Private Project

Journey to Hope

Purple Songs Can Fly, the first recording studio ever created on a pediatric cancer floor, was founded in 2006 at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas. Twelve years and thousands of songs later, six childhood cancer patients, Mia, Layla, Dominic, Emily, Stephen and Christian, come together as survivors to share "Journey to Hope" an original musical featuring their own songs, written and recorded in the Purple Songs Can Fly studio during their individual cancer journeys.

  • Anita Kruse
    Director
  • Carol Younkin
    Writer
  • Jesse Sanchez
    Producer
  • Anne Hill
    Producer
  • Mia Spargo
    Key Cast
    "Mira Call"
  • Layla Borghese
    Key Cast
    "Joy Fulnoys"
  • Dominic Dybala
    Key Cast
    "Ivan Idea"
  • Emily Freeman
    Key Cast
    "Faith Stronger"
  • Stephen Makia
    Key Cast
    "Vic Tory"
  • Christian Spear
    Key Cast
    "Hope Powers"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 16 minutes 41 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 2, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • IndieFEST Film Awards
    La Jolla, California
    United States
    WINNER - Award of Merit
  • WorldFest Houston International Film Festival
    Houston
    United States
    April 7, 2019
    Festival Premiere
    WINNER - Platinum Remi Award, Feature Film, Documentary
  • Accolade Global Film Competition
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    WINNER- Award of Merit
  • Awareness Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    September 29, 2018
    West Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • CARE Awards
    Cairo, West Virginia
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary Feature, Fall 2018
  • Oz International Film Festival
    Melbourne
    Australia
    November 28, 2018
    Australia Premiere
    WINNER - Best International Documentary
  • Mindfield Film Festival - Albuquerque
    Albuequerque, New Mexico
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary Feature - Gold Medal
  • Docs Without Borders Film Festival
    Nassau, Delaware
    United States
    WINNER - Human Spirit, Outstanding Excellence
  • Beach Cities Inspirational Film Festival
    Rancho San Clemente, California
    United States
    April 25, 2019
    Semi - Finalist
  • Rome Independent Prisma Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    FINALIST
  • Oniros Film Awards
    Aosta
    Italy
    WINNER - Honorable Mention
  • Dragonfly Film Fest
    Tempe, Arizona
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Pinnacle Film Awards
    Hollywood Hills, California
    United States
    WINNER - Platinum Award - Best Documentary Feature
  • Royal Wolf Film Awards
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary Feature
  • Aphrodite Film Awards
    New York City, New York
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary Feature
  • Mediterranean Film Festival
    Siracusa
    Italy
    Official Selection
  • Hope in the Heights Film Festival
    Tampa, Florida
    United States
    September 29, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Around International Film Festival - Amsterdam
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    Semi-Finalist - Documentary Feature
  • The Block Festival
    Logan, Utah
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Reel East Texas Film Festival
    Kilgore, Texas
    United States
    November 16, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Hollywood Film Competition
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    WINNER - Platinum Award, Best Feature
  • BlastOff Film Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    SEMI FINALIST
  • Hollywood West Wing Film Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary Feature
  • LA Edge Film Awards
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary Feature
  • Snowdance Film Awards
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary Feature
  • Golden Earth Film Award
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary Feature
  • Top Indie Film Awards
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary Feature
  • River's Edge International Film Festival
    Paducah, Kentucky
    United States
    Official Selection
  • International Independent Film Awards
    Encino, California
    United States
    WINNER - Gold Award, Best Documentary Feature, Fall Awards
  • Queen Palm International Film Festival
    Palm Springs, California
    United States
    WINNER- Honorable Mention
  • Hollywood Hills Film Awards
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    WINNER - Best Feature Film
  • Logcinema Art Films
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    WINNER - Best Documentary
  • Great Lakes International Film Festival
    Erie, Pennsylvania
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Alexandria Film Festival
    Alexandria, Virginia
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Hollywood Guild Awards
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    WINNER- Best Documentary Feature, September 2018
  • Summer Short Film Festival
    Munich
    Germany
    FINALIST
  • Move Me Productions Belgium Film Festival
    Antwerpen
    Belgium
    Official Selection
  • Hollywood Forever Film Festival
    Los Angeles California
    United States
    WINNER - Gold Award, Best Documentary Feature
  • Mindfield Film Festival - Los Angeles
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    Official Selection
  • American Filmatic Arts Awards
    New York City, New York
    United States
    WINNER - Best Inspirational Documentary Feature
  • United States Film Festival
    Southeastern, Pennsylvania
    WINNER - Best Documentary Feature U.S.
  • Southern States Indie Fan Film Festival
    Biloxi, Mississippi
    Official Selection
  • North Europe International Film Festival-London Edition
    London
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • Independent Talents International Film Festival
    Boomington, Indiana
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Las Cruces International Film Festival
    Las Cruces, New Mexico
    United States
    February 19, 2019
    Official Selection - Documentary Feature
  • Arthouse Asia
    Kolkata
    India
    Finalist - Best Documentary Feature
  • IndieFEST Film Awards
    La Jolla, California
    United States
    WINNER - Humanitarian Award 2018 - HONORABLE MENTION
  • Utah Film Festival
    Vineyard, Utah
    United States
    Semi - Finalist, Documentary Feature
  • South Europe International Film Festival - Valencia Edition
    Valencia
    Spain
    Official Selection - Documentary Feature
  • Central States International Film Festival
    Rock Island, Illinois
    United States
    Official Selection - Documentary Feature
Director Biography - Anita Kruse

A classically trained pianist, Anita began writing her own music while completing a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance with Theodore Lettvin at the University of Michigan. Since then, Anita has recorded many CDs of original music.

In March 2006, Anita founded Purple Songs Can Fly, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a creative musical outlet for children being treated at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, the largest pediatric oncology and blood disease center in the United States.

As the first of its kind, Purple Songs Can Fly has inspired many recording and songwriting programs across the country and beyond, including "Kid's Rock Cancer" in St. Louis, and a new studio at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

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Director Statement

"There's a song inside every single child, waiting to be heard."