KINO LORBER ACQUIRES ALL US RIGHTS TO MEET THE FOKKENS, A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT 69-YEAR-OLD TWIN PROSTITUTES AND BROTHEL OWNERS IN AMSTERDAM
CEO RICHARD LORBER CLOSES DEAL DURING 2012 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
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| The Fokkens Sisters |
New York, NY - May 21, 2012 - Kino Lorber is proud to announce the acquisition of all US rights to Meet The Fokkens (Ouwehoeren - 2011), an acclaimed and humorous documentary about 69-year-old twins Louise and Martine Fokkens - and their experience working as prostitutes in the world-famous red-light district in Amsterdam, for over 40 years. The film had its world premiere at IDFA in Amsterdam, and is set to begin its US festival run at the upcoming SilverDocs Film Festival in mid-June.
Directed by Gabrielle Provaas & Rob Schröder (Bonanza), Meet The Fokkens is slated for a theatrical premiere at New York's Film Forum on Wednesday, August 8, 2012. The film will expand to major markets in September and October 2012.
For over fifty years, Louise and Martine Fokkens worked as prostitutes in Amsterdam's red-light district. After a rough start, the sisters freed themselves from the control of their pimps, ran their own brothel, and set up the first informal trade union for prostitutes. They are familiar faces in Amsterdam's Red Light District ... But soon, they will bid their farewells to their profession.
Representing the old-fashioned side of Dutch prostitution that has now become almost extinct, Meet The Fokkens depicts two sisters who are proud of the lives they lead. With courage and an unapologetic attitude, the sisters share many tales of how they entered into this line of work, how they eventually went into business for themselves, and how relationships in the world of prostitution have changed over the years.
Kino Lorber's Vice President Elizabeth Sheldon, who negotiated the deal with Peter Jager, CEO of Autlook Films, commented: "When I saw Louise and Martine on the big screen, I was charmed by their stories, their wry humor and their spirit."
"Meet the Fokkens," continues Sheldon, "is an important addition to our collection of films that openly explore sexuality and never more uniquely than with this witty tribute to twin pioneers of the oldest profession."
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About Kino Lorber:
With a library of 700 titles, Kino Lorber Inc. has been a leader in independent distribution for over 30 years, releasing over 20 films per year theatrically under its Kino Lorber, Kino Classics, Redemption Films, Horizon Movies and Alive Mind Cinema banners.
In addition, the Company brings over 60 titles each year to the home entertainment market with DVD and Blu-ray releases as well as digital distribution on over 15 internet platforms and VOD services.
Kino Lorber is currently releasing the French drama Elles, directed by Malgoska Szumowska and starring Juliette Binoche, and will open Yorgos Lanthimos' Alps, the follow-up to the Academy Award-Nominated Dogtooth, on July 13 in New York City.
From MovieGazetteOnline.com:
"Thinking of all the reviews I've written from 1999 up to now, and of reviews to come, for however longer I do this, I don't think I'll ever come upon another documentary as incredible as Raw Faith, as touching, as awe-inspiring, and as inspiring. More than just documentaries, this rises above everything I've ever reviewed. At their best, this is what movies can do. It should become standard inspiration to those who want to do themselves what has been done here. The world could use more people like Marilyn Sewell, and more filmmakers like Peter Weidensmith." - Rory L. Aronsky, MovieGazetteOnline.com
Read the full review here.
New York, NY - May 4, 2012 - Alive Mind Cinema is proud to announce the DVD release of Raw Faith (2010), an intimate and revealing documentary by Peter Wiedensmith that follows two years in the private life of Marilyn Sewell, an outspoken and socially progressive Unitarian minister who has re-energized her Portland community.
Raw Faith (2010) comes to DVD on June 5th, with a SRP of $29.95. The DVD comes with special features including additional interviews with Marilyn, in which she speaks about her work as a minister; deleted scenes, including Marilyn's trip to the nation's capitol and Marilyn's successful efforts to create a "hate-free zone" in her church, creating an environment where all are welcome; and a theatrical trailer for the film.
