It was a thrill to work with the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime on the premiere of Kevin Kline’s full-length feature documentary, TRADE. The event marked the first film premiere event ever to take place at the United Nations.
In an effort to raise both awareness and funding for the anathema that is human sex trafficking, I worked with the U.N.O.D.C to create an event that would accomplish both as well as develop a new generation of socially active U.N. supporters.
To celebrate the film’s release, the U.N. hosted a benefit premiere in the iconic Trusteeship Council Chamber of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. To complement high-power event committee chaired by the inimitable Eleonora Kennedy (that included top U.N. brass and activists like Glorian Steinem, Candice Bergen, Eve Ensler, Edwige Dandicat, Marisa Tomei, and Ivanka Trump) we developed a Junior Host Committee that brought a youthful energy and excitement to the U.N.’s initiative, and raised a significant amount of funding to go towards anti-human trafficking programming.
The screening was prefaced with opening remarks by Academy Award winning actress and U.N.O.D.C. supporter Sigourney Weaver as well as U.N. Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon. The audience included a cross section of United Nations dignitaries, actors, producers, and social activists including director Kevin Kline, actors Mira Sorvino, Bijou Phillips, Kerry Washington, Danny Masterson, Phoebe Cates, writer Eve Ensler, models Helena Cristensen, Jessica Stam, and many more. The premiere was followed by supper in the UN Delegates dining room with music generously provided by DJ / Producer Mark Ronson.
The film itself follows the story of a 13-year-old Mexican girl (Paulina Gaitan) and a young Polish woman (Alicja Bachleda) as they are kidnapped by sex traffickers in Mexico and transported for sale in the United States. As they make their brutal journey north, the young girl’s older brother and a Texas cop (Kevin Kline) set off on a desperate and dangerous rescue attempt. It is a gut-wrenching look at the sex trade inspired by “The Girls Next Door,” Peter Landesman’s chilling NY Times Magazine expose on the U.S. sex trade industry.
The Secretary-General so elegantly captured the spirit of the evening with his opening remarks:
I am honoured and delighted to welcome you to the United Nations, and to the world premiere of Trade.
It is not often that a Hollywood movie has its opening night at the United Nations. Our red carpets are usually trodden by bureaucrats and diplomats, not Oscar-winning actresses. Our flashbulbs, as far as we have any, usually capture grim-faced negotiators. And Joan Rivers wouldn’t have much to say about our sense of dress.
But, when a film tackles a theme as pressing and powerful as this one — a subject that requires the world’s immediate attention — there is no better venue than the United Nations. There is no better forum to bring together Governments, civil society, the media and the film industry. There is no better platform to raise awareness and call for action.
Human trafficking is a crime that strips people of their rights, exploits people’s dreams of a better future, robs people of their dignity. It can cause physical and psychological damage. It can even kill.
After seeing this film, I hope you will feel compelled to take action. I hope you will join local, national and international efforts to defend the victims, to bring those responsible to justice, and to help protect the vulnerable in the future. I hope you will help raise awareness, become an advocate, and hold Governments accountable.
I hope you will join forces with the UN family — with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other partners who are keeping trafficking high on political and social agendas around the world.
And so, ladies and gentlemen, may this film lend a new meaning to “lights, camera, action!” And may its message be heard by those who need to hear it most.
