With over 300 screenings of At the End of Slavery and more than 13,000 people who attended, The Weekend to End Slavery was a success in helping to catalyze individuals and communities to fight against this very real injustice.

Here’s a sneak peak into two watch parties that took place over the weekend:

1. Derek Webb and wife Sandra McCracken’s watch party in Nashville, TN:

• Here’s a tweet: “RT @derekwebb: here you go RT @uglymugs: http://twitpic.com/pkg17 – People watching “At the End of Slavery” // AMAZING! Thx so much! ~DL”
• Click for a twitpic of their watch party!

2. One house party in southeast Germany:

• Click for 4 photos from the house party!

If you attended a screening of “At the End of Slavery,” what’s one new fact YOU learned about human trafficking or modern-day slavery?

Did anything said or shown in the film come as a surprise to you?

What is one way you think your community can help end slavery, TODAY?

Please share your comments with us, below.

You can also give us an inside look into the screening you attended by sending a tweet to @IJMHQ with your thoughts and photos. We’d love to get your feedback!

Thanks again to everyone that is hosting or attending a house party or screening for At the End of Slavery this weekend. Over 300 screenings will be going on this weekend with over 13,000 attendees!
We want to hear from you. If you post photos, videos or blog posts about your event online, please share a link in the comments section.

If you’re on Twitter, hashtag your At the End of Slavery tweets with #ATEOS so we can display them in real-time.

Don’t forget to tune in tonight at 8pm EST for our live webcast with Gary Haugen (IJM President and CEO), Holly Burkhalter (IJM Vice President of Government Relations) and Amy Roth (IJM Director of Media Relations).

» www.attheendofslavery.com/weekend-to-end

If you can’t attend the live webcast, the recorded version will be available shortly after the webcast.

Attention all house party and church screening hosts!

Image: www.katherinefan.com

We want to make sure your screening is represented on our map of the hundreds of screenings that will be taking place across the country and world.

So – if you have not yet registered your At the End of Slavery screening, please do so here before the weekend really kicks off!

We look forward to hearing from you.

5. Check to make sure your TV and DVD player are working properly.

4. Prepare drinks and food of your choice beforehand, or ask friends to contribute. If you’d like a few fun recipes, please click here.

3. If you think name tags would be helpful for your group of attendees, pair these with pens in a convenient location.

2. Become more equipped and confident by reviewing the informational cards provided by International Justice Mission – pay particular attention to card numbers 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

1. Relax and enjoy your At the End of Slavery house party experience. You can be confident your hard work and passion will be evident to all who attend!

Thank you for partnering with International Justice Mission in the movement to end modern-day slavery.

Attention house party hosts:

With the Weekend to End Slavery just a few days away, it’s important to start preparing for your house party on Saturday, November 14.

So this week, AttheEndofSlavery.com will be offering tips and suggestions for throwing a successful screening. And, what is a great house party without delicious food? Here are three recipes from Allrecipes.com, Better Homes and Gardens, and Tasteofhome.com that your guests are sure to enjoy!

This week, we’re visiting two blogs that highlight issues of injustice and what the average person can do to free those under oppression.

Freedom (International Justice Mission)

Think Christianly and CJAYE57’s Weblog are two helpful resources on modern-day slavery, and each shares how At the End of Slavery helps support today’s battle for justice.

On Think Christianly, Jonathan Morrow provides a list of action steps on how individuals and communities can help shatter systems of oppression, and writes:

“We can end modern-day slavery. Do you believe that? … Change happens when ordinary people do what they can to take action. We can end slavery – but the battle will take all of us. How will you help shatter this system of oppression?”

CJAYE57’s Weblog, which focuses on the issues of human trafficking and abuse, highlights one post from CauseCast.org on how films like At the End of Slavery can expose injustice and empower individuals to fight against it:

“‘At the End of Slavery’ is filmed on location in India, Cambodia, and the Philippines with undercover footage from the front-lines of rescue efforts and first-person testimony of those freed from illegal slavery. The filmmakers hope to expose the atrocious issues of modern-slavery by making the compelling argument that with their success in finding and rescuing victims, and prosecuting those responsible, there can be a viable end to slave trade.”

To learn how you can take part in the movement to end modern-day slavery, please visit IJM.org.

International Justice Mission met with Brad Riley, Founder/CEO of iEmpathize, to discuss the important role the arts can play in raising awareness of modern-day slavery.

iEmpathize is an Arts and Advocacy non-profit created to help people learn more about, and fight against, violent forms of oppression – particularly child trafficking.

According to Riley, telling stories of hope that oftentimes go unnoticed is key.

To learn more about how you can use your creative gifts to combat modern-day slavery, please visit iEmpathize.org.

For stories of rescue and restoration, we invite you to visit ijm.org.

This week, we’re visiting two blogs that raise awareness about modern-day slavery:

The first blog is from an emerging, small business called Shift6Threads. The company’s goal is to be a force for good by supporting the work of organizations that combat modern-day slavery, including the Not for Sale Campaign and International Justice Mission.

