Documentary on Greyston Bakery to Screen at Bronxville Picture House

Yonkers, NY (January, 2024) – Zen Brownie, an award-winning documentary on the story behind Greyston Bakery, will be shown January 25 at The Picture House in Bronxville followed by a panel discussion and special reception featuring famous ice cream makers Ben & Jerry.

The documentary by Emmy Nominated & Award-Winning Writer/Director Alison Bartlett and narrated by Jeff Bridges tells the tale of Buddhist Monks and how leading with inclusivity, kindness, and compassion has created a well-known profitable business in Greyston Bakery.

Zen Brownie recently won Special Mention from 2023 Impact DOCS Awards Competition. The film was also selected to be part of the YOFI Film Festival in November.

Greyston Bakery in Yonkers creates gold standard brownies enjoyed daily around the world through its inclusion in Ben & Jerry’s ice creams. Bakers are employed through an Open Hiring® policy which means no interviews, no background checks, and no resumes are required.

“For 41 years Greyston has been unlocking human potential through inclusive employment. It began with a Buddhist and a bakery and desire to help make communities thrive by being supportive of folks society has cast aside. It has evolved into an employment model known as Open Hiring ®, which is being replicated by a growing number of companies,’’ said Greyston’s CEO & President Joseph Kenner.

Clayton Bushong, Executive Director of The Picture House Regional Film Center, said The Picture House is excited to bring Zen Brownie to its Bronxville theater.

“There is a lot of interest in the film and tickets are selling fast,’’ said Bushong. “This is the kind of quality and thought-provoking documentary we like to show, particularly as it supports such a worthy community organization responsible for employing so many people who might not otherwise have had a chance at success.’’

Bartlett (Director/Writer/Producer) said her goal in making the film was to highlight “kind, inclusive, and profitable leadership.”

The film’s producer Michael Pirson, a professor at Fordham University, said, “Our film showcases humanistic business practices that create a world that works for all.”

The film will be shown at The Picture House, 85 Kraft Avenue in Bronxville, at 6:30 p.m. followed by a second feature Wide Open Dreams and a panel discussion featuring the filmmaker, producer, wife of founder Bernie Glassman and Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s. Tickets are $20 for the general public and $15 for TPH members and are available online at Zen Brownie at The Picture House Bronxville. The show is almost sold out.

Sponsors include Domino; Kathleen Casey, Empire City Casino, Betty Cotton, RM Friedland, Elan Vanilla Company, Cantilever, Harlem Blue Craft Beer and The Taco Project.

View the trailer here: Zen Brownie Trailer (vimeo.com)

About Greyston

In 1982 Greyston founder Zen Buddhist Bernie Glassman set out to employ individuals who faced barriers to meaningful employment at the Greyston Bakery. The hiring process was simple, accept anyone with a will to work, a process we now call Open Hiring®. Through the Greyston Employment Opportunity Center (GEOC), job seekers can access workforce development and transitional (re-entry) employment programs. Clients are also paired with a social worker to help connect them external resources they may need. Finally, the Greyston Foundation also offers business services for employers interested in replicating Open Hiring or tapping into the pool of upskilled clients. In 2013 Greyston Bakery was rated Best for the World B-Corp, a designation given to the top B Corps worldwide. And in 2023, Greyston received the Social Innovator of the Year award from Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship at World Economic Forum in Davos. For more information go to www.greyston.org

About Alison Bartlett

Zen Brownie, Doc Short – Emmy-nominee Bartlett, with narration from Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges, tells the tale of Buddhist Monks, Greyston Bakery and how inclusivity, kindness and compassion created a profitable business. With Professor Michael Pirson, the film explores Humanistic Model Management and Open Hiring. Colorful commentary from Ben & Jerry. Tightly crafted, inspiring, entertaining.

About The Picture House Regional Film Center

Housed in two historic theaters from the 1920s, TPH is a thriving regional film center providing dynamic film and education programs to a diverse and multi-generational audience in Westchester County and beyond. Across 5 screens in Pelham and Bronxville, NY, audiences see the best in new, independent, and classic cinema. TPH education programs provide students of all ages with the opportunity to learn about the art, science, and business of film. A mission-driven, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, The Picture House has two locations: The Picture House Pelham is located at 175 Wolfs Lane, Pelham, New York, 10803. The Picture House Bronxville is at 84 Kraft Avenue, Bronxville, NY, 10708. Contact us at www.thepicturehouse.org, info@thepicturehouse.org, or (914) 738-3161.