Freedom to Choose, a documentary edited by our own Erin Nordstrom has won the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase for Documentary Category at the American Pavilion at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.  Freedom to Choose chronicles the compelling journey of 46 graduate volunteers from the University of Santa Monica’s Master’s Program in Spiritual Psychology and 160 inmates at Valley State Prison for Women who came together for a radical Freedom to Choose workshop that would have a lasting impact on all of them.

“Freedom to Choose was a rewarding film to be involved in because it allowed me to work with talented, close friends on such important subject matter,” said Santa Monica-based Optimus Editor Nordstrom.  “To be further recognized for the work by the Cannes Film Festival is an incredible honor.”

Nordstrom was brought into the Freedom to Choose project byProducers/Directors Kirk Souder and Michael Nadeau along with Producers Scott Mednick and Jimmy Greenway.  Souder was completing his Master’s in Spiritual Psychology from USM when he became interested in documenting the groundbreaking workshop at the Valley State Prison for Women.

“We’re thrilled for Erin and so proud that she is part of the Optimus family,” said Optimus President Tom Duff.  “Erin is a wonderful example of the caliber of individuals who make up the Optimus team and deliver creative, thought-provoking work to our clients.”

Click Here to view Freedom to Choose.

Click Here to view Nordstrom’s reel, please visit http://www.optimus.com/reels_qt2009.asp?editor=nordstrom.