Elaine Epstein says that winning Hot Docs Forum’s top First Look prize of Can $20,000 cash for her film “Arrest the Midwife” is a “game changer.”
The project, which has been on a close to year-long hiatus, will now finally be able to resume due to the award.
“The last money we raised was 10 months ago,” Epstein said. “So it’s been a while. We raised money and then things stopped.”
“Arrest the Midwife” was one of 20 projects presented to key funders and decision-makers as well as filmmakers, producers and other observers at the 25th edition of the two-day Forum pitch event.
Produced through Epstein’s Underdog Films (U.S.), with producer Robin Hessman and executive producer Ruth Ann Harnisch, the doc chronicles the arrest of three midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities. When a Mennonite baby died after being attended to by a homebirth midwife, an unprecedented legal drama ensued.
The project, which has been on a close to year-long hiatus, will now finally be able to resume due to the award.
“The last money we raised was 10 months ago,” Epstein said. “So it’s been a while. We raised money and then things stopped.”
“Arrest the Midwife” was one of 20 projects presented to key funders and decision-makers as well as filmmakers, producers and other observers at the 25th edition of the two-day Forum pitch event.
Produced through Epstein’s Underdog Films (U.S.), with producer Robin Hessman and executive producer Ruth Ann Harnisch, the doc chronicles the arrest of three midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities. When a Mennonite baby died after being attended to by a homebirth midwife, an unprecedented legal drama ensued.
- 5/4/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Elaine Epstein’s Arrest The Midwife won the top prize at 25th edition of Hot Docs Forum after decision-makers, funders and filmmakers considered 20 pitches in the two-day event in Toronto.
The project, which looks at how the arrest of three midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities encourages an unlikely group of activists to join the fight for reproductive rights, won Cad 20,000.
In total Hot Docs said more than Cad 47,000 was handed out at the festival’s international co-financing market event, including Cad 35,000 in first look Pitch Prizes, and the Cad 10,000 Cmf-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize, presented in partnership with the Canada Media Fund.
The project, which looks at how the arrest of three midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities encourages an unlikely group of activists to join the fight for reproductive rights, won Cad 20,000.
In total Hot Docs said more than Cad 47,000 was handed out at the festival’s international co-financing market event, including Cad 35,000 in first look Pitch Prizes, and the Cad 10,000 Cmf-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize, presented in partnership with the Canada Media Fund.
- 5/2/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Hot Docs Forum, the festival’s industry centerpiece, wrapped Wednesday with its most lively awards announcements in recent memory—complete with flamenco guitar, song and dance courtesy of Spain, this year’s country in focus—as hundreds of industry delegates assembled under the sun in the courtyard of Toronto’s Hart House.
Elaine Epstein’s “Arrest the Midwife”—one of 20 projects presented to key funders and decision-makers as well as filmmakers, producers and other observers at the two-day Forum pitch event—won the First Look first prize of Can $20,000 cash. Produced through Epstein’s Underdog Films (U.S.), with producers Robin Hessman and Ruth Ann Harnisch, the film follows the arrest of three midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities, which spurs an unlikely group of activists to join the fight for reproductive rights.
First Look is a curated access program for philanthropic supporters of and investors in documentary film.
Elaine Epstein’s “Arrest the Midwife”—one of 20 projects presented to key funders and decision-makers as well as filmmakers, producers and other observers at the two-day Forum pitch event—won the First Look first prize of Can $20,000 cash. Produced through Epstein’s Underdog Films (U.S.), with producers Robin Hessman and Ruth Ann Harnisch, the film follows the arrest of three midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities, which spurs an unlikely group of activists to join the fight for reproductive rights.
First Look is a curated access program for philanthropic supporters of and investors in documentary film.
- 5/2/2024
- by Jennie Punter
- Variety Film + TV
Process documentaries following Indigenous land protectors are typically endurance tests for filmmakers, not to mention protagonists. But the payoff is that these films often resonate strongly with audiences in their ability to take viewers beyond the headlines and frontlines in profound and intimate ways.
