The Long Rescue

The Long Rescue begins where most trafficking stories end: after the rescue. Focusing on teenage survivors in Cebu, Philippines, the film follows the girls for nine years in a film that focuses on recovery rather than trauma, survivors rather than rescuers, contextualising societal structures that perpetuate their ongoing struggles with poverty, violence and shame. The film opens with the girls full of laughter and song, eagerly working toward a brighter future. Hope, Sara, and Ashley weave dreams of careers and romance in their hidden shelter. But as they return to the communities that failed them, vulnerabilities resurface. Sara condemns her own sexual identity; Ashley flees college; Hope returns to sex work. Through heartbreaking, humorous, and poignant scenes, the film lays bare the unpredictable journey of recovery.
Hanz Florentino (Philippines)
Treeclimber Media LLC
- Advocate for more significant support for survivors and the vulnerable, especially livelihood and mental health, by screening with 75 NGOs, government departments, and associations who work in related fields.
- Affirm survivors by holding small group events in 20 survivor communities, with therapeutic support and activities.
- Address stigma surrounding sexual violence by pairing screenings with art or drama therapy workshops to explore viewers' own experiences. We aim to reach 30 survivors-adjacent networks, vulnerable communities, and faith-based congregations.
- Use the film in violence prevention work, holding 35 community-based screenings in the third year with NGO partners to provide post-screening curricula, workshops and activities.
- Our target audiences include survivors and their social spheres, service providers, faith-based congregations, policymakers, and at-risk communities. To reach them, we will:
- Identify anti-trafficking, anti-poverty NGOs, women’s organisations, survivor networks, funders, and mental health professionals for a series of brain trusts to screen the film and discuss strategies to leverage its message.
- Hold follow-up forums with organisations, funders and survivor leaders to discuss possible collaborations.
- Consult with experienced organisers on effective strategies for engaging audiences on stigma and trauma.
- Engage mission-aligned funders in our iterative learning process to continually improve and sustain our strategies.
Organisations
Amara Legal Center
Entertainment 2 Affect Change – E2AC – in talks
EverFree – in talks
National Alliance of Filipino Women – Gabriela,- in talks
My Refuge House
Funders
Berkeley Film Foundation
CMP – Chicago Media Project
Firelight/PBS – applied
Manaaki Foundation
The Storyboard Collective
Others Various pertinent organisations in California
Organisations
Amara Legal Center
Entertainment 2 Affect Change – E2AC – in talks
EverFree – in talks
National Alliance of Filipino Women – Gabriela,- in talks
My Refuge House
Funders
Berkeley Film Foundation
CMP – Chicago Media Project
Firelight/PBS – applied
Manaaki Foundation
The Storyboard Collective
Others Various pertinent organisations in California