor. I enjoyed this film and hope everyone gets to see it," he added.

The film's director Dani Menkin told The Idaho Statesman newspaper that making the film "was something special for us. It shows that God is everywhere. You can plan for some things, but God writes the script."

39 Pounds of Love's current theatrical schedule is: Nov. 23: New York City, Sunshine Cinema, 143 East Houston St. - (212) 330-8182; Dec. 2: Los Angeles, Nuart Theater, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. - (310) 281-8223; and Tucson, Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Blvd. - 520-795-7777; Dec. 9: San Francisco, Opera Plaza Cinema, 601 Van Ness Ave. - (415) 267-4893 or Lumiere Theater, 1572 California St. - (415) 267-4893; Berkeley, Act 1 & 2, 2128 Center St. - (510) 464-5980; Dallas, The Magnolia, 3699 McKinney Ave., Suite 100 - (214) 764-9106; Boston, Kendall Square Cinema, Cambridge - (617) 499-1996; Chicago, Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark St. - (773) 509-4949; San Rafael, CA, San Rafael Film Center, 1118 4th St. - (415) 454-1222; Jan. 13, Washington, D.C., E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW - (202) 452-7672; Feb. 24: Denver, Starz Film Center, 900 Auraria Pkwy. - (303) 820-3456.

If these screenings do well, it will help toward the film's release in more cities. So John and Ed Priddy are asking all friends of Angelus Awards and Family Theater Productions to attend one of the screenings if possible, and send this information to family and friends.

More information is available at www.39poundsoflove.com, and the film trailer can be viewed at
www.39poundsoflove.com/qt/trailer2.mov (QuickTime) and
www.39poundsoflove.com/q...ler-small.wmv (Windows Media Player)