screening at film festivals through 2008 and 2009, including the Los Angeles Film Festival and West Hollywood International Film Festival, Kotowski re-edited the film to feature a more central emphasis on the film's Holocaust story. The film was then re-titled Esther's Diary and re-released, having its premiere at the New Hope Film Festival on June 26, 2010, and screenings at festivals such as River Bend Film Festival in South Bend, Indiana. Director Mariusz Kotowski's production company Bright Shining City Productions released Esther's Diary on DVD in September 2010; the film is currently being sold direct via Bright Shining City Productions' official website. Awards As Forgiveness Third Place Jury Award - Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival (2008) Telly Awards - Silver (2008) Silver Remi Award - WorldFest (2009) EMPixx Awards - Platinum (2009) As Esther's Diary Best Narrative Feature - Great Lakes International Film Festival (2010) Relix Award - Glen Rose Neo-Relix Film Festival (2010) EMPixx Award - Platinum (2010) The Indie Fest - Award of Merit (2010) Telly Awards - Bronze (2010) Reception Jerusalem Post wrote "Forgiveness is like a complex jigsaw puzzle or murder mystery in which apparently disconnected pieces fall into place only gradually. For those looking for a movie dominated by strong, independent women, this is the one to see." Jewish Journal contrasted the film against others at the Polish Film Festival by noting that, even though directed and written by a Polish filmmaker and reflecting the memories of wartime Poland, it was filmed with an American cast and set in a contemporary American city. It was offered that the film had a compelling plot line, but its strength was in how it dealt with the relationships of its female characters. They summarize, "A bond between two adult, self-confident women has rarely been portrayed as effectively." See also List of Holocaust films References External links 2008 films Films about the aftermath of the Holocaust American films based on actual events Films set in the 1940s Films set in the 2000s Films set in Poland Films about Jews and Judaism 2000s English-language films American drama films 2000s American films