SR Socially Relevant Film Festival NY

• The Merger, Cinema Australia 2018 Audience Award winner, has US Premiere at SRFF • Refugee-focused opening night program also includes It Will Be Chaos Doc

* 'The Man Who Mends Women' a documentary about Nobel Peace Prize-winner Dr. Denis Mukwege screens * Panel follows, including Pramila Patten, UN UnderSecretary General - Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict

--60 feature, short and documentary films from 30 countries --Expert panels on film industry, social issues, youth video workshops --Women directed films on the forefront

---Early bird submissions for SRFF 2019 open tomorrow - on second day of the Cannes Film Festival on the Cannes Croisette! ---New Lineup to be decided sooner to allow for thematic and country spotlights to develop on a larger scale.

-- Narrative Features sport a tie between German 'Lou Andreas' and Armenian 'Hot Country' -- Hotel Everest where Palestinians and Israelis socialize wins the best documentary -- The most significant prize that comes with the awards is a distribution on...

-- 'Darcy' feature film shot in New York immediately follows Closing Awards Ceremony -- Other opening night films include 'That was New York', and 'Talien'

-- Award given at 3/19 Spotlight Panel on women and gender equality (with UN) -- Other panelists: Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Simone Monasebian, Felicia Greenfield, and Jessica Vale

-- Sustainable Filmmaking workshop to start day -- Films from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico

-- Low-budget film production workshop hosted by SAG-AFTRA starts day -- NY Loves Film - Governor's Office for Film roundtable before screenings

--Panel headed by Dr. Ruchira Gupta, founder of anti-trafficking organization Apne Aap --Films from UN Media, Apne Aap, and Dr. Gupta to be screened --Empowering Women and Girls Award in Memory of Vanya Exerjian to be given