One of several strong land-activism docs looking for buyers at Hot Docs this year is Jalena Keane-Lee’s feature-directing bow “Standing Above the Clouds.” The film follows three Native Hawaiian families over six years as they work alongside a growing coalition of local and international supporters to protect Mauna Kea (a dormant volcano on Hawaii’s largest island) from further development—specifically, a project to build the massive Thirty Meter Telescope (Tmt) on the sacred mountain’s arid summit, which is the site of the world’s largest astronomical observatory.
“I was raised by an activist mom within a community of strong women, which was definitely an initial spark,...
One of several strong land-activism docs looking for buyers at Hot Docs this year is Jalena Keane-Lee’s feature-directing bow “Standing Above the Clouds.” The film follows three Native Hawaiian families over six years as they work alongside a growing coalition of local and international supporters to protect Mauna Kea (a dormant volcano on Hawaii’s largest island) from further development—specifically, a project to build the massive Thirty Meter Telescope (Tmt) on the sacred mountain’s arid summit, which is the site of the world’s largest astronomical observatory.
“I was raised by an activist mom within a community of strong women, which was definitely an initial spark,...
- 5/1/2024
- by Jennie Punter
- Variety Film + TV
Hell’s Kitchen, Alicia Keyes bio-musical, and David Adjmi’s Stereophonic, the roman a clef with music that bears more than a striking resemblance to Fleetwood Mac and the recording of the classic Rumours album received more nominations than any other production of the 2023-24 Broadway season. Each of those shows took 13 nominations this morning.
Coming in third was The Outsiders (at 12 noms), and followed by Cabaret (9) and Appropriate (8).
See the complete breakdown by number of nominations below.
The first six batches of select Tony Award nominees were announced on CBS Mornings at 8:30 a.m./Et. The remainder were announced at 9 p.m. Et on the Tony’s YouTube channel.
The 77th Tony Awards will be held on June 16 at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City, airing on CBS. Ariana DeBose will host for a third consecutive year.
Here is the complete list of...
Coming in third was The Outsiders (at 12 noms), and followed by Cabaret (9) and Appropriate (8).
See the complete breakdown by number of nominations below.
The first six batches of select Tony Award nominees were announced on CBS Mornings at 8:30 a.m./Et. The remainder were announced at 9 p.m. Et on the Tony’s YouTube channel.
The 77th Tony Awards will be held on June 16 at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City, airing on CBS. Ariana DeBose will host for a third consecutive year.
Here is the complete list of...
- 4/30/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Succession star Arian Moayed is getting behind the award-winning documentary Joonam as it makes a push for Oscar consideration.
The Emmy- and Tony-nominated actor-writer-director, who was born in Iran and grew up in the U.S., has signed on to executive produce Joonam, a story of three generations of women who form part of the Iranian diaspora. The film opens theatrically on December 1 at Firehouse: Dctv’s Cinema for Documentary Film in New York, expanding to other cities throughout December and January.
We have your first look at the documentary in the trailer below.
‘Joonam’ director Sierra Urich with her mother Mitra Samimi Urich at the Sundance Film Festival.
In the deeply personal film, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Persian-American director Sierra Urich feels a growing sense of urgency to come to terms with her roots in Iran, the country her mother, Mitra, and her grandmother, Behjat,...
The Emmy- and Tony-nominated actor-writer-director, who was born in Iran and grew up in the U.S., has signed on to executive produce Joonam, a story of three generations of women who form part of the Iranian diaspora. The film opens theatrically on December 1 at Firehouse: Dctv’s Cinema for Documentary Film in New York, expanding to other cities throughout December and January.
We have your first look at the documentary in the trailer below.
‘Joonam’ director Sierra Urich with her mother Mitra Samimi Urich at the Sundance Film Festival.
In the deeply personal film, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Persian-American director Sierra Urich feels a growing sense of urgency to come to terms with her roots in Iran, the country her mother, Mitra, and her grandmother, Behjat,...
- 10/31/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Hillary Clinton’s HiddenLight Productions has partnered with Roger Ross Williams and “The Inspection” director Elegance Bratton on a feature documentary about 1979’s Disco Demolition Night in Chicago.
