The Human Rights documentary "A Fire Within" debuts this week at the 45th Atlanta Film Festival.
It's the story of 3 Ethiopian women's fight to bring their torturer to justice. It all played out in an Atlanta courtroom.
After surviving the torture in their home country, the women discover their abuser living in Atlanta.
Former Ethiopian government official Kelbessa Negewo, coincidentally, was working at the same restaurant as one of his victims, at Atlanta's Colony Square Hotel in midtown.
Director Christopher Chambers describes making the film as "a powerful, humbling experience." According to Chambers, "The resilience of these three women, refusing to be intimidated into silence by their abuser, relentlessly pursuing justice, while struggling to start new lives as immigrants and refugees, is nothing less than heroic."
The film also details how a trio of Atlanta lawyers, along with the director of the ACLU, took the case pro bono.
Supermodel and Ethiopian native Liya Kebede is the film's Executive Producer. Kebede says that she was touched and moved by the story. "It is very rewarding to be part of this film and to bring the story of these courageous women to light", said Kebede.
A drive-in event screening is being held Friday, April 30, at 8:30pm at the Plaza Theater in Atlanta. Visit atlantafilmfestival.com for tickets.
The film's Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/AFireWithinDoc/