New Year Baby F.A.Q.

Do Socheata’s parents’ like the film?

The Poeuv family saw New Year Baby Christmas day 2006.  This was almost 4 years to the day after Socheata learned of the secrets.  They love the film. They believe it is an accurate representation of the family and they are happy the world can know the story.

 

How is Socheata’s family different now?

Now that the truth is out, there is a context of openness and communication in the family that didn’t exist before.  Her sisters can now keep photos of their first parents in view. 

 

How long did it take to make the Film?

It took over three years to make New Year Baby.  This included two separate month long Cambodia shoots.  The New Year Baby crew also filmed in California, Texas & New York.  The film was edited for 11 months in New York City.

 

What is Socheata doing now?
Socheata is creating Khmer Legacies (www.KhmerLegacies.org) which has the mission to document the stories of 10,000 Khmer Rouge survivors by having the younger generation interview survivors.  The mission grew out of making New Year Baby and seeing how little the new generation know of the Khmer Rouge and how much silence there is about the history.  The work intends to create healing by transforming a conversation of shame and silence to one of honor and heroism.   Khmer Legacies is incubated at the Yale University Genocide Studies Program.

Where can I see the film?

The DVD is available at www.NewYearBaby.net and a number of other retailers.  You can also ask your school, university or library to purchase a copy of the film.

 

The film  screened in worldwide festivals and had a limited U.S. theatrical release in the Fall of 2007.  PBS' Indpendent Lens broadcast the film in the U.S. in Spring 2008.  

 

Will Socheata speak at my organization, school, church?

Socheata can schedule speaking engagements.   She has spoken at Yale, Northwestern, UCLA, Harvard, Vassar College & NYU among other universities.   Contacting early is important as her schedule is active due to worldwide interest in the film, invitations, creating her non-profit “Khmer Legacies” and fundraising activities.

     Contact:  Beith Quittman
    beth@samaralectures.com  /  206-529-4711


 

May I schedule a screening at my organization, school, church?
DVDs for organizational screenings are available at www.NewYearBaby.net/DVD

We love to hear about group screenings.

  

Who is Broken English Productions LLC?

Broken English is a New York based limited liability company created to share stories of Love, Joy & Pardon.  It holds the copyright of New Year Baby and was created as a legal entity to in part create New Year Baby and the outreach program.  Its founders are Director Socheata Poeuv & Producer Charles Vogl.  www.brokenprod.com

 

If the film is finished why do you raise funds?

New Year Baby was completed with $1 million of resources from a consortium of funders.  They include the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Center for Asian American Media, the New York State Council for the arts and many others.   


To take the story to the world, the New Year Baby crew needs financial support to take the film to communities around the world. This includes supporting Cambodian organizations to use the film worldwide.

 

In addition Socheata Poeuv has created the nonprofit Khmer Legacies (www.KhmerLegacies.org) to further the work started with New Year Baby and create healing. 

 

What will you spend the money on?

We have created a $500,000 two-year outreach program plan to create a school curriculum and travel with the film to post-conflict areas and Cambodian Communities around the world.  The Open Society Institute and the Movies That Matter Foundation have already supported the beginning of this work.

 

Is there profit?   If so where does it go?

There is no profit making New Year Baby.  The whole crew works as volunteers or on very discounted payment.   Should there be profit after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting takes it’s revenue share, Broken English Prod. has a commitment to share profit with human rights & justice organizations.

 

Is New Year Baby religious?
New Year Baby is not associated with any religious organizations nor does it promote any particular religion.  If you’ve seen the film, you know it is a story about creating a new life and supporting others out of Love, Joy & Pardon.  These are very spiritual themes.  The film tells the story of a Buddhist family coming to America. Both the Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles and the prominent mega-church Redeemer Presbyterian in New York city have made significant commitments to support the film’s completion.  Both see the power of the film in ministry. 

Who is Women Make Movies?
WOMEN MAKE MOVIES, Inc. is the only national multi-cultural women’s media organization whose focus is on films by and about women.  Established in 1972, Women Make Movies is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media arts organization registered with the New York Charities Bureau of New York State.  As the fiscal sponsor, WMM accepts donations or grants on behalf of filmmakers and takes the responsibility of administering the funds received in support of the film.  / www.wmm.com