OTISFIELD, MAINE | Seeds of Peace, the internationally-recognized nonprofit organization, has two major events taking place in Maine next week:
“SEEDS” documentary film to receive award at Maine International Film Festival
The documentary film SEEDS will be showcased at the Maine International Film Festival on Saturday, July 23 at 7 p.m. at the Waterville Opera House. The film, independently produced by Merge:Media, has been chosen to receive the Joan Phillips-Sandy Award at the festival; the award ceremony will take place prior to the screening with reception following. SEEDS will be introduced by Joan Phillips-Sandy and 25 Seeds alumni will be attending from the Camp to accept the award.
SEEDS is an intimate and candid documentary of the incredible stories and experiences at the heart of Seeds of Peace; it shows exactly how it feels to come from a war zone surrounded by hatred and violence and learn to coexist with “the enemy.” It is a fascinating first-person testament that reveals how, with effort and determination, a peaceful future may be achieved. SEEDS has become a festival favorite and has received positive reviews around the country. CNN’s Judy Woodruff called it “a spectacular film … truly impressive.”
NBA players to teach basketball clinic at Seeds of Peace Camp
On Tuesday, July 26, basketball stars from the National Basketball Association (NBA) will hold a clinic, Play for Peace, at the Seeds of Peace Camp in Otisfield, Maine. Players attending include Brian Scalabrine (Boston Celtics), Jason Collins (New Jersey Nets), Sean May (the eleventh overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats and recent winner of the NCAA Championship for North Carolina), and Daniel Ewing (recently drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers and previously with Duke University). WNBA player, Michelle Edwards, formerly of the Seattle Storm will also join the clinic. It will be May, Ewing, and Edwards’ first visit to the Seeds of Peace Camp. Collins and Scalabrine have attended the clinic in previous years.
Play for Peace is organized by Arn Tellem, President and CEO of SFX Basketball group, agent for the players, and Seeds of Peace board member. Tellem, and the basketball players will be joined at the clinic by almost 200 teenagers from the Middle East (Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian) as well as teens who are part of the Maine Seeds program. Maine Seeds brings together youth of all races and religions, including teenagers from Cambodia, Rwanda, Somalia, Vietnam, Sudan and Uganda who have recently settled in Maine, as well as youth from European-American families whose Maine roots date back several generations. This is the first year the Maine Seeds participants will participate in Play for Peace.