THREADS latest news

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Posted by:  Len

Here is the link to the latest newsletter from Threads.  As you can see in the newsletter, and from the growing list of laurels on the website homepage, the film is reaching a wider and wider audience.  If you know of people or places that should host a screening of this film, please have them contact us or let us know how we can reach them.  info@kanthathreads.com.

One of our next goals is to dub the English portions of the film into Bangla so that we can show it widely in Bangladesh.  We hope to have exciting news soon about when Threads will screen there.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported Threads!  We could not have come this far without your help.

Surayia in a scene from THREADS. Filmed by Mishuk Munier.

Surayia in a scene from THREADS. Filmed by Mishuk Munier.

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Quilts of Valor

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Posted by: Cathy and Len

Some of the Quilts of Valor at Jubilee Lodge.

Some of the Quilts of Valor at Jubilee Lodge.

Today Americans celebrate Memorial Day, commemorating the sacrifices of those who have died in the service of their country.  We were reminded of  those sacrifices when we recently screened Threads and had a lively discussion about the film at Jubilee, an active adult community in Lacey, Washington.

Just outside of the hall where we showed the film was a very moving display of quilts made by residents of Jubilee for wounded service members at nearby Madigan Army Medical Center.  These “Quilts of Valor” demonstrate the skill and dedication of the makers, and received a certificate of appreciation from the Warrior Transition Battalion at the hospital.

We brought one of Surayia’s nakshi kantha tapestries, “Gypsy Wharf,” for film attendees to examine. Although “Gypsy Wharf” is very different in style and theme from the Quilts of Valor, the quality and diversity of stitching traditions continues to amaze us.  We are always energized by meeting people who, like Surayia and the women of Arshi, turn thread and fabric into visually intricate and wonderful works of art that can warm and help to heal spirit and body.

Thank you to those who have served to make us free and to those whose commitment to others gives hope.

Certificate of Appreciation for the quilts.

Close-up, Quilts of Valor, Jubilee Lodge.

 

 

 

 

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A new trailer for THREADS

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Posted by:  Cathy and Len

We will be posting some good news about film festival and other showings of Threads soon.  In the meantime, check out the new trailer for Threads that co-producer Catherine Masud has just completed.  Thank you, Catherine!

Please feel free to share the trailer widely.  If you prefer to watch and share on YouTube, you can see the new trailer here.

Traditional Boat. Surayia Rahman design. Photo used with permission.

Traditional Boat. Surayia Rahman design. Photo used with permission.

 

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Celebrating International Women’s Day

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Posted by:  Cathy and Len

We are happy to join people around the world celebrating International Women’s Day March 8.

On this day, we particularly salute women artists who open doors to economic opportunity, preserve culture and foster creativity and community development.   Artisan enterprise today is the second largest employer after agriculture in the developing world, and, as Threads shows, the work of artisans can have a ripple effect, positively impacting the lives of generations.

We encourage everyone to think about handmade goods when making consumer choices and to support living artists whenever possible.  We believe that a world without poverty is possible, and that each of us can make a difference toward this goal.

Surayia and the women she worked with share their skills and together create timeless art. With creativity and determination, they feed and educate their children.  We salute their accomplishments.

 

 

 

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Color and Beauty for the New Year!

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Posted by:  Cathy and Len

Happy New Year, everyone!  Here is the latest Threads newsletter.  You can get a copy as soon as it comes out by subscribing at our website: kanthathreads.com.  Thanks to Anil Advani and Rita Meher for the photos.

Mustard field, photo by Anil AdvaniMay you find color and beauty in each day of the New Year

What an extraordinary year!  As 2014 comes to a close, we send our thanks and good wishes to you and other supporters of Threads around the world.  With your help and the dedication of our film team, we completed and launched Threads!

Threads recently screened for the first time at a film festival and won the Audience Choice Award for Best Short Documentary.  We are very pleased with the positive response that this inspiring story is receiving and we look forward to bringing it to diverse audiences in many countries.

We anticipate an exciting year ahead for Threads.  Our top priority is to find sponsors for a trip to Bangladesh to show the finished film to the resilient women who are in it and to screen the film as widely as possible in Bangladesh.  We are also applying to film festivals worldwide.  Getting into festivals is an exciting opportunity to have the film seen by more and more people, including critics and distributors, but it is also a lot of work: we will need to prepare exhibition copies of Threads, create press materials, and refresh the website.

As we continue work on this project, we speak with Surayia regularly and update her on our progress.  She has seen an earlier cut of the film, and we hope that the day will soon come when she can see the finished version of Threadswith her family and friends.

We wish you a happy, healthy and peaceful 2015 and hope to see you at a screening of Threads soon.  We will keep you updated on screenings through our newsletter and website.   We are always happy to hear your ideas , so please keep in touch and tell your friends about Threads.

            Donate Here Today

Threads has come this far with your support.   Thank you!  Just think what we can do together in 2015.   Please help us to bring Threads story to audiences around the world.

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