By Karen Kennedy
It was standing-room only at the opening night of the Heartland Film Festival, featuring the world premiere of “Gimme Shelter,” starring Vanessa Hudgens, Brendan Fraser, Rosario Dawson, James Earl Jones and Ann Dowd.
Vanessa Hudgens, along with the film’s writer/director/producer Ronald Krauss, graced the red carpet, but the real stars of the night were Kathy DiFiore, Darlisha Dozier and Wanda Santos. DeFiore is the woman who founded the New Jersey teen girls’ shelter upon which the movie is based and Dozier and Santos are residents of the shelter.
The film is based on Dozier’s life and tells the story of a homeless, pregnant teen (Hudgens) living on the streets until she finds her way to the Several Sources Shelter, through the help of a caring priest (Jones.) She is given a second chance at life and finally finds family through the kindness of DiFiore.
For more information about the Several Sources Shelters, visit www.severalsourcesfd.org.