Raw Faith provides a record of Marilyn's difficult decision to leave her position as senior minister at the First Unitarian Church of Portland, and her emotional journey as she falls in love. While serving a community that relies on her for wisdom and advice (on both personal and ethical issues), Marilyn struggles quietly with decisions about her own future. As she seeks to reconcile the commitments of her profession with a longing for intimacy and love, childhood memories of mental illness and alcoholism come back to the surface - and must be dealt with before she can move forward.
As Marilyn's life unfolds in front of the camera (in real time), she shares her journey with remarkable candor, humor and increasing wisdom, ultimately leading her to an unexpected revelation of faith and love in all of its guises.
Marilyn Sewell is one of only a small group of women who have led a large church of any faith, growing the membership of the First Unitarian Church of Portland to 1600 during her time as senior minister. In making this documentary, Marilyn opened her life completely to director Peter Wiedensmith's camera, allowing him to record her deeply personal and honest thoughts over the course of 18 months of filming.
Raw Faith features an original song by Sheryl Crow, "Love Will Remain", which the singer wrote for the film after listening to Marilyn's inspiring sermons during her battle with breast cancer. Raw Faith allows viewers to experience Marilyn's inspiring words and to share her remarkable journey.
Extras: Additional Interviews Deleted Scenes Theatrical Trailer
16:9 * 92 minutes Not Rated * Color 2.0 Dolby Digital
Raw Faith (2010) Director: Peter Wiedensmith Genre: Documentary SRP: $29.95 Street date: June 5, 2012
"The most influential restaurant in the world."
-- The New York Times
"...a celebration of the human desire to turn food into art." Grade: A-
- Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weeekly
"Kitchen voyeurism, ideal for foodies." - Cinematical
"CRITICS' PICK! Fans of shows like Top Chef are well advised to check out this fascinating and artful look at El Bulli." -- New York Magazine
"A gleaming documentary... immaculately crafted." - Variety
"It's cooking like you've never seen."
- Charlotte Druckman, The Wall Street Journal
For Immediate Release
New York, NY - March 23, 2012 - Alive Mind Cinema is proud to announce the DVD release of El Bulli: Cooking in Progress (2011), a documentary by Gereon Wetzel that explores the working methods of renowned chef Ferran Adria and his legendary restaurant, El Bulli.
The film, which Alive Mind Cinema released theatrically in 2011, is a revealing look inside the kitchen of renowned Spanish chef Ferran Adria that Film Threat calls "an insider look at something very few have ever had the pleasure of experiencing."
El Bulli: Cooking in Progress (2011) comes to DVD on March 27th, with bonus features including an interview with chef George Mendes and a theatrical trailer. The SRP is $29.95.
Located in Catalonia, Spain, Adria's restaurant - El Bulli - closed for six months each year while Adria and his team of culinary experts designed a fresh, innovative menu for the next season. Not content with anything ordinary, Adria's scientific approach involved intense research and experimentation to create a variety of dishes that had never been experienced before. Filmmaker Gereon Wetzel goes "behind the scenes" of the kitchen for a glimpse into the creative process of the culinary arts, exploring the methods and approaches that went in to creating the perfect menu. Over the course of the six months, Adria pushes himself and his team to develop new recipes, always innovating and never repeating themselves to deliver a 30-course menu that his guests would never forget.
From the inception of new recipes, through experimentation and creation,
El Bulli: Cooking in Progress (2011) gives audiences the chance to experience the process behind the wide tapestry of cuisine developed each year at El Bulli by master chef Ferran Adria.
As Adria himself puts it, "the more bewilderment, the better!"
