US Embassy hosts Face to Face film Svetlana’s Journey
	Svetlana's Journey, based on a true story ... a deeply moving film. A joint project of Michael Cory Davis and Face to Face Bulgaria
	The Director: Michael Cory Davis Screenwriter, director and producer of the film “Svetlana’s Journey”
	The Award

March 30th, Ambassador John Beyrle hosted a screening of the film “Svetlana’s journey” at the Bulgarian U.S. Embassy. The film, produced by Face to Face Bulgaria, and written and directed by the American director Michael Cory Davis, received several American film awards in 2005. The film is based on the true story of a 13-year-old Bulgarian victim of people trafficking. “Svetlana’s Journey” reveals the fate of girls forced into prostitution and aims to reach children, who can easily fall pray to the people traffickers. The film premiered on Bulgaria’s Nova Televisia on December 11, 2005.

We encourage you to order the Svetlana’s Journey DVD for your own educational, training or fundraising purposes.

Svetlana's Journey is a story about stolen innocence. The story is the recollections of a 13-year-old girl who escaped the prison where she was held captive by sex traffickers.

After losing her mother and having no other family, Sveti was forced to live in an orphanage. She was adopted by a family who’s sole purpose was to acquire her in order to sell her for $10,000 euro. After the transaction, Sveti was tortured, manipulated, and abused by the “pimp couple” who bought her. She became a shell of a body, used 15 times a day by various gentleman buyers.

Her dignity, dreams, and hopes were stripped from her. She did the unthinkable to release herself from the dark forces that entered her life.

Svetlana's Journey compels you to want to put an end to human trafficking.

Svetlana's Journey was made to show society that the victims of forced prostitution are not the ones to be blamed for their fate and that human trafficking can happen to anyone, anywhere. In fact, statistics show that the involvement of young girls in this industry comes about through abductions, kidnappings, and lying by the sex peddlers.

Svetlana's Journey was made to educate high-risk girls about human trafficking and to change the mind of any young girl who is considering getting involved in this industry.

Michael Cory Davis is a native New Yorker, born in Brooklyn to two Jamaican parents. As the middle of three children, Michael was raised in a very creative household with high academic standards. His journey into the world of the arts started from the young age of 9 where, at any given time, he was performing in school plays or writing and animating books. Michael received his first true thespian training in Junior High School at Satellite West in Brooklyn, which led to his acceptance to the prestigious Fiorello H. Laguardia H.S For The Performing Arts. Michael credits the instructors and opportunities he had at Performing Arts High for his strong foundation and discipline in the craft of acting.

Although Michael was accepted to numerous colleges for film production, he decided it was best to continue his education on a “hands-on”, experiential basis. Upon graduation he was immediately offered a role on the daytime soap opera “All My Children”. In addition, he worked on a number of off-Broadway stages throughout New York. He also produced, directed, wrote and starred in a short film entitled "Love Lost". During this film’s production, Michael was also the teacher and owner of M.C.D. Acting Lab, a weekly workshop and open forum to train actors and teach the business aspects of the acting profession.

In 1999, Michael left New York and moved to Los Angeles to further pursue his career as what he terms a “Triple Threat” - actor, writer and director. Since relocating to LA, Michael has starred in numerous commercials, print campaigns and independent films, many of which have won numerous awards. He also has a recurring role on the daytime soap opera, “The Bold & the Beautiful”.

In 2003, while shooting two feature length films in Sofia, Bulgaria, Michael learned of the growing number of young girls and women forcefully taken from Bulgaria and other Balkan countries and exploited as prostitutes. Devastated by a 13 year old Bulgarian girl’s story of being abducted, Michael was inspired to write and direct “Svetlana’s Journey” by joining forces with the Bulgarian Annex of Face to Face International, an agency created by the United Nations Population Fund to promote gender equality and women's rights. This film marks Michael’s directorial debut. “Svetlana’s Journey” was executive produced by Face to Face Bulgaria (www.facetoface.bg) and co-produced by Michael and TopForm studios in Bulgaria.

Based on a true story, Svetlana's Journey won the 2005 Hollywood Film Festival award for Best Short Subject. Visit the official website to learn more about the cast and crew and to view the film trailer.