Leading production and post production house Optimus today announced that “Freedom to Choose,” a documentary edited by the company’s own Erin Nordstrom, has won the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase for Documentary Category at the American Pavilion at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. “Freedom to Choose” chronicles the compelling journey of 46 graduate volunteers from the University of Santa Monica’s Master’s Program in Spiritual Psychology and 160 inmates at Valley State Prison for Women who came together for a radical “Freedom to Choose” workshop that would have a lasting impact on all of them.
Freedom to Choose short form from University of Santa Monica on Vimeo.
“‘Freedom to Choose’ was a rewarding film to be involved in because it allowed me to work with talented, close friends on such important subject matter,” said Santa Monica-based Optimus Editor Nordstrom. “To be further recognized for the work by the Cannes Film Festival is an incredible honor.”
Nordstrom was brought into the “Freedom to Choose” project by Producers/Directors Kirk Souder and Michael Nadeau along with Producers Scott Mednick and Jimmy Greenway. Souder was completing his Master’s in Spiritual Psychology from USM when he became interested in documenting the groundbreaking workshop at the Valley State Prison for Women.
“We’re thrilled for Erin and so proud that she is part of the Optimus family,” said Optimus President Tom Duff. “Erin is a wonderful example of the caliber of individuals who make up the Optimus team and deliver creative, thought-provoking work to our clients.”
To view “Freedom to Choose,” please visit http://www.universityofsantamonica.edu/USMVideos/Freedom_to_Choose.html. To view Nordstrom’s reel, please visit http://www.optimus.com/reels_qt2009.asp?editor=nordstrom.
About Optimus
Optimus is a leading production and post-production house with offices in Chicago and Santa Monica. A true one-stop shop, Optimus offers a full suite of creative services, including production, editing, film transfer, color correction, visual effects and design, audio mixing and finishing. With ONE, the company’s live-action production arm, Optimus offers all production services, from shoot through post, under one roof – a singular, streamlined creative-driven machine. For more information, please visit www.optimus.com and www.oneatoptimus.com.
