“The Addict’s Wake” Producer Lisa Hall and Director Michael Husain pose with their award at the Sedona Film Fest last month. “The Addict’s Wake” took home the Indie Spirit Award, for showcasing personal stories of those who have struggled with and overcome addiction.
Submitted photo
A documentary sharing local stories centering on the struggles and successes with substance use disorder premiered on the international stage last month and added another award to its collection.
“The Addict’s Wake” was the winner of the Indie Spirit Award in the documentary category at the Sedona International Film Festival at the end of February.
The award is given to the film that “embodies community impact and the opportunity to foster change,” according to Producer Lisa Hall.
The Sedona International Film Festival is a 28-year-old event, “world-renowned among cinephiles and showcases some of the best independent films from across the globe,” states a press release from Glory Girl Productions, the agency producing the film.
Hall said before heading to the festival that she had no idea what an impact the film would have on communities outside of Brown County.
The film premiered at the 30th annual Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis on Oct. 11 and the awards began to roll in then.
There it won the Indiana Spotlight Category, which Hall said in October would help the film’s credibility as they move forward. It also came with $2,000 that will help production costs.
It also won Audience Choice Award at the festival.
For those who have missed local showings of the award-winning documentary there will be another chance to watch it at the end of this month.
“The Addict’s Wake” will be shown at Hoosier Fest at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre in Bloomington on March 25.
The film will not be distributed for private showings until its completed its run in the festival circuit. According to Hall, it will stay in that circuit for a while.
About the film
Hall and her husband moved to Brown County in 2017, the same year there were three lives lost to addiction in the county.
She began working with female inmates at the Brown County Jail, hearing stories of hopes, dreams and families that had been changed because of drug use.
After sharing on Facebook about the struggles the county was facing as people died of overdoses, Hall connected with Amy Pauszek, who became co-producer of the film that would tell the story of substance use disorder in Brown County.
Michael Husain signed on as the director of the film and work began in 2019.
Interviews are not limited to local families of those who have battled or are battling substance use disorder. A professor at Butler University shares what happens with brain architecture when someone is using narcotics. Brown County Sheriff Scott Southerland and former Brown County Schools Superintendent Laura Hammack also speak to substance use disorder in the community and its effects.
Do Something Inc. is a local nonprofit working to help those in addiction recovery. It was also one of several local subjects in “The Addict’s Wake” documentary that premiered in October.
Cory and Michelle Joy helped found Do Something Inc. after they lost their oldest son Caleb to an overdose in 2017.
Caleb’s death started the “Do Something” movement in Brown County with loved ones of those suffering from substance use disorder and those who are in recovery coming together to find support and inspiration.
