A SACRED JOURNEY
Benefit Screening
May 17th & 19th
May is ALS Awareness Month and the ALS community is seeking the help of individuals willing to participate, advocate and donate to advance the fight toward a world free of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” In support of ALS Awareness Month, Higher Ground Entertainment presents A Sacred Journey, a powerful documentary about the transformative power of caring, to Los Angeles audiences on Friday, May 17th and Sunday, May 19th at the historic Downtown Independent LA, located at 251 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
A Sacred Journey follows Juan Quintero‘s journey, who at age thirty-five was diagnosed with ALS and given only three years to live. After receiving the devastating news, filmmaker Ernesto Quintero, decides to pick up his camera and begin documenting his brothers story, an experience that would save his own life after years of battling drug addiction. Through this journey, we witness a family struggle with Juan’s decision to continue living with the use of a ventilator or allow ALS to take its course. To compound the tragedy, Juan’s diagnosis came at a time in which he was also dealing with his own son’s extremely rare blood disease (Diamond Blackfan Anemia, or DBA) that would require him to receive life-saving blood transfusions every two weeks of his young life. View Trailer
A Sacred Journeyalso offers an intimate look at how caregivers often put the needs of their loved ones before themselves. This caregiving role is exemplified in the film by the family’s matriarch, Micaela Quintero. At age sixty-eight, she sold her successful thirty-year flower shop in order to go back to school and obtain a Certified Nurse Assistant certificate which would allow her to best care for her son at home.
“While ours is a very personal story, I know it will resonate with audiences everywhere because the fact is you’re either a caregiver or a care receiver or will be one of the two at some point in your life,” said director, Ernesto Quintero.
The film puts a much-needed spotlight on the caregiving family which unites and sacrifices everything to honor their loved one’s will to live. Studies show that 40% of caregivers die before the person they are caring for.
The ALS Association notes that personal stories and passionate testimonials help demonstrate to members of Congress why more must be done to support the quest for a cure for this disease.
“This story is so much more than the tragic circumstances of Juan’s life. Somehow, amidst the sadness and loss, emerges a story of transcendent love and unity and we need to keep searching for a cure but also celebrate and take care of those who are caregiving…” adds Quintero, “Our goal is to take this film across the nation and celebrate the 66 million caregivers that exist in this country, and help to organize a national Latino registry for ALS and MS patients.”
A Sacred Journey will screen on Friday, May 17 at 7:30 PM and on Sunday, May 19 at 5:15 PM and 7:15 PM. A Q&A discussion immediately following screenings will be moderated by two-time Emmy Award-winning KTLA reporter Elizabeth Espinosa. Speakers will include AARP Associate Director, AdrianaMendoza, A Sacred Journey Director, Ernesto Quintero and the members of the Quintero family.
A Sacred Journey is sponsored by Zutra Water, Grapevine Development, Maracas Cafe & Catering and Señor Fish, who will be offering a 25% discount to filmgoers upon presenting their movie ticket when placing their order.
To purchase tickets for A Sacred Journey:CLICK HERE
For more information about A Sacred Journey, please visit:
www.asacredjourneyfilm.com/
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A Sacred Journey
Director: Ernesto Quintero
Producer: Danny Haro
Producer: Yvonne Jimenez
Running Time: 73 Mins
English w/some Spanish (Subtitled in English)