SOLD, the story of an extraordinary thirteen-year-old girl living in a poor village in Nepal who becomes a victim of human trafficking and must risk everything to escape, will be the Opening Night Presentation of the 37th annual Asian American International Film Festival. Asian CineVision is hosting the film on July 24th, 2014 at the Asia Society and again on July 26th, 2014 at the Village Cinema East.

SOLD is based on the acclaimed and award-winning international best seller by Patricia McCormick, it has been translated into 32 languages and is frequently the book that introduces young people to the issue of modern day slavery. SOLD covers the urgent issue of human trafficking and modern slave trade in India.

Co-writer and Director Jeffrey D. Brown has won numerous awards including an Emmy for CBS Schoolbreak Special and an Academy Award for his short film MOLLY’S PILGRIM. SOLD is his first feature length film. In talking about his interest in realizing SOLD as a film and cinematic experience, director Brown says, “I have a strong connection to India because my step-father was Indian and I traveled there when I was ten. I will never forget that experience… For me, reading SOLD was like reading a song/prayer/poem – I felt called to tell this story on film.” Brown drew inspiration from the Academy-Award-winning documentary, BORN INTO BROTHELS.

Executive producer and two-time Academy Award-winner Emma Thompson believes that, “Because of ‘Sold’s marvelous script and courageous and brilliant cast, it is a story that we can all watch – so that we may understand the processes of slavery in modern India and feel able to act without feeling the kind of rage and hopelessness that gets in the way of doing anything,”

Producer Jane Charles has 20+ years in the film industry and produced many feature films including SOLD. As a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, Charles worked in production on the original Stephen Cannell shows “21 Jump Street,” “Booker,” “Wise Guy,” “Neon Rider”, and the feature films “Bird On A Wire”, “Run” and “Pure Luck”, as well as several TV movies.

“We are deeply moved by this intense, emotional story of one girl’s quest for freedom,” says John Carson Woo, the executive director of Asian CineVision and the Asian American International Film Festival, “The film covers the urgent social and global issue, but it is a powerful film with extraordinary execution that both exposes the unimaginable hardship of the victims, yet highlights the dignity in them. The story telling craftsmanship and pressing moral issues makes SOLD a film AAIFF is proud to present.”

In conjunction with the film, Wishing Tree Fund has been established to give grants to NGOs who have had made a difference in the lives of trafficked children in India and Nepal. A portion of the film’s profits will also be given to this fund.

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