Not My Life

A powerful, new documentary film depicting the horrifying and dangerous practices of human trafficking and modern slavery on a global scale airs this weekend on CNN.

Oscar-nominated director Robert Bilheimer says the movie could be key to unlocking public awareness and calls for action.

"People do not recoil from this. They are angered by it and horrified by it. I think it's genuinely possible that we can move the dime on this, that we can put this in the forefront of the public consciousness. That's all you need," he said.

Filmed on five continents over four years, "Not My Life" shows survivors and anti-traffickers with dignity and compassion, and depicts the unspeakable practices of traffickers.

"Not My Life" features inspiring testimony from survivors; depictions of trafficking, exploitation, and slavery in all parts of the world including forced labor in Africa, street begging and garbage picking in India, sexual trafficking in the United States and Southeast Asia, and various forms of child enslavement and abuse in both North and South America.

Bilheimer said: "The potential of "Not My Life" is in its timing – in that it's a time when all these anti-traffickers and law enforcement and government people are coming together, and then there are things like the CNN Freedom Project.

"I think the ground is fertile, and I think "Not My Life" really does have an exceptional opportunity to push to that proverbial tipping point.

"If we are successful in getting this film before the eyes of the millions we are trying for, and if we do make it accessible, then it can become viral, and that may be this one time we can create an example of how a film, literally can change the world."
Source: CNN Freedom Project: http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/16/director-we-can-change-the-world/