In 2003, three local filmmakers traveled to Sudan in search of a story. They came back with footage for a documentary that has been seen by millions of people at thousands of screenings around the world, won the Heartland Film Festival's distinguished Pioneering Spirit Award and the Congressional Coalition's Angels in Adoption Award, and generated close to $3 million to aid the displaced Ugandans that are the subject of their film, INVISIBLE CHILDREN. Co-director JASON RUSSELL will talk about the challenges of shooting in Africa and how they used a grassroots, viral marketing campaign to create awareness of their film, garnering the support of rock bands Switchfoot, My Chemical Romance, and Fall Out Boy, as well as actresses Hayden Panettiere ("Heroes") and Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars").

One of the original founders of the media-driven nonprofit Invisible Children, Inc., Jason Russell is a graduate of the USC Production Film School who has sold his original musical, "Moxie," to Steven Spielberg and served as assistant to the director for Disney's blockbuster "Step Up 2." Off the screen, he has directed and choreographed over 20 theatrical stage productions and performed in over 100 different shows. His revolutionary approach to humanitarian work has put Russell at the forefront of a generational movement for peace, and he continues to serve as a keynote speaker across the country, empowering youth to become more involved in the global landscape.

Come network with your San Diego filmmaking peers from 6-7 PM, then stay to learn about the amazing success of INVISIBLE CHILDREN!

Don't forget to bring your business cards and head shots! And please be sure to tell everyone you know in the San Diego filmmaking community about this exciting, free event.

See you there.

(scheduled guest speaker and content subject to change)

(no pets, please)