BONUS FEATURES
Interview with Chef George Mendes * Theatrical Trailer
1.85:1, 16x9 * 108 minutes * Catalan w/ English Subtitles * Dolby Digital * Not Rated * Color
Visit the official El Bulli page at AliveMindCinema.com
El Bulli: Cooking in Progress
(2011)
Director: Gereon Wetzel
Genre: Documentary
Street date: March 27, 2012
SRP: $29.95
"There is not a better video for a couple than The Lovers Guide." - James McQuiston, NeuFutur Magazine
NeuFutur Magazine gave a rave review of Alive Mind Cinema's DVD release, THE LOVERS GUIDE 3D. This updated edition of the original guide, which NeuFutur calls "one of the most important videos created to establish how to properly make love to your wife or spouse" is presented in 3D .
Read the full review here.
New York, NY - April 2, 2012 - Alive Mind Cinema is proud to announce the DVD releases of Griefwalker (2008), a documentary by Tim Wilson about theologian Stephen Jenkinson, and NoBody's Perfect (2008), a documentary by Niko von Glasow in which the filmmaker examines twelve individuals who suffered the disastrous side-effects of the drug Thalidomide.
Griefwalker (2008) and NoBody's Perfect (2008) both street on April 3rd, each with a SRP of $24.95.
Griefwalker (2008)
"Exquisitely framed and scored" - The Gazette (Montreal)
"Astonishing...visually lush and scriptually poetic." - The Globe and Mail
Griefwalker is an extraordinary portrait of Harvard-trained theologian Stephen Jenkinson, who teaches that death empowers us to live and that we must know grief well in order to appreciate our own lives.
Many may find Jenkinson's belief that our deaths are not something to be denied or avoided but "befriended" as challenging; he points out that not every culture fears death as we do. The film carries viewers into the lives of those confronting death, as well as those learning to how to help people die well.
Combining beautiful imagery of the impermanence of nature and the actuality of dying, Griefwalker weaves an illuminating picture of a remarkable man and leaves us with a deeper understanding of how our deaths could be held as "a prized possession".
16:9 / 70 mins. / English / Not Rated
NoBody's Perfect (2008)
A Film by Niko von Glasow
"...84 sugar-free minutes in the company of a dozen thoughtful, funny, and profoundly resourceful grown-ups" - Cliff Doerksen, Chicago Reader
"The term 'disability porn' - often used to disparage films that aggressively tug the heartstrings by displaying severe handicaps and disfigurement - is turned entirely on its head by the wonderful German doc NoBody's Perfect". - Variety
In the late 1950s and early 60s, more than 10,000 children were born with deformities due to the use of Thalidomide, a drug used in sedatives. Filmmaker Niko von Glasow was one of the victims, and in NoBody's Perfect he tracks down eleven others who suffered the disastrous side-effects.
Niko is recruiting them to pose nude for a book of photographs, to give the ever-present gawkers a good, long look. He especially wants the executives at Gruenenthal, the pharmaceutical company that produced the drug, to see the result of their crimes. He ends up stalking his way into their offices like a German Michael Moore, confronting them with images of their misdeeds.
The children of Thalidomide are the heart of NoBody's Perfect, though, as they battle their body-image issues with courage and dark humor, while pursuing their diverse and successful careers. They are painters, champion horse-riders, actors, and astrophysicists, an inspiring group who overcame incredible odds to become extraordinary people.
2008 / Germany / 83 mins. / Color / In German w/English subtitles / Letterboxed (1.85:1) / Enhanced for 16x9 TVs
Griefwalker (2008)
Director: Tim Wilson
Genre: Documentary
Street date: April 3, 2012
SRP: $24.95
NoBody's Perfect (2008)
Director: Niko von Glasow
Genre: Documentary
Street date: April 3, 2012
SRP: $24.95
Mark Hall's documentary, SUSHI: THE GLOBAL CATCH, won the Audience Award at the 2012 San Francisco Green Film Festival. This festival is dedicated to media that explores green issues and sustainable living.
SUSHI THE GLOBAL CATCH examines the sustainability of fishing the Blue Fin Tuna and the history of this unique and wildly popular cuisine.
Read the official announcement here.
