“ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE”: affecting hearts in Dubai

Narrated by Sigourney Weaver

Dubai, UAE – 25 June 2015: Produced by Portfolio Productions, ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE is a documentary focusing  on  the  lives  and  dreams  of  the  children  of  Good Morning  School in the  district  of  Mae  Sot,  Thailand, a town on the Thai-Burma border, where hundreds of thousands of Burmese nationals reside. They fled from Burma and escaped to Mae Sot and  other  towns  along  the  border,  with  the  hope  that  they will be able to sustain their families and become free from fear.

However, the vast majority of Burmese living on the border exist as migrants; some are refugees, trafficked people without nationality, rights, or any solid future.  The Burmese children in Mae Sot have to face this harsh reality every day. 

The  documentary  highlights  not  just their  plight,  but  mainly centres on the  positive  way  that  these children  go  about  their  lives  in conditions and under circumstances we dare not even imagine. The beauty and simplicity of their day-to-day lives, serve as an inspiration.

According to Director, Stuart Cameron, “All You Need is Love’ creates an awareness of the Children of Mae Sot through simple, beautiful and inspiring stories and although reality on film is increasingly difficult to capture, we have tried to capture their struggles and thoughts in this documentary.”

The Hollywood film ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, by Portfolio Productions, was brought to Dubai for a very special awareness screening on the 15^th of June 2015. This was made possible by octOpus and Marz Global, in cooperation with Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and Executive Women.

The exclusive screening aimed to raise awareness, to provide the necessary support for the children’s schooling needs and to build schools, like that of Good Morning School as part of the corporate social responsibility program of octopus. As an ideas business, the team at octOpus passionately believe that ideas can change and shape the world. The decision to make this film and hosting this screening event translates the core of what the company stands for.

octOpus has been actively involved with the cause, even before its initial production. The agency took part in ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE’s marketing and promotions to assisting with the film’s trailer and creation of the different websites – from the movie’s microsite to establishing the US and UK based charities to building its social media presence.

The company has previously sent a team to Mae Sot, for a Christmas celebration to deliver gifts to children. The documentary screening was an expression of octOpus’ ongoing support for the children and the larger migrant community.

octOpus’ Creative Director and Executive Producer to the film, Stu Higton said, “The ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE project and the children of Good Morning school in Mae Sot have a very special place in our hearts. We have been part of the film’s production from its earliest stages and took an active role with the school’s establishment. We want to drive awareness of the living conditions of these children in the hope to get support for their needs.”

Managing Director of Marz Global, Essa Al Marzooqi stated, “We support the awareness of the documentary ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, so that the message on the plight of these innocent children reaches a larger audience in the Middle East. We hope our CSR outreach, encourages more organisations to get involved in children’s causes.”

The exclusive premiere was a success. It was attended by key UAE media, members of the Executive Women magazine, to prominent personalities like Madame Thoraya Al Awadhi and MBE Brian Wilkie. Director of ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE Charity-US, Erin Terzieff, also flew to Dubai for the event. The premiere’s guest of honour was H.E. Sheikha Dr. Hind Al Qassimi, who came to support the film and its cause.

ALL   YOU   NEED   IS   LOVE   is   Directed   by   Stuart   Cameron, Produced   by   Stuart Cameron and Meddy Ezrah Ortega, Executive Produced by Suzy Amis Cameron, Patrick Dunn, and Stu Higton of octOpus.