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Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School Screens "Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine"
- Posted on 29th Apr
- Category: events
We received another lovely update about the recent Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine screening at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School in PA. Courtney Lewis, who organized the event, wrote us the following note and we had to share it!
"I just wanted to send you a note to let you know how amazing the documentary viewing was. I am so grateful that you both made this film and feel that it will undoubtedly stand the test of time.
We had about 75 people at the viewing, mostly our boarding students and faculty, who LOVED it. Naturally there were a lot of tears, but our English teacher who is directing The Laramie Project this coming weekend led a wonderful discussion afterward which practically everyone participated in. All the teachers choked up when one of our students said at the end, "I'm just so grateful that I go to a school where we can put on The Laramie Project and watch amazing films like this one. I totally understand why Matthew Shepard felt that his friends from boarding school would be important to him for his whole life. I feel the same way."
A handful of alumni, many of whom came out in college, donated money to pay for the documentary viewing as well as drove from neighboring states to attend the viewing and they said that if they had seen a film like this one they might have come out earlier. Several of our faculty and parents who are in same-sex relationships (sadly Pennsylvania is not a same sex marriage state - yet!) also came out and were enormously happy we showed the film, as well as were moved by the content.
We also sold bracelets and had a cookie raffle (my cookies are pretty famous on campus!) and will continue the fundraising through the play this weekend. We've got our fingers crossed that we can raise around $1000 for the Matthew Shepard Foundation."
Thanks so much, Courtney and Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School!
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Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine in Michigan!
- Posted on 25th Apr
- Category: events
Our film was recently shown at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, MI. Greg Baird, a national lecturer on LGBTQ issues, organized this successful screening event and shared this wonderful update with us:
"As a National Lecturer on LGBTQ issues to colleges and universities, I was pleased to show Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine with my AfterMatt lecture at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, MI. A mix of college students, faculty, staff, and community folks came to hear a special message and watch this wonderful film. 150 people were moved and inspired to hear about Matt and the legacy he left behind. During the Q&A portion of the lecture, an older woman stood up to tell how her son was bullied 29 years ago and committed suicide. It was the first time she had the venue to open up and talk about it. Lives were changed! In this small, resort community, it was great to show the film, as they would have never had an opportunity to see it. Thank you!"
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New Spring Screenings!
- Posted on 9th Apr
- Category: events
We're back home...but not for long. We have a TON of new spring screenings coming up and hopefully we will be adding more soon! The film heads to North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, Michigan and Napa Valley Community College in Napa, CA.
In May, we head back to Cleveland for a special screening event and community conversation sponsored by our partners Facing History and Ourselves. Then Director Michele Josue brings the film to the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Finally, we screen the film as a part of a special fundraising event for the Matthew Shepard Foundation in Minneapolis, MN. Both Judy and Dennis Shepard will be in attendance at this event.
Please check out our screening page for cities, dates, and times: http://mattshepardisafriendofmine.com/screenings Spread the word! We hope you can join us!
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We won big in Cleveland!
- Posted on 4th Apr
- Category: news
We had a wonderful time at the Cleveland International Film Festival this past weekend! One we will never forget. And we were overjoyed that Judy and Dennis Shepard could join us in Cleveland for our screenings and thoughtful Q&A discussions.
A whopping 97,804 people attended this year's festival to watch 186 feature films and 168 short subjects. In this attendance record-breaking year, Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine came away with winning the festival's top prizes--the Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Award AND the Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film!
(Photo courtesy of Laura Watilo Blake)
Here we are, moments after our film was announced, walking up on the stage Closing Night of the festival to accept the first of the 2 awards. This is a moment we will always remember and cherish. What a tremendous honor! We're still blown away!
There were so many people!!! (Photo courtesy of Debby Samples)
We are thrilled and so very, very grateful to have been recognized by such a passionate, committed audience. You can read more about our time at the festival here: http://www.cleveland.com/moviebuff/index.ssf/2014/03/cleveland_international_film_f_67.html
You can also check out this great review of the film in Cleveland's Plain Dealer. We got an "A"! http://www.cleveland.com/moviebuff/index.ssf/2014/03/cleveland_international_film_f_65.html#incart_river
The people of Cleveland showed us such warmth and appreciation. The entire CIFF team was so unbelievably kind, supportive, and just all-around amazing. Cleveland Rocks!
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I'm Soo Proud of You!
- Posted on 21st Mar
- Category: news
I'm overwhelmed and so very touched by this lovely post in I'm Soo Proud of You about me and my journey making Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine. You can check it out here: http://imsooproudofyou.com/2014/03/21/michele/
I'm Soo Proud of You is a brand-new, wonderfully inspiring blog by my friend Tamara Ham that highlights "uplifting relatable stories featuring my loved ones* who inspire me and their loved ones who inspire them and their loved ones who inspire them and so on and so on…"
It's a great project! We could all certainly use a little more love and encouragement in our lives. As Tamara says, "I’m crazy about my loved ones* and the stories they share with me. I just want to gush about them. I’m soo proud of you let’s me do that. Hopefully it’ll inspire others to reach out to their loved ones and let them know they’re proud of them."
