U.Va. To Host Special Viewing of Award-Winning Film on Nobel Laureate's American Microcredit Bank

March 28, 2011 — The University of Virginia is joining forces with Sundance Award-winning filmmaker Gayle Ferraro to show her movie, "To Catch a Dollar," which documents the birth of Grameen America, the Bangladesh-based microlender's New York City branch.

The film will be screened March 31 at 7:30 p.m. at Charlottesville's Carmike 6 Theater, and shown simultaneously in theaters around the country. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is $10. Filmgoers are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance.

Brad Brown, an associate professor in U.Va.'s McIntire School of Commerce and a leader of the International Residential College, will introduce the film. Brown has taught in international programs in England, Finland, France, Denmark, Lithuania, Bangladesh and Vietnam. In 2012, his January Term class will be in Bangladesh.

The film will spotlight the promise of microfinance to lift people out of poverty in America through the stories of women entrepreneurs who benefit from the micro-finance system of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the creator of Grameen.

Following the film will be a special simulcast panel exploring poverty and financial literacy in America, moderated by CNBC's Maria Bartiromo and featuring Yunus, Kiva.org president Premal Shah, film director Ferarro and financial celebrity Suze Orman. Actors Robert De Niro and Hugh Jackman will also appear.

Audience members will be encouraged to make a $10 donation via mobile text to fund the next Grameen America branch. Participants won't be just funding the branch – they'll also be invited to choose the next location, in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C.

The Office of the Vice Provost for International Programs is hosting the film with University radio station WTJU-FM;student group SEED, or Student Entrepreneurs for Economic Development; and the Charlottesville-based chapter of RESULTS, a grassroots group that advocates microfinance.

To learn more, visit the event Facebook page.

— By Jane Kelly

Media Contact

Jane Kelly

Office of University Communications