Carolyn Wilson, a Cheltenham business owner, acclaimed author, and sexual assault survivor, hosted a screening and panel discussion for her 30-minute documentary, “The Good Life”, on Sunday, April 21 at the Hiway Theater in Jenkintown.

A few days later, and appropriately aligned with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the film was selected as a finalist for the 30th annual Essence Film Festival July 4-7 in New Orleans.

“That alone is a win for survivors everywhere. You can have a Good Life after past trauma and abuse,” Wilson said.

Wilson served as the producer, writer, director, and lead actress for the documentary, which debuted in 2019. The film won several awards and received mention at the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.

Last week’s screening and panel discussion met expectations.

“The people that was supposed to be there were there. I had support from several agencies such as the Pennsylvania Office of Victim Advocates, Victim Services Center of Montgomery County and the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center,” Wilson said.

“The screening touched many and the panel discussion was engaging and insightful. Survivors that came were able to receive the resources that they needed,” she said. “The most memorable moment was a young lady who just encountered an assault came up to me with tears in her eyes and thanked me as this is what she needed. That alone let me know that the event did exactly what it was supposed to do.” 

From IMDb’s description:

‘The Good Life’ is a story of trauma, scars, healing, and freedom. This story follows one women’s journey of being molested that laid the foundation for a life of further trauma, abuse, depression and nonexistence. This short documentary is about a pinnacle moment that led to healing from sexual child abuse, being set free, and the movement created out of the process that helps others heal from their own trauma and abuse.

Wilson has also authored several books about overcoming trauma, telling your story, becoming healed, empowered, resilient, and developing a positive mindset, including “H.E.R.Story”, “H.I.M.Story”, and “H.E.R.Story Too”.

She operates Magnify Your Essence, an empowerment and sexual assault awareness organization based in Cheltenham Township.

For more information about the film, you can click here. For more about Wilson’s books, you can click here.

Wilson’s contact card can be found here.

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Photos: Carolyn Wilson