A million thanks to Tamara Ham and her inspiring blog I'm soo proud of you, my husband Liam, the MSIAFOM team, Matt, and his amazing family and friends...old and new! I am unbelievably blessed, grateful, and soooooo proud of all of YOU!
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RIP Fred Phelps
- Posted on 20th Mar
- Category: news
I remember Matt's funeral like it was yesterday and vividly recall the anger and utter disgust I felt for the protests outside.
As anti-gay hate personified, Fred Phelps unintentionally helped open people's eyes, including my own, to the struggles of the LGBT community. Thank you for inspiring countless people to wake up, open their hearts to love, and fight for their LGBT brothers & sisters. May that be your legacy.
Here are a few thoughtful articles on Phelps' passing: A Gay Dad’s Requiem on the Death of Fred Phelps and this Huffington post article from our respected colleague and friend Cathy Renna.
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Spring Tour: Part 1
- Posted on 5th Mar
- Category: news
We're packing our bags! "Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine" is going back on tour for the spring! Our first stops: Cleveland, Laramie, Ogden!
MSIAFOM first screens in competition at the Cleveland International Film Festival on March 29th and 30th. We are honored that Matt's parents Judy and Dennis Shepard will be joining us at the festival and for our post-screening Q&A discussions.
After Cleveland, Director Michele Josue will be taking the film to the Shepard Symposium on Social Justice at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Honoring the work of the Shepard family and the memory of Matthew, the Shepard Symposium works as a living reminder of the need for information and dialogue about social justice concerns in American and beyond. Needless to say, bringing the film to the Symposium and back to Laramie, where Matt's tragic attack took place, is a hugely emotional milestone for us. We're overwhelmed that we are finally able to share our Matt with the Laramie community. The film will screen at the Symposium on April 3rd. Stay tuned for more details.
Then it's off to Ogden, Utah! Michele heads to Weber State University to present the film on April 7th. This is a very special Kickstarter screening event for our Kickstarter hero Ray Kimber! Ray was invaluable to the success of our 2nd Kickstarter campaign, and we are so happy to be able to share the film with his community.
In mid-April, the film will screen at Napa Valley Community College (April 17th) and San Bernadino Valley College (April 18th).
We'll be sure to blog, tweet, and Facebook about all our adventures. We hope to see you at one of these Spring screenings!
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Jason Collins meets with the Shepards
- Posted on 28th Feb
- Category: news
Last night was very special! Dennis, Judy, and Logan Shepard met with Jason Collins, the first openly gay active NBA player. Jason wears the no. 98 jersey in honor of Matt, who was murdered in 1998. The Shepards drove up from Wyoming to attend the game.
Jason, who recently signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, played the final eight minutes of the Nets' 112-89 win over the Denver Nuggets. Before meeting the Shepards, Jason said, “I was in college at the time when [Matthew] was killed. Of course it’s a tragedy what happened and I just hope it inspires others to come forward. It’s definitely going to be special meeting them after the game (Thursday) and I’m looking forward to it."
After the game, he met with the Shepard family and gave them an autographed black and white 98 jersey. Judy Shepard said receiving the jersey was "cool. It was very sweet, very genuine and very thoughtful."
Watch this video about their meeting here:
We're so touched by Jason's tribute and this very special meeting, and in awe of Jason's courage and strength!
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Heading to the Cleveland International Film Festival!
- Posted on 21st Feb
- Category: news
We're thrilled to announce Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine has been selected to screen in competition at the Cleveland International Film Festival! MSIAFOM screens on March 29th and 30th.
A leading U.S. regional film festival, the CIFF has been recognized as one of the 50 leading film festivals in the world by IndieWIRE. They have an amazing line-up this year, and we're honored to be a part of it! MSIAFOM will screen in the Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition, which highlights "films with a conscience." This is CIFF's largest and most popular competition.
Director Michele Josue is also in competition for the ReelWomenDirect Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman. Both competitions are based on audience votes, so please wish us luck!!
We're also honored to announce that Matt's parents Judy & Dennis Shepard will be joining us at the festival and will be there for our post-screening Q&As. So if you're in the Cleveland area, we hope to see you!!! And please, spread the word! We'd love to sell out our screenings! Tickets are available to the general public on March 7th.
For more information, please visit: http://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2014/matt-shepard-is-a-friend-of-mine
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"I am Matthew Shepard but no one will ever know"
- Posted on 6th Feb
- Category: news
"I am Matthew Shepard, but no one will ever know." Before the Carnegie Mellon screening of MSIAFOM, our friend Meg Evans shares her personal story of growing up scared and confused, but ultimately loved. She talks about her connection to Matt and why it's so important for everyone to share their own stories. As Meg says, "We all have stories that can help change lives. Share yours with someone who might just need to hear it."
