Polygamy Film "Damned to Heaven" Features Cult Survivors
 Documentary Premieres at Krakow Film Festival as Cult Leader Warren Jeffs Awaits Trial
 
Business Wire
 
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The documentary film, "Damned to Heaven," premieres at the 47th annual Krakow Film Festival in Krakow, Poland, May 31 - June 5, as one of 10 (out of 300 submissions) to premiere in the World Panorama program. The Krakow Film Festival is one of the oldest and most respected documentary film festivals in Europe. "Damned to Heaven" will premiere at the Pod Baranami Palace on June 3.

"Damned to Heaven" is the story of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamist religious sect located in the southwestern United States on the Utah and Arizona border, headed by self-proclaimed prophet, Warren Jeffs. In May 2006, Jeffs was added to the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list. He was captured last September, and currently awaits trial in September 2007, on two counts of first-degree felony rape and the arranged marriage of a 14-year-old girl to her adult cousin.

Co-directors Thomas Elliott and Pawel Gula conceived the film, which details the practice of polygamy; sexual and physical abuse; and marriage of underage girls in Colorado City, Arizona. Elliott and Gula had the foresight to begin filming months before Jeffs' capture came to the attention of the American public. The documentary contains exclusive interviews with former cult survivors, many of whom came forward to tell their story for the first time.

"Damned to Heaven" debuts alongside "Being Married 2," the latest work by award-winning documentarian and Director's Guild of America President, Michael Apted. The Krakow Film Festival has debuted films by Oscar nominated filmmakers such as Krzysztof Kieslowski, Mike Leigh, and Werner Herzog in past years.

Elliott has over 20 years experience in the film and television industry. "Damned to Heaven" marks his third feature length documentary. Gula has worked on seven documentaries as a cinematographer. "Damned to Heaven" is his debut as a feature length documentary director.

Interviews with filmmakers and survivors available.

Trailer: http://www.freshfilm.com/damnedtoheaven
 
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Originally published May 30, 2007
 
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