LETTER FROM PRESIDENT BUSH

President Bush's staff received a copy recently of the film from an executive at the National Geographic Society. Hopefully, the President will get to see it at some point. Here's the letter he wrote in response to Greg Platts:

Dear Greg,

The copy of ABDUCTION made it to the Oval Office. Laura and I look forward to watching it. My meeting with Sakie Yokota remains one of the most moving experiences of my Presidency, and I appreciate your efforts to highlight this important story.

Thank you for thinking of me and for your continued friendship and support. Best wishes to you and Liz for a happy and healthy 2007.

Sincerely,

George W. Bush

ISRAEL/BBC AIRING

Cinematheque - Tel Aviv, Israel


Hi all,

Back from Israel last week where we showed the film for the first time there. We were lucky enough to be invited by the good folks at Docaviv, Israel's most important documentary film festival. Saw some fantastic documentaries, met some wonderful filmmakers from all over and enjoyed being in the complex and interesting world of Israel. Attended a reception at the Japanese Embassy in Tel Aviv where we were told that the Israelis are starting to get on the sushi bandwagon. Apparently, it's becoming more and more popular. We were lucky enough to be treated to some real Japanese-style sushi thanks to Ambassador Yoshinori Katori and his staff. We showed the film twice while were at Docaviv and were interested to hear how sensitive the issue of political kidnappings are to many people in Israel. Many compared "ABDUCTION The Megumi Yokota Story" to the kidnappings of Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and elsewhere...one of the reasons for last summer's conflict. The film will get its Israeli TV debut on April 8 and 13th at 10pm on the YES satellite network.
Of course, the film finally aired on the BBC for the first time last week. Great press beforehand, including a "pick of the week" in THE GUARDIAN newspaper's TV guide. THE INDEPENDENT and THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH both had excellent articles even if they did give away the entire story! Oh well...
Following the airing on the BBC we got some great comments from people which I've posted below. It appears Megumi's family has touched people in the United Kingdom the same way it has everywhere else.


Comments from BBC viewers...


"Abduction" really blew me away, what a story, heart breaking. Watched it last night and I was amazed that this really exists. The parents of Megumi are unbelievable, well done to you both, your work rate and persistent badgering of the authorities is commendable. I believe Megumi is alive and has a family in Nth Korea, the family connection is why the Nth Korean Govmnt won't release her. Sad but uplifting at the same time, fantastic documentary, lets hope Megumi makes it back, soon."

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Dear Chris & Patty,

I would firstly like to congratulate you both on the making of the film Abduction - it's a pure materpiece!

I watched the film Abduction on BBC4 last night at home,I just came across it by chance while I was changing channels. I felt compelled to Google Megumi as soon I got to my desk in work this morning as I have never in my life watched such a heart wrenching film.

My name is Ashling and I am from Dublin Ireland . My mother's twin sister went missing while on a working holiday in Africa 24yrs ago this year, she was my age 33yrs old. To this day her body and her boyfriend’s body have never been found. So watching this film was very close to my family’s heart.

Megumi parents are such amazing strong people and I admire them so much for the way they will never give up the hope of finding her some day.

I said a prayer for them last night and will continue to keep them in my prayers.

Many thanks & best regards,

Ashling

xxxx

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I just caught the last twenty minutes of your film Abduction. I wish I
had seen all of it. A wonderful job on a heartrending story. I loved the
track of music at the very end. Please will you tell me what it is? Thank
you.
Sue

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I watched this poignant but brilliant documentary on
BBC4 last night.

Ratiel

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That was pretty awesome.

adam

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As an English Social Democrat, I see it only natural for me to support the tiny Social Democratic Party of Japan, but after reading that they support Kim Jong-il implicitly and STILL DENY the fact that the North Koreans snatched these poor kids off the street in the first place, I will be kinda leaning to Minshuto (the moderate Democratic Party of Japan) in the future when it comes to international political solidarity. A great documentary.

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"Abduction" really blew me away, what a story, heart breaking. Watched it last night and I was amazed that this really exists. The parents of Megumi are unbelievable, well done to you both, your work rate and persistent badgering of the authorities is commendable. I believe Megumi is alive and has a family in Nth Korea, the family connection is why the Nth Korean Govmnt won't release her. Sad but uplifting at the same time, fantastic documentary, lets hope Megumi makes it back, soon.

"ABDUCTION" TO AIR ON BBC THIS MONTH!

“ABDUCTION” TO PREMIERE ON THE BBC

Washington, DC – An award-winning film about a Japanese girl kidnapped by North Korean spies will receive its television premiere on the BBC later this month.

