Director to screen her award-winning documentary ‘The Hungry Heart’ in Potsdam Oct. 6

POTSDAM – The director of the internationally acclaimed film about prescription and opiate drug abuse “The Hungry Heart,” Bess O'Brien, will be at the Cinema 10 presentation of the film Monday evening, Oct. 6.

Earlier that day, O'Brien and film subject Raina Lowell will talk about the documentary from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Clarkson University's Student Center Multipurpose Rooms (#15 on the map at http://www.clarkson.edu/about/clarkson_map.pdf ), followed by another talk from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at SUNY Canton's Kingston Theater in the Miller Campus Center.

The Hungry Heart runs at 7:15 p.m. at the Roxy Theater in Potsdam as part of the Cinema 10 film series. General admission is $4.50, and student and senior tickets cost $3.50. A reception and question-and-answer session will take place at Maxfields on Market Street in Potsdam after the screening.

The documentary is also scheduled to be shown to all Potsdam High School students at SUNY Potsdam's Hosmer Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with O'Brien and Lowell in attendance to talk about the film.

O'Brien released The Hungry Heart last year, providing an in-depth look at the world of prescription drug addiction through the eyes of Vermont pediatrician Dr. Fred Holmes. Beyond merely prescribing his patients Suboxone, which helps many addicts in their recovery process, Holmes develops a profound connection with his patients through the healing power of conversation. Holmes and his patients welcome O'Brien into their sessions and all provide candid interviews that paint a stark picture of addiction and recovery.

O'Brien is the winner of the 2014 Walter Cerf Award for Excellence in the Arts; the 2012 Labor of Love Award from Vermont Works for Women; the 2011 Voices For Vermont’s Children Youth Advocacy Award in recognition of O’Brien’s creative and artistic advocacy on behalf of Vermont children; the 2010 National Education Association Human and Civil Rights Award for Shout it Out for empowering youth voice; and other awards.

The documentary has received international praise for starting a conversation about opiate abuse. O'Brien appeared as a special guest at Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin's State of the State address, where he dedicated much of his speech to issues raised in the film. The documentary has also been highlighted by several news organizations, including CBS Evening News, Al Jazeera, the New York Times and ABC.

In bringing the film to Potsdam, Clarkson University Visiting Assistant Professor of Humanities and Business Joseph Andriano has partnered with numerous stakeholders at the university and in the community to start a conversation about the impact of prescription and opiate drug abuse in our area.

Andriano has been working with Potsdam High School Principal Joann Chambers, Canton-Potsdam Hospital Director of Corporate Communications Rebecca Faber, SUNY Potsdam Chief of Police John Kaplan, Potsdam Village Police Chief Kevin Bates, Cinema 10 Executive Director Holly Chambers, Canton-Potsdam Hospital Director of Behavioral Health Services Adam Bullock, New York State Regional Teacher of Excellence Heather Cowen-Wilson, Potsdam High School Nurse Ann Petrocionne, and others. This group has worked closely to promote the screening of the film and to investigate avenues of further dialogue in the community on this issue.

The visit is sponsored by Cinema 10, Canton-Potsdam Hospital, the Clarkson University Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Clarkson University Office of Student Life and Engagement.