The second blog is called, “The Truth About Polygamy and Human Trafficking,” which discusses the various issues surrounding religion, polygamy and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Please visit the above sites to get these bloggers’ perspectives on At the End of Slavery, and to learn more about what you can do to help combat this modern-day injustice.

To read the stories of two former sex slaves, learn more about modern-day slavery and to see how the work of one young filmmaker is helping to combat injustice, please check out the links below.

Huffington Post: Diary of an escaped sex slave

“You think slavery went out with Abraham Lincoln? Ask my friend Sreypov Chan about that. She’s a cute young Cambodian woman with a love for Kelly Clarkson songs and Tom & Jerry cartoons. But when she was seven years old, her mom sold her into sexual slavery…This month, Marie Claire published Sreypov’s story, along with a photo essay of her work inside one of Phnom Penh’s most notorious brothels.”

Image courtesy of Phnom Penh Post

Phnom Penh Post: Former sex slave wins 2009 Freedom Award

“Sex slave-turned-activist Sina Vann received the Frederick Douglass Award at the 2009 Freedom Awards in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Awarded to those who have survived a form of slavery and are actively helping the lives of others, the Frederick Douglass Award provides US$10,000 to help facilitate current work and another $10,000 as a personal reward.”

Xinhua News: UN reports human trafficking as under-detected crime worldwide

“Human trafficking has become a serious and under-detected crime all around the world, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported on the EU anti-trafficking day. The relevant figure showed that currently, about 2.7 million people worldwide were victims of human trafficking, who were engaged in prostitution, begging, or high-intensity labor in tough conditions, including 1.2 million children victims.”

GulfNews.com: Gregg Helvey’s Kavi highlights modern-day slavery

“This year’s Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) not only showcased blockbuster and independent movies from around the world, but also ensured that films highlighting important issues were given their moments to shine. One such movie is Kavi, a short film by Gregg Halvey, which addresses the issue of modern-day slavery, told through the eyes and experiences of the main character, who lends his name to the title of the film.”

Does your community know about modern-day slavery?

We wanted to find out what students and the University of Missouri knew about this global issue, so we set out on a series of interviews.

Please take a look at the video below to see the reactions of students when they were told just how prominent slavery is today.

To learn more about modern-day slavery, please visit IJM.org.

The Christian Post – “Film uncovers dark underworld of modern-day slavery”

Ambassador Luis CdeBaca was one of several influential figures who attended the Washington D.C. premier of At the End of Slavery last Wednesday. According to the article, “Ted Haddock, the film’s director, said a unique element of the documentary is that it presents the rule of law as an important tool in fighting bondage slavery.”

The Namibian - “Human trafficking to surge in build-up to 2010 World Cup”

The 2010 World Cup is expected to bring a significant boost to South Africa’s economy, but with 500,000 predicted international visitors, a boost in human trafficking may be a result of some of that spending. One Zambian researcher shares her concerns of a major increase in the demand for women and child sex “workers” from the estimated 500 gangs involved in South Africa’s sex trade.

York Daily Record – “Three plead guilty to modern-day slavery at U.S. nail salon”

In June 2008, two Vietnamese woman escaped a nail salon in Pennsylvania where they were forced to work without pay for four years, under threats from the owners. On Tuesday, three of the perpetrators plead guilty to charges of modern-day slavery and are facing a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. According to the York Daily Record, “The Da Vi Nail Salon remains open, but its ownership is not known. A spokesman for the Da Vi franchise in Utah declined to identify the owner.”

International Justice Mission will be hosting the Washington, DC premier of At the End of Slavery, tonight at 7pm ET!

Please follow IJMcampaigns on Twitter for live updates on this evening’s event!

“Heroes Undercover”, an IJM Freedom Partner podcast, gives you a behind the scenes look into the lives of the brave men and women fighting on the front lines against modern day slavery.

In this podcast, host Amy Roth brings you undercover with IJM’s corps of highly-trained investigators, whose courage and commitment have brought freedom, safety and hope to thousands of people victimized by violent oppression. You’ll go deep into ongoing covert operations in Cambodia, India and around the world, exploring the dangers IJM investigators face every day, and the life-changing results that make them so worthwhile.

Hosted by Amy Roth, IJM Director of Media Relations

Introduced by Sharon Cohn Wu, IJM Senior Vice President of Justice Operations

With IJM staff: Gary Haugen, President and CEO; Jeff Blom, Vice President of Investigations; IJM frontline investigators

Music by Sara Groves, IJM Artist Partner

For more information on becoming an IJM Freedom Partner, please click here.

We know many of you have eagerly anticipated the announcement of the Judges’ Choice winner for the At the End of Slavery Trailer Contest so we also acknowledge that it’s almost torturous to ask you to wait one more day before we announce the winner. Please be sure to check back tomorrow FRIDAY for the big announcement.

