IMPACT CAMPAIGN
Please help us to bring this testament to the power of one person to make a difference so we can inspire the viewer to do the same!
FRANCESCO highlights key issue areas and current crises that Pope Francis has identified as demanding the world’s immediate attention. Through our impact campaign, we will bring awareness and provide opportunities for viewers to be involved in each of these areas.
Environment
Migrants and Refugees
Church Child Abuse
Women on the Frontlines
FRANCESCO Human Rights Panel Series
We are hosting a series of panel discussions that will air weekly leading up to and following the release of FRANCESCO on Discovery+. Each panel will focus on a key issue area presented in the film and will feature human rights leaders and activists working on the frontlines to push for change.
Each panel will be streamed on YouTube and Facebook and will be available for the public to watch.
PANEL SERIES OVERVIEW
March 8 2021: Women on the Frontlines Panel
This panel will air on International Women’s Day and will discuss women on the frontlines and Pope Francis’ recognition of female leadership in the church.
PANELISTS:
Moderator: Colleen Bell
Executive Director, California Film Commission, Former US Ambassador to Hungary (2014-17)
Sister Norma Pimental
Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
Yasmeen Hassan
Global Executive Director, Equality Now
Kay Buck (she/they)
Chief Executive Officer, Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST)
Pamela Yates
Film Director, Co-Founder & Creative Director, Skylight Pictures
Bonnie Abaunza
Founder, Abaunza Group
Executive Producer, Francesco
Monica Ramirez (she/ella)
Founder, Justice for Migrant Women
Support the Masks 4 Migrants campaign
Stephanie Filo
TV/Film Editor and Activist
March 29th 2021:
Francesco: A Conversation with the Filmmaker, Evgeny Affinevsky
This live event, held in conjunction with the US premiere of the documentary, was hosted by Georgetown University Catholic Ministry and took place on March 29, 2021
PANELISTS:
Fr. Greg Schenden,
SJ, Director of Campus Ministry;
Dr. Jim Wickman
Director of Catholic Life;
Amb. Colleen Bell (Ret.)
Executive Director of the California Film Commission,
Evgeny Affinevsky
director of the new documentary about Pope Francis, "Francesco."
March 31st 2021: FRANCESCO Premiere Panel
Co-hosted by discovery+ and RFK Human Rights, this VIP premiere panel discussed the key themes and messages of the film.
PANELISTS:
Moderator: Kerry Kennedy
President of the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights
Evgeny Afineevsky
Director and Producer, FRANCECSO
José Ramos-Horta
Nobel Peace Prize winner, former President of Timor-Leste
Father James Martin, SJ
Editor at Large, America
April 1st 2021: The Global Refugee Crisis Panel
This panel will discuss the global refugee crisis with particular focus on countries highlighted in the documentary: Myanmar, Syria and Central African Republic.
PANELISTS:
Moderator: Adotei Akwei
Deputy Director, Advocacy & Government Relations, Amnesty International USA
Evgeny Afineevsky
Director and Producer, FRANCECSO
Suzanne Meriden
Executive Director, Syrian American Council
Simon Billenness
Executive Director, International Campaign for the Rohingya
April 15 2021: Universal Fraternity: Catholic and Interfaith Dialogue Panel
This panel will feature conversations with interfaith leaders about Pope Francis’ work on global issues.
PANELISTS:
Moderator: Rose Pacatte, FSP, D. Min.
Pauline Center for Media Studies
Evgeny Afineevsky
Director and Producer, FRANCESCO
Brother Michael A. Perry O.F.M
Minister General, Order of Friars Minor
Professor Omar Abboud
Member, Royal Islamic Institute of Jordan
Co-President, Argentine Institute for Interreligious Dialogue
April 22 2021: Climate Change Panel
We had the privilege to join the @franceso_movie impact campaign for a panel discussion on the climate crisis. We joined some incredible leaders in this field to discuss the most pressing issues around environmental justice.
PANELISTS:
Moderator: Daniel Lavelle
US Director, Survival International
Kate Mackintosh
Executive Director, Promise Institute for Human Rights
Atossa Soltani
Director of Global Strategy, Sacred Headwaters Initiative
Founder & Board President, Amazon Watch
Roberto Carlés
Fundación Laudato Si'
Evgeny Afineevsky
Director and Producer, FRANCESCO
April 29 2021: Border Crisis Panel
This panel will discuss family separation, US asylum policy, and treatment of Central American refugees.
May 6 2021: Church Abuse Panel
This panel will discuss the history of abuse in the church, what the church has done in response, and the role that Pope Francis has played in pushing change forward.
