Vitamin Angels Premieres Online Documentary Addressing Effects Of Child Undernutrition In Three Countries

Through the Lens of Three Award-Winning Young Filmmakers, "A Supporting Role" Documents the Problem of Micronutrient Deficiencies and What Vitamin Angels is Doing to Help

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Vitamin Angels

Mar 24, 2014, 09:59 ET

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing vitamin supplementation to at-risk children worldwide, today premieres its first online documentary, "A Supporting Role." Three talented, award-winning filmmakers were selected in collaboration with the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) to document their experiences learning firsthand about effects of undernutrition and what Vitamin Angels is doing to address the critical issue. Through fresh perspectives, "A Supporting Role" follows the directors to Peru, India and the U.S.

The directors immersed themselves in the surrounding cultures and documented the unique challenges each population faces in acquiring adequate nutrition and health services. Joel McCarthy, 22, tells the story of how Vitamin Angels is changing the lives of children in Peru, where the organization distributes multivitamins to children under five and prenatal vitamins to four villages in the High Andes outside of Pisac. Caleb Slain, 21, documents the problem of undernutrition in the northeastern state of Nagaland in India as part of Vitamin Angels' vitamin A program for at-risk children under five. Alex Bohs, 23, shoots his footage and interviews across three states in the U.S., which isn't exempt from the need for children's multivitamin and prenatal distributions.

"We're proud to premiere 'A Supporting Role' and share the Vitamin Angels story with new audiences online," said Howard Schiffer, president and founder of Vitamin Angels. "Through three gifted filmmakers' perspectives, we hope this film will educate viewers about the life-threatening problem of micronutrient deficiencies and what Vitamin Angels is doing to reach children around the world."

Millions of children worldwide do not have access to proper nutrition or regular health services. Vitamin Angels aims to alleviate global micronutrient deficiencies by distributing high-dose vitamin A, prenatal multivitamins and children's multivitamins to at-risk populations in need. Forty-five percent of all childhood deaths are attributable to undernutrition, and vitamin supplementation is a simple and cost-effective way to give childhood back to children in need.

Beginning today, Vitamin Angels is encouraging the public to view "A Supporting Role" online: www.ASupportingRole.com. To learn more about Vitamin Angels and what it's doing to help deliver essential vitamins and minerals to at-risk children in need, visit www.vitaminangels.org.

To learn more about the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), visit www.NFFTY.org.

About Vitamin Angels
Vitamin Angels helps at-risk populations in need—specifically pregnant women, new mothers, and children under five—gain access to lifesaving and life changing micronutrients. In 2014, Vitamin Angels is working to reach 40 million children in approximately 45 countries, including the U.S., with the vital nutrients they need as a foundation for good health. Vitamin Angels has received six consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator for Financial Health, Accountability and Transparency. To learn more, visit www.vitaminangels.org.

About National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY)
The National Film Festival for Talented Youth is a flagship program of Talented Youth, a 501 c (3) non-profit arts organization founded in 2007. NFFTY has grown into the world's largest youth film festival and each year showcases films by directors age 22 and under.

SOURCE Vitamin Angels