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Salt + Light Television Network to hold premiere of
Across The Divide

in Vancouver, June 3,2012

Documentary explores antidotes for anger and violence in the Holy Land
through the experience of Bethlehem University



May 9, 2012 - Salt + Light, the Canadian documentary film producer and television network, will hold the global premiere of its most recent production, Across the Divide, in Vancouver, British Columbia on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 7 pm. The premiere, which is co-presented by The Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), The Archdiocese of Vancouver and The B.C. Catholic, will be held at the Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema located in SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts.

Shot on location in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and edited in Canada, Across the Divide offers a glimmer of hope for the divided region through the heroic actions of staff and students at Bethlehem University. The film captures the drama of a campus that, like the lives of its students, bears the scars of the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Media review copies available upon request on DVD or via private URL.
Documentary under embargo until June 3, 2012 at 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT.

"Across the Divide tells the remarkable, provocative story of the first Catholic institution of higher learning in Palestine," says Father Thomas Rosica, CSB, CEO of Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and executive producer of the documentary. "Against all odds, Bethlehem University has become a school of justice and peace in the Holy Land, and a real bridge among many different groups of people: Arab and Israeli, Christian, Muslim and Jew. In a part of the world that has known so much conflict, animosity, monologue and despair, the Catholic Church's presence through Bethlehem University has offered a model of peace, friendship, dialogue and hope for the world."

The campus is home to more than 3,000 students, most of whom are Christian (30 per cent) or Muslim (70 per cent).

"This film presents the story of Bethlehem University, caught in the middle of a sad reality of injustice, violence, intolerance and fear that dishonour the Holy Land, a land that should be a wellspring of hope and faith", says Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB, Archbishop of Vancouver. "By watching this film, viewers will take a positive step toward building a future of political and religious peace and justice in the region."

Across the Divide will also be screened at events in Halifax (June 25), Toronto (September 5) and Ottawa (September 19) as well as Montreal and Windsor at later dates. Each event will be followed by a Questions and Answers period with an expert panel.
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The Vancouver panel will be composed of Archbishop J. Michael Miller, Father Thomas Rosica from Salt and Light, Carl Hetu, executive director at CNEWA Canada, and Brother Jack Curran, Vice President for Development at Bethlehem University, and will be moderated by Kris Dmytrenko, writer and co-director of Across the Divide.



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About Salt + Light

Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation is a charitable organization devoted to spreading the light of Christ through modern and mass media — television, internet, radio, documentaries and other forms of social communication. Born on the wings of World Youth Day, Salt + Light harnesses the energy, zeal and idealism of youthful communicators to help identify, produce and share stories of hope and the teachings of the Church with the world.

Salt + Light Availability
Rogers – 240 Cogeco – 185 EastLink – 356
Shaw – 160 Shaw Hamilton – 387 Telus – 159
Videotron – 242 Sogetel – 28 Bell Fibe (select cities)

All programming is also available through live stream at saltandlighttv.org/live


Media representatives are invited to schedule interviews, receive footage/b-roll or request further information through the contact below:

Daniel Torchia
Salt + Light
416-275-2151
[email protected]
Skype: aniel.torchia2
Carl Hétu
CNEWA Canada
(613) 738-9666
[email protected]
Paul Schratz
Archdiocese of Vancouver
604 683 0281
[email protected]

Patti Riippa
Bethlehem University
Office: 202-526-6099
[email protected]

Skype: dcoffice.bethlehemuniversity
 
     
Salt + Light Catholic Media Foundation | 114 Richmond Street East, Toronto ON M5C 1P1 Canada