“DOCUFEST” DRAWS ATLANTA MOVIE GO-ERS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE

“DOCUFEST” DRAWS ATLANTA MOVIE GO-ERS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE
by, Shannon Strischek

Atlanta, GA (August 20-24, 2008) – From “Inconvenient Truth” to “Spellbound” documentaries seem to be big business these days. It’s no surprise then, that the 3rd Annual DocuFest is expected to draw big crowds in Atlanta this August. Decatur filmmaker Bob Koenig hopes his own film will steal the show at DocuFest ‘08.

“Nepal is going through the worst political crisis in its history,” explains Koenig. “The monarchy has been abolished and the Maoists, the former guerilla insurgents, have taken control of the government.”

The collapse of the 240 year old monarchy is due to the continuing success of the "People's War", launched in 1996 by the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist). Even today, a bloody conflict continues to claim lives.

“Returned: Child Soldiers of Maoist Nepal” looks into one of the most condemned crimes of the Maoist army: the use of child soldiers in fighting forces, particularly the Maoists continue their commitment to recruiting students, sometimes as young as ten-years old, from primary schools.

“This film has the potential to influence people in the US and other developed nations around the world to take action,” says Koenig. “It can help these children at the macro level and at the political level.”

Already the film is garnering a positive response both nationally and internationally. Although its debut will be at DocuFest, it is slated to air during the United Nations Association Film Festival and has received a jury award from the American Anthropological Association.

“All the political parties involved in Nepal, including the U.S. government’s representatives, don’t want the truth uncovered,” Koenig says. “They don't really want justice, they don't really want to find out who was involved in which atrocities, because they are all somehow linked to criminal acts of violence.”

Koenig spent over two years researching and making the documentary. The film’s Director of Research, Brandon Kohrt, an Emory M.D./PhD candidate, is continuing to conduct interviews in Nepal until his return next month.

DocuFest takes place August 20-24, 2008 during the Atlanta Underground Film Festival. Individual tickets are $7.50 but $35 covers an All-Access-Pass for any film during the four-day-festival.

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To arrange an interview with Bob Koenig, please contact Shannon Strischek at 727-209-1745 or by email at Shannon@savvybuzz.com

High Resolution Images Available.