CHICAGO –  You can remove your breasts and still get breast cancer. This is what 28 year old Chicago filmmaker, Melissa Boratyn found out when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the third time. This time it was terminal.

During distribution, 10 percent of sales will be given back to the breast cancer organization of their choice.  20 to 30 percent of people initially diagnosed with early stage breast cancer will develop metastatic breast cancer 5, 10 or 15 years after a person’s original diagnosis and successful treatment checkups and annual mammograms according to Metastatic Breast Cancer Network.  This is why, Melissa and her team have chosen to earmark donations to research prioritized towards treating Stage IV Metastatic breast cancer.

Through sharing her message and the film she’s been recognized by local government including Illinois Senator Martines on the Senate Floor, and in Governor J.B. Pritzker’s State of Illinois Proclamation recognizing the efforts of Melissa Boratyn to help others battling breast cancer and the success of “Ginger the movie.”

“Ginger is clearly an extraordinary filmmaking achievement worthy of the highest accolades”

– Joey Filer, Reel Chicago

The husband and wife directors,  Melissa Boratyn and Jimmy Boratyn have worked with the American Cancer Society, METAvivor, the Breasties and several additional cancer support organizations for screenings and festivals.  During Breast Cancer Awareness month, Melissa spoke to thousands of people at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Chicago at Soldier Field.

Ginger has won several awards including Best of Festival at the 10th Annual Lady Filmmakers Film Festival and the Special Jury Price: World Humanitarian Award at the Queens World Film Festival.

Ginger plays at The Logan Theater on December 8, 2019 to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

For more information about Ginger and where to watch it, go to CowLampFilms.com. 

ABOUT MELISSA BORATYN: 

Stage 4 cancer thriver Melissa Boratyn makes her directorial debut with Ginger. She brings an honest portrayal of her experience as a young woman with breast cancer to the big screen. Ginger is the third feature film Melissa has edited, following Carmilla and The Giggles. Carmilla has won several awards, including a best feature nomination at Cinema Soup Film Festival and official selection from CIMM Fest, the Indie Gathering International Film Festival. Melissa was nominated for the best editing award from the London International Filmmaker Festival for World Cinema for her work on The Giggles. She has a BA in International Film and Media Production from Loyola University Chicago and an MFA in Film from DePaul University.

ABOUT JIMMY BORATYN:

Jimmy Boratyn’s directorial debut, The Giggles, was a semi-finalist at the Swedish International Film Festival and an official selection at the Hudson Valley Comedy Festival, the Indie Film Gathering Film Festival, and the Laugh or Die Comedy Festival. The Giggles was also a Best Feature, Best Story, and Best Editing nominee at the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema in London. In 2011, Jimmy founded Shot Time Productions Inc., a multimedia company specializing in videography and photography.

ABOUT COW LAMP FILMS

Cow Lamp Films is the Midwest’s first and only full-service, independent film and television distributor. Cow Lamp Films provides the full-service distribution opportunities to independent filmmakers that are difficult to access without the support of large studios.