Raw Faith, the documentary by Peter Wiedensmith about Unitarian minister Marilyn Sewell, has been named one of the Best Spiritual Films of 2011 by Spirituality & Practice in the category of the Eleven Most Spiritually Literature documentaries. In their review of the film, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat called it "an incredibly intimate and soul-stirring portrait".
Click here to see the entire list.
Alive Mind Cinema is proud to announce the acquisition of North American rights to CRAZY WISDOM: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA RINPOCHE, a documentary by Johanna Demetrakas exploring the life and legacy of the "bad boy of Buddhism," Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
The acquisition was negotiated by Elizabeth Sheldon, Vice President of Kino Lorber, with Johanna Demetrakas (Right Out of History: The Making of Judy Chicago's Dinner Party) and Lisa Leeman (One Lucky Elephant).
"Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche brought Tibetan Buddhism to America. His irreverent teaching style ignited a spiritual revolution that reflected the times and shaped American counter-culture. We are honored to include Johanna's engaging documentary in the Alive Mind Cinema collection," commented Elizabeth Sheldon.
The film opened to sold-out shows the weekend of November 25, 2011 at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City, where it will continue to play through Sunday, December 18. As of December 3, CRAZY WISDOM has grossed $20,504.60 only at The Rubin Museum. This past Friday, December 2, the film also opened at the Laemmle Santa Monica 4-Plex, where it was the second highest grossing film at the theater, grossing $5,500 (Fri-Sun).
Plans follow to open CRAZY WISDOM: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA RINPOCHE in selected theaters and cultural venues across the United States throughout the winter and spring of 2012. The film will be released on DVD and via digital channels later in 2012.
Director Johanna Demetrakas was present at the film's New York opening and participated in additional Q&A sessions at the Laemmle Santa Monica during the LA opening weekend.
CRAZY WISDOM tells the story of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, known as "The Bad Boy of Buddhism," who was instrumental in bringing Buddhism to the West. Trungpa also challenged traditional ideas of how a spiritual leader should behave (earning a rather controversial reputation for engaging in drinking and relationships with his students).
Controversies aside, Trungpa did much to bridge cultural gaps between his students and fostered a deep understanding of Buddhism. Today, more than twenty years after his death, Trungpa is recognized for his teachings by both western philosophers and spiritual leaders.
While his name still provokes both admiration and controversy, his place in Buddhist teaching is undeniable, and filmmaker Johanna Demetrakas uses never-before-seen archival material and interviews with those who knew Trungpa in order to take a closer look at the man and the myths surrounding him.
About Alive Mind Cinema:
Alive Mind Cinema specializes in documentaries in the areas of enlightened consciousness, secular spirituality and culture, engaging audiences with intellectually provocative films. Recent theatrical releases include El Bulli: Cooking in Progress, Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow, and Raw Faith.
About Kino Lorber:
With a library of 700 titles, Kino Lorber Inc. has been a leader in independent distribution for over 30 years and releases over 20 films per year theatrically under its Kino Lorber, Kino Classics and Alive Mind Cinema banners. In addition, the Company brings over 60 titles each year to the home entertainment market with DVD and Blu-ray releases and digital distribution on over 15 internet platforms and VOD services.
From The Sly Fox Film Reviews, Nov. 25, 2011:
by Kam Williams
"If you think blacks and Asians have been given a raw deal in the way they've been portrayed in Hollywood pictures, then you should reflect upon the harmful depictions of Native Americans on film. For, this beleaguered ethnic group has generally been stereotyped in a very limited fashion, namely, as deserving of extermination or being driven to reservations.
In most movies, Indians are bloodthirsty savages who get wiped out right after you hear the bugle signaling the arrival of the cavalry. My impression of this country's indigenous peoples was so perverted by exposure to Westerns that one of my favorite childhood pastimes was playing "Cowboys and Indians," an activity in which I took pleasure in fantasizing about killing adversaries with red skin."
Read the full review here.