Known as one of the darkest days in American music history, the incident saw 50,000 white teenagers descend on Chicago’s Comiskey Park to blow up records made by mostly Black artists.
The doc, which is called “The Night Disco Died,” is a co-production between HiddenLight and One Story Up, and will be presented by Impact Partners and Los Angeles Media Fund (Lamf).
The film will be directed and produced by Bratton, produced by Chester Algernal Gordon (“The Inspection”) and executive produced by Oscar winner and One Story Up’s Williams (“Life Animated”), Geoff Martz, and HiddenLight Productions’ Siobhan Sinnerton, Johnny Webb and Brenda Robinson.
Executive producers include: Andrew Blau, Morgan Earnest, Nina and David Fialkow, Bill and Ruth Ann Harnisch, Melony and Adam Lewis,...
Known as one of the darkest days in American music history, the incident saw 50,000 white teenagers descend on Chicago’s Comiskey Park to blow up records made by mostly Black artists.
The doc, which is called “The Night Disco Died,” is a co-production between HiddenLight and One Story Up, and will be presented by Impact Partners and Los Angeles Media Fund (Lamf).
The film will be directed and produced by Bratton, produced by Chester Algernal Gordon (“The Inspection”) and executive produced by Oscar winner and One Story Up’s Williams (“Life Animated”), Geoff Martz, and HiddenLight Productions’ Siobhan Sinnerton, Johnny Webb and Brenda Robinson.
Executive producers include: Andrew Blau, Morgan Earnest, Nina and David Fialkow, Bill and Ruth Ann Harnisch, Melony and Adam Lewis,...
- 6/29/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
“32 Sounds,” an immersive and experiential documentary, has sold North American rights to Abramorama following its premiere at Sundance Film Festival.
The movie, which explores the phenomenon of sound through 32 specific sonic experiences, will begin its nationwide theatrical rollout at New York City’s Film Forum on April 28.
To complete the unique auditory experience, several venues, including Film Forum, will offer audience members individual sets of headphones so they can watch “32 Sounds” the way the filmmaker intended.
“32 Sounds” had its world premiere at Sundance, where it played to positive reviews. Variety’s chief film critic Peter Debruge wrote that the movie is “bursting with humor, emotion and curiosity” and praised it as a “rare and rewarding sonic journey with the potential to enrich our lives.”
London-based sales agent and financier Architect are handling international sales and introduced 32 Sounds to distributors during last month’s EFM.
Directed and written by Sam Green...
The movie, which explores the phenomenon of sound through 32 specific sonic experiences, will begin its nationwide theatrical rollout at New York City’s Film Forum on April 28.
To complete the unique auditory experience, several venues, including Film Forum, will offer audience members individual sets of headphones so they can watch “32 Sounds” the way the filmmaker intended.
“32 Sounds” had its world premiere at Sundance, where it played to positive reviews. Variety’s chief film critic Peter Debruge wrote that the movie is “bursting with humor, emotion and curiosity” and praised it as a “rare and rewarding sonic journey with the potential to enrich our lives.”
London-based sales agent and financier Architect are handling international sales and introduced 32 Sounds to distributors during last month’s EFM.
Directed and written by Sam Green...
- 3/2/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Shout! Studios has acquired North American rights to Body Parts, a documentary that takes a critical look at the way Hollwood shoots sex scenes.
Kristy Guevara-Flanagan directed and Helen Hood Scheer produced the feature that “traces the evolution of ‘sex’ on-screen,” according to a release, “exposing the uncomfortable realities behind some of the most iconic scenes in cinema history and celebrating the bold creators leading the way for change.”
The documentary, which held its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, includes interviews with actors Jane Fonda, Rosanna Arquette, Rose McGowan, Emily Meade and Alexandra Billings, directors Karyn Kusama and Angela Robinson, and TV show creators David Simon and Joey Soloway. Those industry insiders “provide a nuanced look at how different bodies––sizes, abilities, races, genders, and sexualities––are seen on screen and how the mechanisms of filmmaking center the male perspective. The film also follows the...
