Film, Music & Testimony Come Together in ONE VOICE ORLANDO: A YEAR IN REFLECTION Benefit

Orlando will never be the same. The events that took place in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016 caused the citizens of Central Florida, and perhaps the entire nation, to search for answers to questions we had hoped we would never have to ask.

We know now that we are stronger than ever. The Pulse Tragedy united us as a community. There is universal compassion for the victims and the families of this horrific shooting as we have met hate and terror with love and acceptance.

On Friday September 22, "One Voice Orlando: A Year in Reflection" will combine film, music and testimony for two benefit events that begin with a procession from the Timucua White House to Pulse and then back to Timucua where the presentation and reception will be held.

"Our plan is to offer a powerful yet beautiful event that causes us to take stock of who we are as a community after fifteen months of reaction and growth," explained Christopher Belt, executive director of the Timucua Arts Foundation. "We'll be teaming up with The Global Peace Film Festival and Opera Orlando for a program that will benefit Proyecto Somos Orlando, an organization that has been on the frontline supporting those impacted by the Pulse Tragedy."

The namesake of the event is last September's "One Voice Orlando: A Celebration in Song" for which Opera Orlando coordinated the opera community's national response to the mass shooting. Over 1,600 filled the Dr. Phillips Center's Walt Disney Theater and over $20,000 was raised in support of vital community organizations including Proyecto Somos Orlando. Three "Pulse" survivors were honored. At the time, they asserted that "This concert did more for us than therapy ever could, to feel that we were supported by the entire community was truly healing."

"We are honored to once again have the opportunity to play a part in the healing and celebration of our community," said Gabriel Preisser, the executive and artistic director of Opera Orlando. "This time we'll provide the music to compliment the screening of 'Love the Sinner' a documentary that proffers a profound example of why understanding and acceptance of our differences are so essential."

The film is being presented as a part of The Global Peace Film Festival, an annual event held throughout Central Florida. Established in 2003, the festival uses the power of the moving image to further the cause of peace on earth. -MORE-

"We felt a huge responsibility to intensify our efforts after the Pulse Tragedy," explained Nina Streich, the festival's executive director. "'Love the Sinner' is a remarkable piece of filmmaking exploring the connection between Christianity and homophobia in the wake of the shooting at Pulse in Orlando. Jessica Devaney's very personal creation is a moving experience that leaves the viewer inspired toward loving and acceptance of all people regardless of their differences."

Devaney produced, co-directed and is narrator of the film. She will be at the screenings to answer questions. Geeta Gandbhir was co-director for the film.

The flow of the two presentations bares some explanation. Those wishing to participate in the 10-minute long procession will assemble at the Timucua White House.

11:30 - Meet at Timucua (optional shuttle or walk over to Pulse)

11:45- walk/shuttle from Timucua

12 Noon- arrive at Pulse

12:15- Return back to Timucua

12:30- Arrive at Timucua for food and beverages

1pm Event - Films and Music

2pm Reception

The identical schedule will be repeated starting at 6:00 pm for the second presentation.

Tickets are $40, are fully-tax deductible and can be purchased by visiting www.timucua.com/onevoice all proceeds will go directly to Proyecto Somos Orlando in support of their program which provides long term support, mental health, and legal services needs of the communities affected by the Pulse Tragedy.

Proyecto Somos Orlando offers a wraparound services model that addresses long term support and empowerment of the LGBTQ+ Latinx community in Central Florida, and the needs of those affected by the Pulse Tragedy. Proyecto Somos Orlando is a program of the Hispanic Federation (HF), a national 501c3 nonprofit agency with over 25 years' experience in capacity building for Latino led community based organizations and the empowerment of the Latino community. www.proyectosomosorlando.org

A pillar of Orlando's cultural fabric, Timucua Arts Foundation presents diverse, high-quality, and usually free-of-cost musical performances, welcoming all audiences on a nearly weekly basis since 2007. The majority of these unique events take place at the celebrated "white house," an intimate and acoustically refined music venue and recording studio, located minutes from downtown Orlando.Called Orlando's "Best Saving Grace," and ranked number 3 on the list of "100 Things to Do in Orlando Before You Die" by the Orlando Weekly, the Timucua white house presents musicians from around the world from the fields of classical, jazz, rock, folk, electronic, and beyond. Timucua also collaborates with select local organizations and festivals that foster and promote art music, including Accidental Music Festival, -MORE-

Civic Minded Five, Orlando Brass Festival, Canines for Veterans, and the Central Florida Composers Forum. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Timucua Arts Foundation's mission is to present and inspire great music and art in Central Florida through performance and education. timucua.com

In only its second year, Opera Orlando has established itself as the standard bearer of the art form in Central Florida. After its Inaugural Season in 2016-17 season, the company looks forward to continuing its track record of sold out houses, fresh theatrical realizations and critical acclaim with original productions of "La Bohème," "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and Rossini's "Cinderella." All performances include musicians from the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and are held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. It was in the Center's Walt Disney Theater this past September that Opera Orlando assembled some of the nation's and state's finest operatic talent for a community-building benefit in response to the Pulse Night Club Tragedy: "One Voice Orlando: A Celebration in Song." This stellar and powerful event inspired one of the art form's leading national advocates, Marc Scorca of OPERA America, to declare that "In its brief existence, Opera Orlando has demonstrated its ability to bring high-quality performances to Orlando and to lift the spirit of the city through the power of opera." www.operaorlando.org

The Global Peace Film Festival, established in 2003, uses the power of the moving image to further the cause of peace on earth. From the outset, the GPFF envisioned "peace" not as the absence of conflict but as a framework for channeling, processing and resolving conflict through respectful and non-violent means. People of good faith have real differences that deserve to be discussed, debated and contested. GPFF works to connect expression - artistic, political, social and personal - to positive, respectful vehicles for action and change. The festival program is carefully curated to create a place for open dialogue, using the films as catalysts for change. peacefilmfest.org

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