The Hungry Heart Movie

02/13/2017

The Hungry Heart Film wins prestigious PRISM AWARD

The Entertainment Industries Council (EIC) based in Los Angeles, California has awarded the documentary film The Hungry Heart its 2016 PRISM AWARD for best documentary on substance abuse disorders.

The Hungry Heart is produced by Kingdom County Productions and directed by Bess O’Brien and focuses on the prescription drug epidemic in Vermont. The film centers on the compassionate work of Pediatrician Fred Holmes and his tireless work with patients who are struggling with op**te addiction. The film toured extensively through Vermont in 2013 and since then has been distributed across the United States.

In 2014 Governor Peter Shumlin highlighted The Hungry Heart and honored the people in the movie in his state of the state address focused on the VT op**te epidemic.

Since 1997, The PRISM AWARDS have recognized media productions that accurately depict addiction, treatment and mental health issues. The Entertainment Industries Council honors films, television series, on-line programming, talk shows and PSA’s that bring awareness to substance abuse disorders, and mental health issues that often touch people on a personal level.

The Hungry Heart was nominated in 2016 by EIC along with other documentary productions including two ESPN documentaries Her Voice and Family Ties, and Lifetime Television’s Women of Honor featuring Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.

In addition to The Hungry Heart other 2016 PRISM award nominees that depicted powerful story lines focused on addition, recovery and mental health issues included episodes from the television shows Transparent, Shameless, Mr. Robot, Chicago Fire, and Blue Bloods. Films nominated in 2016 included Danny Collins, Pawn Sacrifice, and The Road Within. TV movies honored were Starz’s Flesh and Bone and Whitney—the biography of Whitney Houston produced by Lifetime.

Each year the Entertainment Industry Council presents a showcase of the best PRISM award winners to private and public sector leaders and stakeholders in Washington , DC—keeping lawmakers aware of the good works being produced within the entertainment industry that address health and social issues.

Kingdom County Productions is proud to receive the PRISM AWARD by the Entertainment Industry Council for The Hungry Heart. Director Bess O’Brien is grateful to the many courageous Vermonters in the movie who with their voices, have raised awareness about op**te addiction and recovery.

02/12/2017

The Hungry Heart wins the 2016 PRISM AWARD from the Entertainment Industries Council--best documentary on substance abuse disorders!!

06/20/2016

From our Indiegogo campaign manager for my new project ALL OF ME:
As we enter these final moments of this campaign, I am struck by not only the generosity of those who have donated to our project, but also the incredible courage and generosity of those involved in the project. I can only imagine the strength and courage it must have taken to open themselves up and share the depth of their struggles. To know that some of them do not survive their illness breaks my heart. Seeing the ripple effect that reaches so far beyond the individuals baffles me when I consider how hidden these diseases remain. Why do we not know more? Why do we not offer better services across the country for those who suffer eating disorders? Why on earth, in this day and age, is there such an incredible lack of information, treatment, and accessibility of services to these members of our friends, families, and communities? THIS is what we aim to change. THIS is why we have dedicated ourselves to this project. THIS is why you have shared with us in an effort to complete this project. THANK YOU! Thank you all for everything you have given. From sharing your stories, to sharing our campaign, to sharing monies, to offering support in any way you could - YOU have made a difference. YOU have been integral in the success of ALL OF ME. My last request of you is to share one last time with everyone. Share our campaign, our request for donation, and - most importantly - share my thanks. It has been an honor to be a part of this project and to meet all of you who are now a part of ALL OF ME. Thank You. ~Kit
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/all-of-me-new-documentary-about-eating-disorders/x/13984115 #/

“It’s not just about food and body image—it’s about everything that lies beneath.” | Crowdfunding is a democratic way to support the fundraising needs of your community. Make a contribution today!

06/16/2016

Just got back from Palm Springs where I was given an award as the director of "The Hungry Heart" from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the College on Problems of Drug Dependency. The film is still out there making a mark for itself! Pretty nice place we stayed also!

05/30/2016

Expert Bree Greenberg-Benjamin discussed her passion for her work with me. When I asked about her clinic and why she chose this specialty, Bree shared the following:

As a practitioner who loves a challenge with depth, grit and mystery, Eating Disorder treatment was a natural draw for me. The endless differences in presentation and resistance to change drives my curious nature to search for ways to support recovery that allow for deep inner connection and increased aliveness in the world. The model of care at Vermont Center for Integrative Therapy (VTCIT) addresses the individual psyche through the body as well as the mind. Recognizing that Eating Disorders are fundamentally about feeling some kind of lack or deficiency, which can produce beliefs about inadequacy and shame and self hatred, directs our model to primarily target the heart as the ultimate healing goal. Through dialogue, energy work, yoga, and while also taking care of the physical body that might be suffering from years of neglect or abuse, we endeavor to encourage wholeness globally.

I am honored to have the opportunity to learn from these women and to be a part of a film that intends to encourage hope and love in a place that often feels so fraught with darkness.
https://vimeo.com/165327522

This is "All of Me trailer edit for indiegogo" by on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

05/18/2016

Bess will be at an Addressing the Op**te Crisis panel discussion at Barrette Center for the Arts in WRJ at 8pm tonight. Thanks VTDigger for helping get the word out. “You have to go to the root of the problem, and to me the root of the problem is that people don’t feel good about themselves,” O’Brien said.

http://vtdigger.org/2016/05/12/op**te-addiction-forum-will-hear-from-experts-insiders/

05/12/2016

Here is a teaser image for my new project "ALL OF ME". It is a documentary about eating disorders. Details to come...

04/26/2016

Curious what has happened since the original tour? Here is an update brought to you by Ken Picard with Seven Days.

Nearly three years after the premiere of The Hungry Heart, a gripping documentary about St. Albans pediatrician Fred Holmes and his efforts to treat patients...

04/05/2016

Vermont continues to reduce the stigma of addiction by coming together to talk about it.

More than 200 people turned out for a conference in Montpelier Monday to discuss the challenges and potential solutions to the region’s growing op**te crisis.

02/12/2016

OUR NEW BOOK IS OUT! 40 writers from across Vermont share powerful truths about addiction, recovery, and the healing power of love and forgiveness.

You can set your address, phone number, email and site description in the settings tab.Link to read me page with more information.

10/19/2015

Bess is just getting back from screening the film at a conference in Milwaukee, and we have another screening tomorrow! 6:00pm at the Littleton High School in Littleton, NH. We hope to see you there.