"ABDUCTION The Megumi Yokota Story" is scheduled to air as part of the highly acclaimed “Storyville” on BBC FOUR on March 22nd at 10:30pm.

“We’re very pleased and excited to finally be able to show this film to people in the UK,” said Chris Sheridan, who directed the film along with his wife, Patty Kim. “The BBC is known for its high standards, so premiering the film on it will give the issue of the abductions an enormous amount of credibility.”

Nick Fraser, Series Editor of the Storyville strand said: "Megumi’s story is not only very moving, but a telling example of how people suffer when the interests of nations collide. Chris and Patty have successfully managed to make a film that’s both emotionally powerful, and profoundly important."

The film follows the family of Megumi Yokota, a 13-year-old Japanese girl kidnapped by North Korean spies in 1977. The documentary shows how her family’s personal anguish turned into an international crisis. In 2002, the North Koreans admitted to kidnapping Megumi and 12 other Japanese citizens. Their fate is the subject of controversy in Asia affecting even the latest rounds of nuclear talks with North Korea.

Abduction opened in January, 2006 at the Slamdance Film Festival in Utah and was awarded the Audience Award for Best Documentary. It has since gone on to win five other awards as well as critical praise from the New York Times, Variety, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Sydney Morning Herald, CNN and many others. It has also been shown around the world at festivals and on TV including in Australia, Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany and Holland. The film is currently playing in theaters in Japan.

The film’s Executive Producer is the Oscar-winning director Jane Campion. ABDUCTION is also produced with the assistance of Fuji TV.

For further press information please contact BBC Publicist Marina Forsythe on 0208 752 7229 or visit www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/storyville/

For film info, visit www.abductionfilm.com

UN High Commissioner's Comments on Film

"VERY FEW OTHER STORIES HAVE BEEN SO INSTRUMENTAL IN ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES AS THIS FILM." - Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights





For those of you who speak Japanese, you can read about Ms Louise Arbour's comments about the film in Geneva, Switzerland this past weekend.

http://news.goo.ne.jp/article/kyodo/world/CO2007031201000205.html?C=S

Check out this Japanese TV report on the Geneva screening...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxlWhXMujzM&mode=related&search=

UN High Commissioner to Attend Geneva Opening!

Louise Arbour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, will attend the opening of "ABDUCTION The Megumi Yokota Story" in Geneva, Switzerland. The film will screen as part of the International Film Festival on Human Rights held annually by the United Nations. The festival has listed Ms. Arbour as one of the guests of honor for the opening on its website. Teruaki Masumoto, whose sister was kidnapped by North Korea in 1978, will also attend the film's opening in Geneva. The film opens Sunday, March 11th at the Maison des Arts du Grutli at 4pm.

For festival info, visit www.fifdh.ch or call (in Geneva) 041-22-800-1554

"ABDUCTION" OPENS AT UNITED NATIONS FESTIVAL IN GENEVA

“ABDUCTION” Opens at UN-sponsored event in Geneva
Abduction issue will get international audience

For Immediate Release
3/6/07

Washington, DC An award-winning documentary about a 13-year-old Japanese girl kidnapped by North Korean spies will be shown this weekend at a United Nations-sponsored film festival in Geneva, Switzerland. ABDUCTION The Megumi Yokota Story will open at the International Film Festival on Human Rights on March 11.
The festival, now in its fifth year, coincides with the United Nations’ Human Rights Council’s main session which convenes on March 12th.
“We’re very pleased that the United Nations considers the abduction issue important enough to include in their festival,” said Chris Sheridan, who, along with his wife Patty Kim, directed the 85-minute documentary. “This will send a strong message to the international community that this issue needs to be addressed properly.”
ABDUCTION The Megumi Yokota Story tells the tale of Megumi Yokota who was taken by North Korean spies when she was 13. The film shows her family’s emotional journey to try to get her back. The film’s won six awards and received critical praise from the New York Times, Variety, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, CNN and many other media. It has been shown in Canada, Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, Holland, France and is currently open in theatres across Japan. In January, the film premiered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Henry Kissinger, former National Security advisor to US President Richard Nixon, attended the event.
ABDUCTION is produced in association with the BBC and with the assistance of Fuji TV. The Executive Producer of the film is Jane Campion, the Oscar-winning director of “The Piano”.

For festival info, visit www.fifdh.ch or call (in Geneva) 041-22-800-1554
For film info, visit www.abductionfilm.com