Dear friends,

Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home made its international debut last Sunday at the Canada International Film Festival in Vancouver, generating a truly inspiring response. The festival's eight person jury gave the film its top award in all categories, the Maple Leaf Grand Jury Prize! Having screened in nine film festivals since last Fall, this is the third award for Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home, which also won Best Documentary awards at the Peace on Earth Film Festival in Chicago and the Moondance International Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado.

We were unable to attend the Canada International Film Festival, but Tribe of Heart was represented by two very capable and talented volunteers, Monica Towle (left) and Kate Sharadin (right). Monica did a phenomenal job publicizing the film throughout Vancouver the week before the festival. She reached out to numerous influential people in the media and the local food scene, and personally distributed hundreds of fliers to area businesses. Her tireless dedication to getting the word out, and her passion for supporting this film and its message, were nothing short of awe-inspiring! We also owe a debt of gratitude to Monica's husband Cal, who leant his graphical talents to the effort, and took photos at the event.

Along with Monica, Kate Sharadin also worked hard to publicize the screening, and conducted a superb Q&A session afterwards. With her sensitivity, experience, and in-depth knowledge of the issues explored in the film, she skillfully answered the many thoughtful questions that were posed by audience members.

The written comments from viewers were touching and heartfelt. "As a former 4H kid," wrote one, "that was hard…it brought me shame of things I've done (things I still do), things that were accepted, but never felt right. This gives credibility to the feeling and makes me feel that there is a community out there that believes this too."

Another viewer wrote: "This film broke my heart in the best possible way. I love that the film is so compassionate not just to the animals but also to the farmers. Their journey is our journey, everyone who has gone from using animals to embracing non-violence. I want to show this film to everyone I know."

We were truly honored to have Kate and Monica accept the Grand Jury Maple Leaf Award on behalf of Tribe of Heart. At the awards ceremony, Kate said: "Thank you for this on behalf of Jenny Stein and James LaVeck and Tribe of Heart. We produce documentaries about hope, love, compassion, peaceful transformation and the reverence for life, all life, human and non-human. Thank you."

This moment was all the more special because Vancouver is the home town of Tony Levin, one of the three people in whose memory the film is dedicated. Tony was a young activist whose life was cut short by a tragic accident in 2007. At the screening, one of Tony’s friends told the audience that Tony would have been overwhelmed, and overjoyed, by Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home. As we bring the film to ever larger audiences, we aspire to do so with the same dedication and sincerity that Tony brought to his work on behalf the vulnerable beings of this world.

For the many people who have contributed in some way to this wonderful moment coming to pass, we offer our humble thanks, and our invitation to join us in carrying forward the positive momentum. Coming up in the next two weeks, Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home will be screening at two exciting events, the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital, and the Environmental Film Festival at Yale. Please help spread the word by sending out e-vites and Facebook invitations (see links in right column). If you live near Washington, DC, or New Haven, CT, we hope you will be able to join us and bring your friends and family to the screenings. And if you can, consider donating to help us complete the DVD and educational resources needed to take this project's launch process to the next stage.

Working together, we can and will change the world!

Warm wishes,
James LaVeck & Jenny Stein
Co-founders, Tribe of Heart

Tribe of Heart needs your support now, more than ever, to keep the momentum moving and to develop the resources and support needed to launch the DVD. Please help us bring this powerful tool to people who are eager to put it to use in communities around the world!

Donations can be made online or mailed to:
Tribe of Heart, PO Box 149, Ithaca, NY 14851