Former Iona Professor, Abigail Disney to Present a Screening of her Award Winning Documentary "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" at Iona College

NEW ROCHELLE, NY - In conjunction with Week of the Peacemaker, Iona College will host a screening of the Tribeca Film Festival's Best Documentary Award-Winning Pray the Devil Back to Hell on Wednesday, November 18, at 6:30pm in the Christopher J. Murphy Auditorium. This award winning documentary tells the remarkable but little-known story of a small band of unarmed women who risked their lives to bring change to Liberia. The film reconstructs the moment through interviews, archival footage and striking images of contemporary Liberia. This incredible story has earned additional awards at the Silverdocs (Witness Award), Jackson Hole Film Festival (Audience Choice: Documentary), and Traverse City Film Festival (Special Jury Prize: Non-fiction Filmmaking).

Armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions, a coalition of Christian and Muslim women confronted cruelty and corruption, taking on Charles Taylor and the warlords and bringing peace to their country after decades of war. Their demonstrations brought about the exile of Charles Taylor and the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first female head of state – and mark the vanguard of a new wave of people taking control of their political destiny around the world.

The documentary is produced by Abigail Disney, a former Iona College professor, who is also the founder and president of the Daphne Foundation, a progressive, social change foundation which provides grants to grassroots, community-based organizations working with low-income communities in New York City.  Among her philanthropic endeavors, Ms. Disney has played a critical role in a number of different social and political organizations. Through her efforts as past Chair and 14-year board member of The New York Women's Foundation, Ms. Disney has dispersed millions of dollars for community organizations devoted to the economic empowerment for women and girls in the New York area.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is directed by Gini Reticker. The film opened November 7, 2008 in New York City with a national roll-out in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, San Francisco, and additional markets in the weeks that followed.  The film is unrated with a running time of 72 minutes. 

To register your attendance at the screening please go to www.iona.edu

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For questions or more information please contact:
Dawn Insanalli
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
Office: (914) 637-2726
Fax: (914) 637-2711
dinsanalli@iona.edu