BCIT Television & Video Production alumni Mariam Demian and Andrea Gilbert are making their debut documentary today with “Children of Who? the future of Cambodia’s children“.

In 2011, Cambodia is still building its foundations after 30 years of civil war and government corruption. In the middle is a population that is struggling with acute poverty and low education levels who sadly abandon their babies out of necessity leaving them without care, without protection and in turn perpetuating the vicious cycle of poverty and low education. Simultaneously adoption has been ceased until Cambodia complies with international laws. Children of who? asks what will happen to the staggering number of orphans which seems to be increasing at a frightening rate.

Produced and Directed by Mariam Demian and Andrea Gilbert
Editor Andrea Gilbert

Thousands of children live in orphanages without ever leaving and even sometimes stay and work there because they have not received a good enough education to move ahead in life and adoption is not legal- therefore, there’s never even a chance of them having a real family. Your help will allow the organization to provide a clean, safe and nurturing environment for the kids, because for now, there is no other option.

Your support for this project would be so very appreciated! Partial proceeds will be donated to the Littlest Lamb Orphanage as they’ve so far been supportive in giving us interviews when we get there. Additional proceeds will go towards our project shedding light on this very important issue.

It’s a big project and it’s ambitious, but we’re working hard to make the most of this documentary because it’s a topic that needs attention!

Tickets are $10. Tickets will be available through Mariam and Andrea, as well as at the door between 7:30pm and 11pm.

Location:

Monday October 19 – 8:30pm

Vancity Theatre – 1181 Seymour St. Vancouver

Normally a colourful, positive, vivacious young woman, Eva is only a ghost of herself when directors Nimisha Mukerji and Philip Lyall begin documenting her life for this heartrending film. She is suffering through the advanced stages of Cystic Fibrosis. She feels as if she is drowning on the inside – lungs so full of mucous each breath is nearly impossible. Eva’s lungs are functioning at minimal capacity as her family and friends helplessly watch her deteriorate. Physically beaten down by her disease, Eva needs a new set of lungs to save her life. She waits – months – for news of a donor.

Quarantined from fellow CF patients, who can spread potentially fatal superbugs to each other, Eva forms a supportive community online. She gives and receives support and advice, becoming close with two young women who have endured the medical and emotional consequences of living with CF. Facing an uncertain future, Eva shares her worst fears and greatest hopes pre-surgery. Mukerji and Lyall follow Eva from home to the hospital and back. Inspiring and wise beyond her years, Eva puts a hopeful face to organ donation, and unwittingly reminds us of the preciousness of life.

If you get a chance to go to the Vancouver International Film Festival, be sure to get a ticket for 65_RedRoses, winner of the Top Ten Audience Favourite Award at Hot Docs 2009.

BCIT Television alumni Justin Cousineau worked to edit this very special documentary which chronicles the remarkable story of a young woman who requires a double lung transplant in order to live through Cystic Fibrosis.

Reviews / VIFF Site

65_RedRoses is a Canadian documentary that takes an unflinching look into the life of Eva Markvoort as she battles a fatal genetic disease called Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

At 23, Eva needs a double lung transplant to live. Unable to be around other patients with the same disease, Eva turns to the internet where she forms a strong connection with two American girls in different stages of CF. As the film follows Eva on her journey to getting new lungs, we witness how her online friendship with Meg and Kina withstands the tests of both time and distance.