Released September 11, 2009

Sundance award-winning documentary follows group of women fighting for the rights of sexually abused children in South Africa

(Columbia, MD) – Howard Community College (HCC) hosts the Baltimore/Washington area premiere of the documentary “Rough Aunties” on Thursday, September 24, 2009 in Smith Theatre on the campus of HCC.  Directed by Kim Longinotto, the documentary follows a group of women — the Aunties — who fight for the rights of sexually abused children in the Durban area of South Africa.  The film received the World Cinema Documentary Jury Prize at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

The documentary screening is a project that was initiated by two freshman composition students at the HCC:  Sarah Savoca and Derrick Pendleton.  The two worked together during the spring semester to raise awareness on campus about the prevalence of child rape in South Africa.

The screening will be a fundraiser for Operation Bobbi Bear, the Durban, South Africa non-profit featured in the film.  For more information on Operation Bobbi Bear,  visit www.bobbibear.org.za

Please note that the film deals with issues of child rape, HIV, domestic violence, and child abandonment, and is not recommended for students younger than high school age.

A reception will take place at 6:30 p.m., followed by the screening from 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Tickets are available by visiting www.howardcc.edu/roughaunties or by contacting Stacy Korbelak at 410-772-4299 or skorbelak@howardcc.edu.  A donation of $10 per ticket is suggested.

About HCC
Howard Community College (HCC) is a publicly funded two-year community college serving the educational needs of the citizens and employers in Howard County, Maryland since 1970. With its slogan, “You Can Get There from Here,” the college has forged a variety of partnerships to offer career and transfer programs to over 28,000 students annually at its main campus in Columbia, the Ecker Business Training Center, Laurel College Center, and the historic Belmont Conference Center. Located midway between two major metropolitan areas, Washington DC and Baltimore, MD, Howard Community College is an affordable, community-based institution that has long been recognized for its ability to inspire learning, and the lifelong pursuit of personal and professional goals. Among its many awards is the prestigious U.S. Senate Productivity Award for organizational performance excellence.