Charlottesville | Documentary on addiction to make nationwide debut on PBS

A Charlottesville filmmaker’s documentary, A Bridge to Life, will air nationwide on PBS stations beginning on Sept. 1.

The film, directed by Chris Farina with Rosalia Films, premiered last year at the Tom Tom Festival in Charlottesville.

The documentary introduces viewers to Bridge Ministry, an organization that works to change the lives of men dealing with life-threatening addiction issues.

The film shares the story of William Washington, the founder and executive director of the ministry. Washington suffered serious trauma as a child and wound up homeless as a teenager on the streets of Charlottesville – using and selling drugs. He has dedicated his life to helping others who face the same troubled path.

As the country faces a crisis of drug addiction and housing insecurity, the goal is to inspire communities to replicate the program and encourage policymakers to pursue more compassionate solutions.

The timing of the film on PBS is coming at a time when President Donald Trump and his administration are forcing the homeless community out of tents and off the streets in Washington, all in an effort to supposed beautify the nation’s capital and make Trump’s drive to the golf course a little more pleasant for him. The haphazard announcement came with no coordination with city officials and led to chaos in D.C.

With the National Guard now patrolling the streets, homeless individuals are being given relatively few options: go to a shelter, go to an addiction or mental health treatment facility or go to jail.

A Bridge to Life shows that healing trauma, not incarceration, is the true path to lasting change, according to the filmmakers.

“Reaching a national audience through PBS is a wonderful fulfillment of that goal, and I am so grateful to those who have supported the film,” said Farina.

When and where to watch

---

• Local PBS stations: Premieres starting nationwide Sept.1. Air dates vary by location — find your local station and view their TV schedule.
• PBS World Channel: Premieres starting nationwide Sept. 11. Check the schedule.
• Streaming: Available free on demand on the PBS website and app beginning Sept. 1; available on PBS Passport starting Oct. 31 for Passport members.

Video: Watch the film trailer

---

Related stories

---

• ‘A Bridge to life’ explores ministry working to change lives of men battling addiction
• Waynesboro not a big city like Washington, but homelessness issues still exist
• Farina Film Fest fundraiser offered on Sunday for Virginia filmmaker diagnosed with ALS
• Books Behind Bars program to launch at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail