Portrait of Abuse to be Broadcast in Russia
AMS Pictures’ award-winning documentary about domestic violence, Portrait of Abuse, will be shown throughout Russia in 2011. The film was recently purchased by Russia Today, the first Russian English-language news channel, for both satellite and television broadcast.
“Domestic violence is an epidemic in Russia as it is in the U.S.,” said Mark McGovern, Portrait of Abuse Executive Producer and AMS Pictures’ Vice President of Creative Services. “The statistics are staggering. Amnesty International reports that 36,000 women are beaten by husbands or partners in the Russian Federation every day. I hope that our film will raise awareness about the issue and help women, families, health care workers, and law enforcement take steps to lower that number.”
Portrait of Abuse examines domestic violence as a public health crisis. “We created a narrative from interviews with victims, police officers, psychologists, social workers, nurses and doctors, as well as the batterers themselves, “ said Producer/Director Sara Ivey. “Partner violence is a hidden epidemic in America that affects all socio-economic levels. We want to share this story with international audiences because violence against women is a world-wide problem.”
Portrait of Abuse won The Freddy Award in 2008, an international competition referred to as “the Oscars” for films about health and medicine. DVDs can be purchased here.