Kristy Guevara-Flanagan directed and Helen Hood Scheer produced the feature that “traces the evolution of ‘sex’ on-screen,” according to a release, “exposing the uncomfortable realities behind some of the most iconic scenes in cinema history and celebrating the bold creators leading the way for change.”
The documentary, which held its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, includes interviews with actors Jane Fonda, Rosanna Arquette, Rose McGowan, Emily Meade and Alexandra Billings, directors Karyn Kusama and Angela Robinson, and TV show creators David Simon and Joey Soloway. Those industry insiders “provide a nuanced look at how different bodies––sizes, abilities, races, genders, and sexualities––are seen on screen and how the mechanisms of filmmaking center the male perspective. The film also follows the...
- 11/29/2022
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Abramorama and Roco Films have co-acquired U.S. distribution rights to Cynthia Lowen’s abortion documentary “Battleground.” The film premiered in the documentary competition category at the Tribeca Festival in June. The doc follows three women in charge of anti-abortion organizations devoted to overturning Roe v. Wade.
Abramorama and Roco Films will co-release “Battleground” in hundreds of theaters across the country beginning Oct. 7 for an official Academy Award qualifying run. The film will also be simultaneously released in schools, non-profit spaces and corporate board rooms, both in-person and virtually. In addition, impact agencies Together Films and Red Owl will deliver a comprehensive national impact campaign alongside the release.
The doc is timely given the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June, effectively striking down the ruling that has guaranteed basic abortion rights in the U.S. since 1973.
“We are at a profound turning point in American...
Abramorama and Roco Films will co-release “Battleground” in hundreds of theaters across the country beginning Oct. 7 for an official Academy Award qualifying run. The film will also be simultaneously released in schools, non-profit spaces and corporate board rooms, both in-person and virtually. In addition, impact agencies Together Films and Red Owl will deliver a comprehensive national impact campaign alongside the release.
The doc is timely given the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June, effectively striking down the ruling that has guaranteed basic abortion rights in the U.S. since 1973.
“We are at a profound turning point in American...
- 8/29/2022
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
MetFilm Sales has acquired worldwide rights for filmmaker Kristy Guevara-Flanagan’s feature documentary “Body Parts” ahead of its world premiere Sunday in Tribeca Film Festival’s Spotlight section.
The pic shows the evolution of desire and sex on screen from a female perspective, “allowing women to reclaim the parts of themselves that have been objectified and exploited for decades,” according to a statement. It uncovers the processes involved in creating intimacy for mainstream American film and television, the toll these scenes exact on those directly involved, and the impact on women and girls in the real world.
The documentary features candid interviews with actors and creators who are advocating for real change, including Jane Fonda, Rosanna Arquette, Joey Soloway, Angela Robinson, Karyn Kusama, Rose McGowan, Alexandra Billings, Emily Meade and David Simon.
It highlights the voices of women like Sarah Scott and Sarah Tither-Kaplan who spoke out against abusive behavior on their sets,...
The pic shows the evolution of desire and sex on screen from a female perspective, “allowing women to reclaim the parts of themselves that have been objectified and exploited for decades,” according to a statement. It uncovers the processes involved in creating intimacy for mainstream American film and television, the toll these scenes exact on those directly involved, and the impact on women and girls in the real world.
The documentary features candid interviews with actors and creators who are advocating for real change, including Jane Fonda, Rosanna Arquette, Joey Soloway, Angela Robinson, Karyn Kusama, Rose McGowan, Alexandra Billings, Emily Meade and David Simon.
It highlights the voices of women like Sarah Scott and Sarah Tither-Kaplan who spoke out against abusive behavior on their sets,...
- 6/10/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
MTV Documentary Films has acquired worldwide rights to “Krimes,” the new non-fiction feature by award-winning filmmaker Alysa Nahmias. The deal comes before the film’s screening at Doc NYC on Sunday.
“Krimes” had its world premiere at the Heartland Film Festival. It chronicles the story of a clandestine masterpiece by an incarcerated artist. Isolated in a segregated environment where personal expression is verboten, 26 year-old artist Jesse Krimes covertly creates conceptual art during his six-year prison sentence. His work includes a large-scale mural made out of bed sheets, newspaper and hair gel. Jesse’s detailed crafting of this artwork provides a mental escape from the dehumanizing surroundings, while inspiring connections in unexpected places. With the help of fellow artists, he smuggles out individual panels of his work piece-by-piece to avoid being caught with contraband, only seeing his artwork in totality after coming home. His creations, Apokaluptein: 16389067 and Purgatory, mark his experience...
