Author and Producer Pierette Domenica Simpson, who has written two books and a screenplay about surviving a deadly shipwreck while immigrating to America, has completed production of an international movie to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the catastrophe on June 25, 1956. The film, Andrea Doria: Are the Passengers Saved?, will debut at a private screening in Genoa, Italy at the Museum of the Sea for the 60th anniversary on July 25-26, 2016.

Simpson, who lives in Novi, MI, has also been invited to show the film to the Italian Parliament in Rome. And there have been requests to submit TV mini-series proposals. The film is headed for film festivals, including Salerno, Italy. Simpson, who was nine years old when she survived the controversial sinking of the Italian luxury liner The Andrea Doria near Cape Cod, wrote, produced and stars in the film, playing herself. Please click here to watch the 3-minute trailer.

"I am realizing my dream of correcting a part of history that cast Italians in a bad light," she says, "all while presenting universal themes of immigration, family sacrifice, loyalty to one's roots, triumph over tragedy, survival, prejudice, and unscrupulous politics. The educator in me always wants to impart a lesson, especially for future generations."

Italian Director Luca Guardabascio captures the somber yet celebratory themes, while showcasing Simpson's lifelong mission to preserve the legacy of the Andrea Doria, as well as how she uncovered a cold case that vindicates Captain Piero Calamai of The Andrea Doria.

"This docufilm is a labor of love," says Simpson, who paid for the bulk of the filming in Italy and the U.S. The Ferndale shoot was sponsored by the David Evola family, Bianchi's Salon of Royal Oak, and Roma Sposa Atelier of Birmingham. She also received sponsorship monies by holding a fund-raising event at Cantoro's Trattoria and Market of Plymouth. "Now, in order to take the project across the finish line, we're seeking sponsorships to help with festivals, marketing, distribution, and legal expenses. We also welcome opportunities to screen the film."

The film features local talent, including a special appearance by Opera singer and Macomb resident Eva Evola, as well as author and TV show host Elizabeth Atkins. The other actors are Pierette's friends who wanted to support her endeavor, such as Judges William Giovan and Joseph Toia. The Mack Lincoln was provided by Michael Chirco, Eva Evola's father.

Andrea Doria: Are the Passengers Saved? was filmed in Ferndale by Tri-Omega Productions and M-1 Productions, with Matt Peach as director/associate producer. Other scenes were shot in the Dearborn home of Richard Haskin, the film's Still Photographer in Italy and the US. www.richardhaskinphotograpy.com

The docufilm is based on Pierette's critically acclaimed book, Alive on the Andrea Doria! She also wrote a young adult novel, I Was Shipwrecked on the Andrea Doria! The Titanic of the 1950s. The docufilm uses vivid dramatizations of Pierette's immigration, her nightmare on the Atlantic, her survival of the shipwreck with her grandparents, and her arrival in the New World. It includes interviews with maritime experts, survivors, and divers, along with astounding archival footage of the catastrophe that killed 51 people.

"It has been my mission since 2003 to leave the Andrea Doria legacy for survivors, their families and friends, and for history," says Simpson. "This legacy must portray the truth about the tragedy -- one that lay in the coffers of injustice for nearly 50 years," says Simpson, who plays herself as the narrator.

The impressive team of talent in the film includes:
- Legendary songwriter and fellow survivor, Mike Stoller, is providing music for the film score www.leiberstoller.com 

- Three notable Italian actors, Fabio Mazzari, Lucia Bendia, and Giordano Petri.

Her passion for her heritage inspires annual trips to Torino, Italy, where her family resides. Last year she launched a cultural project between Detroit and Torino called "Project Detur" that includes a documentary that she wrote, directed, and produced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVgvRRgGYLg).

Since Simpson is an artist of "Project Detur," her international film adds another dimension. Simpson became the first woman to publish an all-inclusive book about one's shipwreck, recounting both the human and scientific aspects of the collision. Her book was published in Italy by Sperling & Kupfer as L'ultima notte dell'Andrea Doria.

This film is yet another of Simpson's pioneering endeavors because it is the first movie to include real shipwreck survivors. Likewise, Simpson is the only shipwreck survivor who has conducted extensive human and scientific research that ultimately vindicated the Captain, which led to a movie production. As an honorary member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), Simpson co-authored two technical papers on the sinking of the Andrea Doria with marine forensics chairman, William H. Garzke.

She has appeared on American and Italian documentaries and on CBS Sunday Morning. She is interviewed frequently for radio, TV, and print publications that include The New York Times.

For screenings, interviews, and sponsorships, Pierette can be reached at www.pierettesimpson.com or by calling Elizabeth Atkins at 313-492-5718.