We have an amazing group of individuals in the film and media industry that will be helping us pick the winner. The following are excerpts of their full bios that can be found here:

Phil Cooke

Phil Cooke is a writer, speaker, filmmaker, & media consultant who’s work focuses on creating personal and organizational cultures where real change happens and creative ideas become reality. His expertise is change, and his canvas is the media. According to former CNN journalist Paula Zahn, Phil is rare – he’s a working producer in Hollywood with a Ph.D. in Theology. Christianity Today magazine calls him a “media guru” and his Change Revolution blog at philcooke.com is considered one of the most honest and insightful resources on the web on issues of faith, culture, and media.

Craig Detweiler

Dr. Craig Detweiler is director of the new Center for Entertainment, Media and Culture at Pepperdine University in Malibu. He’s a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Davidson College and earned an M.F.A. from the University of Southern California’s acclaimed film school. His documentary, Purple State of Mind, won Best Spiritual Film at the 2008 Breckenridge Festival of Film and the Audience Award at the 2009 Tallahassee Film Festival. His latest book, Into the Dark, searches for the sacred amidst the top-ranked films on the Internet Movie Database. Craig’s cultural commentary has appeared on ABC’s Nightline, CNN, Fox News, NPR, and in The New York Times.

Brent Gudgel

Brent is a film director in Los Angeles who has worked in over 20 countries for clients including Ford, Saddleback Church, English Language Institute/China, Azusa Pacific University, and Fuller Seminary. A partner in the production company Chronicle Project, Brent co-directed an award-winning documentary “Dear Francis” which has been used by universities and churches around the world in addition to airing on Showtime television. The film is about the most HIV-infected nation in the world, Swaziland. Brent also directed the documentary “Hood Ranch” and an ongoing documentary series for Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

Gregg Helvey

Student Academy Award® Winner, Gregg Helvey, has traveled the world to film in countries such as El Salvador, China, Kenya and England on projects ranging from National Geographic and BBC1 documentaries to independent fictional films. As a filmmaker, Helvey seeks to combine his passion for social justice with powerful story telling.

Helvey wrote, directed and produced “Kavi,” the winning film of the 2009 Student Academy Award® gold medal in the narrative category. “Kavi” was filmed entirely on location in India and tells the story of a young boy who wants to play cricket and go to school, but instead he is forced to work in a brick kiln as a modern-day slave. Kavi must either accept what he’s always been told, or fight for a different life even if he’s unsure of the ultimate outcome. More information is available at www.KaviTheMovie.com.

Dave Mahanes

A partner in the production company Chronicle Project, David has overseen the production of documentaries, promotional videos, and short films over the last six years, including the feature documentary “Dear Francis.” He has produced and filmed projects in countries such as Swaziland, Rwanda, Kenya, Mexico, Turkey, Thailand, and Morocco. Previously David worked with I-40 Films where he oversaw the production of commercials that included award-winning spots for Ford and the Carolina Hurricanes.

After tallying nearly 200 submissions, we are excited to announce the At the End of Slavery Trailer Contest: Audience Choice Winner and 1st/2nd Runner Ups.

AUDIENCE CHOICE 1st & 2nd Runner-Up

Will receive complete At the End of Slavery Screening-In-A-Box resources, which includes: DVD of the film, “Give to a friend” DVD of the film, advocacy postcards. Winner will also receive a signed copy of “Good News About Injustice”: 10th Anniversary Edition, “Just Courage”, “Terrify No More” and an IJM Seek Justice t-shirt.

1st Runner-Up: “Peace, Slavery” by Jake Morgan

2nd Runner-Up: “At The End of Slavery” Trailer by Aneesh Chaganty

AUDIENCE CHOICE Winner

All items in Runner-Up Prize plus: Exclusive webcast with IJM staff to be broadcasted live during your “At the End of Slavery” house party for your attendees.

“STAND TOGETHER” by Melissa Mills and Lucas Harris

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all of you who participated in the contest and in the voting! If you’d like to see all the other great entries that were submitted, check them out on the At the End of Slavery Trailer Contest Vimeo Group.

*** UPDATE: 9/23, 9:25AM ET ***
The winners of the Audience Choice and Judges’ Choice categories will be announced here on Wednesday, 9/23, at 7pm ET. Thank you to all who participated and voted. Special thanks to our guest judges: Phil Cooke, Craig Detweiler, Brent Gudgel, Gregg Helvey, and Dave Mahanes.

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Thank you to everyone who submitted a trailer contest entry. We appreciate the passion and creativity you so evidently put into your work.

If you have not yet viewed the entries, please check them out and vote for your top three picks by Wednesday, September 23 at 12am ET. That’s less than 48 hours away, so please cast your vote and invite your family and friends to do the same!

Please continue to keep an eye out for further updates on the trailer contest, the film and the movement to end modern day slavery, right here at attheEndofSlavery.com.

A film alone cannot end slavery, but all of us together – we can.