Women’s Educational Media Wins Top CINE Award For Powerful New Film On Family Diversity.

That’s a Family!, Women’s Educational Media’s powerful new film on family diversity, was honored with the 2001 CINE Masters Series Award for Non-Broadcast film, at the 42nd CINE Golden Eagle Awards on February 24. CINE awards recognize excellence in the craft of video/film production. The Masters Series winner was selected from the highest ranked winners of last year’s Golden Eagle award.

A vital resource for schools and family service organizations, That’s a Family! takes a tour from a child’s point of view through a diverse range of family structures. The children who star in the film come from families that include single parent, multiracial, divorced, guardian, adoptive and gay- and lesbian-headed households.

“That’s a Family! has been shown and celebrated at the White House, in cities throughout the country, and at an array of teacher’s conferences,” said the film’s Director Debra Chasnoff. “We hope this award will encourage even more schools to use That’s a Family! in the classroom. Its message of inclusion and acceptance of all children and all families is crucial to students doing their best academically and getting along better socially.”

That’s a Family! is an important new resource for educators, parents, and service providers to use to promote school safety and prevent prejudice. It highlights the importance of recognizing family diversity as the cornerstone to building awareness of, and respect for, differences of all kinds. The film has received widespread support from religious, educational, civil rights and service organizations, including the Child Welfare League of America, the National Council of Negro Women, the National Association of Independent Schools, the PTA, the YWCA of the USA, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and SAA Families of the 21st Century.

“We’re honored both to have received this award and to have the support of such a powerful and impressive group of educators, children’s advocates and policy makers,” said the film’s Executive Producer Helen S. Cohen. “People are clearly rallying behind this film because of its inclusive message about respect and its potential as a resource to help prevent prejudice and violence.”

Founded in 1978, Women’s Educational Media produces and distributes inspirational documentary films and videos on economic and social justice issues.

For more information at http://www.womedia.org.