Dear Thay, dear Sangha, dear supporters,
It is with great happiness that we can announce that “Walk With Me” will have its world premiere between March 10-19 at the South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas.
SXSW is one of the most important and influential film festivals in the film industry calendar with thousands of people attending from all over the world.
Making a Big Impact at SXSW
It is vital we make a big impact and generate as much press and public interest as we can during this festival. Therefore, at the festival, we would like to have a strong monastic presence at the film screening and panel discussions.
Furthermore, we are hiring a top end US public relations team to ensure we attract great press coverage which includes social media contributors and a videographer to film and upload live from the festival. This will keep “Walk With Me” alive and people engaged on social media from the middle of February onwards.
On a more worldwide perspective, we have also secured one of the world’s leading film sales agents, West End Films, who will be presenting the film to distributors at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival in February and this further progresses our plans for the film’s release in cinemas worldwide throughout the year.
Support "Walk With Me" at SXSW
This is an exciting time and we thank you for being there for us through the entire process. With your generous support from Giving Tuesday and year-end donations, $49,000 was raised which we are now using to hire a US PR team and build our online presence for the release of the film.
Unfortunately, the SXSW festival does not pay for our attendance or related expenses, and whilst we have raised some funds from our recent call out, it is not yet enough to cover the expensive undertaking to launch a movie, which is why we continue to invite donations through the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. The estimated cost for a number of monastics and us to be in Austin as well as expenses to promote “Walk With Me” during the festival is $50,000.
A Way to Affect Positive Change
With current events affecting the globe, there is a need for all of us to live in a way that makes peace possible, that shows we do not have to live in fear or despair. This film is a piece of mindful media that can water positive messages in our society. Your support for this film is one tangible action you can take to affect positive change and bring a message of peace and interconnectedness to the world.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity so far and the incredible messages of support we receive every day.
If you would like to receive continued updates on the film, we invite you to join the Walk With Me mailing list. We look forward to keeping you up to date with news and images from Austin via our Facebook page.
With warmest wishes and gratitude,
The Walk With Me Team
Please consider making a gift today to help bring Thay’s message of peace and interconnectedness to the world**
On the donation form please select "Walk With Me Film" as the gift designation option
** Non-U.S. donors who would like to make a gift via PayPal and do not need a tax receipt are invited to click here. You will be sent directly to the "Walk With Me" website, which is managed by Speakit Films.
Watch the "Walk with Me" Trailer
You can read the original SXSW announcement of the "Walk With Me" world premierehere. To learn more general information about the film, click here