A capacity crowd of 500 packed the Tate Theater earlier this month to watch a special 35mm pre-release screening of Hotel Rwanda and to support the Sudan programs of Amnesty International and the International Crisis Group.
The event, co-sponsored by the George Foster Peabody Awards and R.E.M., raised more than $3,401. That amount has been matched by the nonprofit Omidyar Network, making the amount raised minus expenses total $6,639.68.
Hotel Rwanda is a story of courage during the 1994 genocide in which nearly one million people were killed in that African nation. MGM/UA, who loaned the 35mm print for the screening, said the film will probably not be shown again
in Athens. Brian McQuinn, senior program associate in the Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Center and a native Kenyan, introduced the film and spoke about the tragic genocide and difficulties that continue to plague Rwanda.
The benefit at UGA raised $1,008 through online ticket sales, and $2,321 from ticket sales and raffles, along with an additional $72 of direct donations to Amnesty International. The funds go toward relief activities in Darfur, Sudan.