“Krimes” had its world premiere at the Heartland Film Festival. It chronicles the story of a clandestine masterpiece by an incarcerated artist. Isolated in a segregated environment where personal expression is verboten, 26 year-old artist Jesse Krimes covertly creates conceptual art during his six-year prison sentence. His work includes a large-scale mural made out of bed sheets, newspaper and hair gel. Jesse’s detailed crafting of this artwork provides a mental escape from the dehumanizing surroundings, while inspiring connections in unexpected places. With the help of fellow artists, he smuggles out individual panels of his work piece-by-piece to avoid being caught with contraband, only seeing his artwork in totality after coming home. His creations, Apokaluptein: 16389067 and Purgatory, mark his experience...
- 11/12/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Samuel Goldwyn Films has obtained the North American distribution rights to Sundance Next Innovator Prize-winning film, Night Comes On, which will hit theaters sometime in the summer of this year. Ozark actress Jordana Spiro made her directorial debut with this film as well as co-wrote the script with Angelica Nwandu, founder of the popular blog The Shade Room.
Starring Dominque Fishback (HBO’s The Deuce) and 10-year-old tyro Tatum Marilyn Hall, the story follows Angel Lamere who is released from juvenile detention on the eve of her 18th birthday. Haunted by her past, Angel embarks on a journey with her little sister to avenge her mother’s death.
Producers are Alvaro R. Valente, Jonathan Montepare, and Danielle Renfrew Behrens. Spiro also served as an executive producer along with Bill Harnisch, Ruth Ann Harnisch, David Stone, David Boies III, Donna Gruneich, Kevin Gruneich, Jenifer Westphal, Patty Quillin, Larry Taube, and Matthew Spitzer.
Starring Dominque Fishback (HBO’s The Deuce) and 10-year-old tyro Tatum Marilyn Hall, the story follows Angel Lamere who is released from juvenile detention on the eve of her 18th birthday. Haunted by her past, Angel embarks on a journey with her little sister to avenge her mother’s death.
Producers are Alvaro R. Valente, Jonathan Montepare, and Danielle Renfrew Behrens. Spiro also served as an executive producer along with Bill Harnisch, Ruth Ann Harnisch, David Stone, David Boies III, Donna Gruneich, Kevin Gruneich, Jenifer Westphal, Patty Quillin, Larry Taube, and Matthew Spitzer.
- 5/1/2018
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
by Peter Belsito
Sundance Ff 2017 Wins the Special Jury Award for Editing and according to our writer Peter Belsito, “This film was the best documentary I saw in Sundance recently.”
I reviewed the film previously here but Jennifer Brea is an interesting person so I wanted to speak with her as well.
We met in her Park City condo. She is bright and energetic despite the disease she has which her film is about, her affliction with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Besides the intensely personal nature of her illness and its effects on her family life, which are depicted in the film, she also covers the international implications and political as well. By that I mean the medical profession not recognizing or treating / curing this widespread deadly disease.
Her film makes clear the international effects of this disease. I felt it broadened the film and its important message.
Jennifer Brea
‘Why go outside the Us?...
Sundance Ff 2017 Wins the Special Jury Award for Editing and according to our writer Peter Belsito, “This film was the best documentary I saw in Sundance recently.”
I reviewed the film previously here but Jennifer Brea is an interesting person so I wanted to speak with her as well.
We met in her Park City condo. She is bright and energetic despite the disease she has which her film is about, her affliction with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Besides the intensely personal nature of her illness and its effects on her family life, which are depicted in the film, she also covers the international implications and political as well. By that I mean the medical profession not recognizing or treating / curing this widespread deadly disease.
Her film makes clear the international effects of this disease. I felt it broadened the film and its important message.
Jennifer Brea
‘Why go outside the Us?...
- 2/5/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
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