1
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview The Film Additional Information ObjectiveVision and Goals Our Team The Film Film Genre Synopsis and Parallel Story Current Status Budget Why get involved? Three good reasons to donate Additional Information Mother Teresa - Highlights Missionaries of Charity today 3 4 5 7 9 11 12 13 14 15 16
3 OBJECTIVES The Zariya Foundation intends to raise up to $10 million to finance the making of a major motion picture based on the vision and key messages of Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity. Apart from the costs of production, the film is entirely non-profit and 100% of film proceeds will go to charitable institutions and foundations that work for the poor, sick and abandoned or handicapped children. Assurance and advisory company Ernst & Young has been retained as auditor of the foundation and film production company. 3
4 VISION AND GOALS In telling Mother Teresa’s story, the Zariya Foundation has three goals. Remind people around the world, especially the youth, of Mother Teresa’s immense contribution to humanitarian work and to continue spreading her vision for generations to come. Inspire audiences to work to improve their environment and implement Mother Teresa’s concept of Love in Action. Improve the situation of the poor by supporting charitable institutions and foundations that work for the poor, sick and abandoned or handicapped children. This project is intended to have two effects, one immediate and spiritual, contributing to changing people’s hearts; the other of a humanitarian nature by directly and financially uplifting the disadvantaged.
5 OUR TEAM Thierry Cagianut President of the Zariya Foundation and senior associate and Partner with Baldi & Caratsch. He has 15 years experience as a Film Producer in New York for which he also won awards (Henry Fool, Best Script, Cannes Film Festival 1998). Jacqueline Fritschi-Cornaz An actress and producer of Swiss origin with over twenty years of acting experience, Jacqueline has appeared in theatre productions, television soaps, commercials and short films. She has worked with Klaus Maria Brandauer, M.K. Lewis, John Costopoulos, Elisabeth Kemp and Susan Batson. She is multilingual and has had extensive training in method acting, dance and vocals. (www.jfritschi-cornaz.ch)
6 OUR TEAM Anaita Daruvala Anaita has been involved with the film from its inception and recently drove the establishment of a charitable trust and tax exemption for Indian donors. Her current responsibilities include global fundraising, developing PR instruments and creative contribution. Kamal Musale, Screenplay & Direction Swiss-Indian filmmaker Kamal Musale obtained his degree in film direction and scriptwriting at the prestigious National Film and Television school in London. The successful director and screenwriter has made over 30 short, feature and documentary films that have been showcased at festivals like Cannes and Locarno. (www.kamalmusale.com)
7 FILM GENRE This feature film is a tale dramatized with the help of parallel stories which attempt to capture Mother Teresa’s immense life work and the continuing efforts of the 5,000 Missionaries of Charity today. 7
8 SYNOPSIS AND PARALLEL STORY“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” - Mother Teresa Woven over generations through parallel threads, this film tells the story of Mother Teresa and Kavita: two passionate and uncompromising women who come to discover their calling despite great internal struggle and doubt. 8
9 SYNOPSIS AND PARALLEL STORYFor the young Mother Teresa, her love for Jesus and compassion for the outcasts of society mean everything. Following the call of God, she gives up everything she knows to devote herself wholeheartedly to the poor in the slums of Calcutta. After years of building her Missionaries of Charity from the ground up – today, nearly 5,000-strong – Mother Teresa feels more and more abandoned by God. Years of doubt and inner torment pass, but she battles on; her great faith fortifying her determination to follow God's call to the end. In doing so, her life becomes an inspiration to thousands who even today devote themselves to restoring human dignity and providing solace to the poor across the globe.
10 SYNOPSIS AND PARALLEL STORYMeanwhile in present-day New York, Kavita, a young Indian woman battles her own demons: the bleak emptiness of feeling unloved and in turn, unable to love. She is torn by an unsatisfying romantic relationship, her eager parents’ plans to wed her à la Indian tradition and an unexpected pregnancy. Her conflict leads her to confront her Indian roots and family history on a trip to Calcutta, where she discovers Mother Teresa’s values through charitable work with the Missionary Sisters. Inspired by the apostle of the poor, Kavita begins to adapt Mother Teresa's vision in her own life. On her path to self-discovery she learns to accept herself as she is, to take responsibility for her choices and to care for others. Through her eyes, we are taken on an incredible journey to discover Mother Teresa’s faith and courage and to see first-hand the way it inspires Kavita to master her life.
11 CURRENT STATUS The Zariya Foundation team is working closely with Kamal Musale, an award-winning Swiss-Indian Filmmaker who has composed the screenplay and will direct the film. The financing of the film and production will continue in parallel. Contribution from Swiss, American and Indian donors are eligible for tax exemption. The first benefit gala took place in Zürich on , on the UN’s International day of Charity in remembrance of Mother Teresa. Additional events are planned in Switzerland, USA and India. A committee of patrons comprising reputable individuals involved with business, culture, politics and sports who support the foundation is currently being assembled. 11
12 BUDGET PHASE 1: Development and Screenplay $ 500,000 Define storyIdentify screenwriter Develop script PHASE 2: Production Preparation; set design; sub-heads Sign cast and crew; produce film PHASE 3: Post-Production Editing Sound, Background score and dubbing Marketing and Publicity $ 500,000 $ 7,900,000 $ 1,600,000 TOTAL ~$10,000,000 12
14 THREE GOOD REASONS TO DONATECharity: Donors create value worldwide. Outside of the costs of production, the film is 100% non-profit. All proceeds go directly to charitable organizations or institutions that work to uplift the poor, sick and orphaned or handicapped children. A Noble Cause: The film aims to inspire people to understand what the real values in life are – compassion, respect and love, not just on the surface but within their own families and environment. Tribute to a Great Woman: Helping this film be made pays tribute to Mother Teresa and her life’s work in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of her birth.
15 MOTHER TERESA: HIGHLIGHTS1910 1946 1950 1952- 1964 1965 1979 1997 2003 2010 Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu is born on August 26th in Skopje. Inspiration Day. Hears the voice of God commanding her to leave her job as a teacher and serve the poorest of the poor. Receives permission from the Vatican to establish her congregation the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India. Establishes homes for the dying, for abandoned and handicapped children and patients inflicted with leprosy all over India. Opens a home in Venezuela; the first of many outside India Awarded the Nobel peace prize. Steps down as head of the Missionaries of Charity and passes away 6 months later from heart complications. Blessed Mother Teresa is beatified by Pope John Paul II. Birth Centenary. The Zariya Foundation plans a tribute film.
16 MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY TODAYThe Missionaries of Charity today comprise about 5000 Sisters worldwide who work tirelessly setting up homes and hospices for the sick, suffering, disabled, abandoned and dying. They also help the poor and homeless, drug addicts, alcoholics, criminals, refugees and victims of natural disasters.
17 Zariya Charitable Trust D 248, 2nd Floor Defence Colony Zariya Foundation c/o Baldi & Caratsch Zeltweg 44, 8042 Zürich Switzerland Zariya Charitable Trust D 248, 2nd Floor Defence Colony New Delhi India