For those of us on a spiritual path—or for anyone wanting to make the world a better place—the new film A Prayer for Compassion, premiering on March 5 in New York City, is a must-see. At its heart is the question “Can compassion grow to include all beings?”
The riveting documentary follows award-winning director Thomas Jackson as he travels across the U.S. and then to Morocco for the U.N. World Climate Conference and throughout the Indian subcontinent. Everywhere he went, he sought to find out when more people of faith will include all the planet’s inhabitants in their circle of respect, caring, and love. While vegan living and animal issues are mainstream, the faith community has largely been slow to embrace the message of compassion for all who share this planet (with some notable exceptions).
PETA friend Evanna Lynch, who plays Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, said of the movie, “I was very moved by the many voices that make up this powerful documentary and by the unwavering conviction with which so many spiritual leaders spoke of the imperativeness to act now, align our actions with our spiritual values and take moral responsibility for humanity’s treatment of animals.”
The gala premiere, which will be held at 8 p.m. at New York City’s School of Visual Arts Theatre, is a red carpet event you won’t want to miss. Tickets are $17 for general admission and $75 for a very special VIP ticket, which also features a catered, pre-screening reception. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion and a Q&A session with the filmmaker and select people featured in the movie.
If you can’t make the premiere, the film will go into wide release the following day in theaters, community centers, and churches via the Tugg crowdsourcing platform. Fans can visit the Tugg page for a list of locations where the film will be playing and information on organizing a screening at a local venue.
