THE UPSTANDERS WILL SCREEN May 25th – June 1st VIRTUALLY
WOODSTOCK, VT, Tuesday, May 18 2021– The Upstanders is unsettling and uplifting, causing us all to examine our behavior, inspiring us to do better, be better, and stand up against victimization and cyber-bullying. On May 25th – June 1st The Ottauquechee Health Foundation in partnership with the Woodstock Union High School, will hold a special screening of The Upstanders at https://watch.eventive.org/indieflixeducation/play/609aa9b56bb47500779d21be
to open up a dialogue between local families, community leaders and experts. The event will feature a viewing of the 56-minute film.
The Upstanders, created by the same film company that offered Angst, delves deep into cyber-bullying, showing the perspectives of those who bully, their victims, and the trauma of the bystander. Woven through this film is the very personal, first-hand account of a family’s tragic loss that inspired new legislation to turn the tide against this very real epidemic. As with all of the Indieflix films, true stories are featured alongside the latest scientific and medical research, along with strategies to empower all communities to stand-up against bullying.
The 56-minute film features in-depth interviews with kids, families who have lost their children to cyber-bullying related suicide and the very best experts in the world from prestigious institutions including Stanford University and Child Mind Institute in NYC. The Upstanders also includes two members of Oprah’s 2020 Vision Tour: Jesse Israel of The Big Quiet, and Radha Agrawal of Daybreaker, and author of Belong.
Covid-19 has only acerbated this problem of cyber-abuse, by providing a bully-ripe environment of isolation, anxiety and increased time on screens. Most often driven by pain, bullies are searching for that jolt of power when putting someone else down – and there is plenty of pain going around now.
“As I child, I was spat on, kicked and pushed into lockers,” says iNDIEFLIX Filmmaker & CEO SciIla Andreen. “As painful as that was, the meanness stopped at my front door, and I was safe when I got inside my home. But today, with the quick push of a few buttons, the bullies have the ability to persistently harass, humiliate and degrade their peers 24/7. We are eternally grateful to the Molak family who let us document their journey, as they channeled their grief into tangible change: the creation of David’s Law.”
Through its experts, the film explores
- The science behind cyber-bullying
- Why kids are afraid to admit they are cyber-bullied and signs to watch for
- Best ways to support your cyber-bullied child
- How to realize if you are harboring a cyber-bully
- How the community can show resilience and power to end bullying
iNDIEFLIX continues its documentary presentation via community screenings, that fosters a connected and nurturing environment. Prior to the pandemic, these films were exclusively shown in auditoriums or community centers, followed by a moderated panel discussion and Q & A’s. Covid-19 has recreated this live ‘watching together’ experience online.
The Upstanders, and its Mental Health Trilogy companions Angst and LIKE are staples in social & emotional learning programs in schools all over the world. Knowing that successful change depends on continuing the conversation beyond the screening date, each film comes with discussion guides, tip sheets and further resources, with dedicated curricula for each film launching in 2021.
iNDIEFLIX Group Inc is a global education and streaming service that promotes and supports social impact films to create positive change in the world. iNDIEFLIX Education books online and offline community screenings in schools and corporations around the world, while iNDIEFLIX Stream offers a monthly subscription-based service to access thousands of high-quality shorts, features, documentaries, and series from around the world. https://www.indieflix.com/
To watch a trailer, learn more or book a screening of The Upstanders for your community, visit www.theupstanders.com.