Film "Prescription: Suicide?" awarded at Ft Lauderdale International Film Festival

Following positive and emotional reviews the film "Prescription: Suicide?" had received from the audience with 92% saying they would definitely recommend the film to others and 83% who gave it a "2 thumbs up", the film garnered the "Spirit of Independents" award in its category from the Ft Lauderdale International Film Festival.

The film is an unprecedented feature documentary built around intimately-told personal stories of six American families, their hopes and experiences with anti-depressant drugs prescribed to their children, and as seen through the eyes of the families and told by the families - with no outside characters or narrators interferring in the story telling.

"Fantastic! Needs to be seen," was one of the many comments after the successful premiere of "Prescription: Suicide?" at the 20th Annual Ft Lauderdale International Film Festival.

"Non-technical, low key, but got a powerful message across." "Kids do not need prescription drugs to combat life's normal issues." "Very informative. Fabulous, sensitive, informative, well done!" exclaimed the audience in a half hour discussion with the director which followed the showing.

Said a Ft Lauderdale mother of four: "My 12 year old daughter has problems focusing her attention and I had been contemplating putting her on antidepressants. Thank God that I happened to be at the right place at the right time tonight to see this film. No way will I put my daughter on medication. Thank you very much!"

Producers Robert Manciero and Rich Samuels received the "Spirit of Independents" award (photo).