Marin Institute Launches 'Barky' Awards

Benjamin Bratt and Peter Bratt Honored for Inspirational Media Leadership for 'La Mission'

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Alcohol industry watchdog Marin Institute will inaugurate the "Barky" Awards this evening at a benefit screening of 'La Mission' at San Francisco's Cowell Theater. Writer-director Peter Bratt and his brother, actor Benjamin Bratt, will receive the first-ever "Barky" as the creative forces behind the gritty movie.

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"We are honoring the significant work of the Bratt brothers tonight with our first 'Barky' for Inspirational Media Leadership," said Annan Paterson, president of Marin Institute. "'La Mission' challenges the dominant paradigm that promotes alcohol use and abuse as a cultural norm in family life."

La Mission portrays the insidious connection of alcohol, violence and machismo within its full cultural and family context, set against the backdrop of San Francisco's richly diverse Mission neighborhood. It does this while consciously avoiding the use of branded alcohol products. The movie also speaks volumes about acceptance and celebration of the LGBT community and ethnic diversity.

California State Senator Mark Leno will moderate a Q & A session after the screening of the film with Peter Bratt and co-star Jeremy Ray Valdez.  Chip Conley, CEO of Joie De Vivre, will offer a motivational introduction. LaMott Atkins and the 22nd Street Band, as well and the Mixcoatl-Anahuac Aztec Dancers will perform before the screening. The Boulevard Kings Car Club of Hayward, California, will display Lowrider cars depicted in the movie.

Marin Institute created the Barky awards to honor leaders in the media who expose alcohol harm. Future Barkies will also be given as raspberries to alcohol corporations, advertising firms and entertainment industry players for bad practices in the media that promote products and abuse. "This is the fun part of our Big Alcohol Responsibility Campaign (BARC)," stated Livingston, executive director of Marin Institute. "As the alcohol industry watchdog, sometimes we just have to bark when we speak truth to power."

Marin Institute protects the public from the impact of Big Alcohol's negative practices and exposes the industry's harmful actions in products, promotions and social influence, while supporting communities in their efforts to reject those harms.

For additional information visit MarinInstitute.org.

SOURCE Marin Institute