Around The World In 50 Concerts Hot Docs 2015 Canadian Premiere GAT PR Press Summary
Hot Docs ’15: Blue Ice Docs takes “Deprogrammed,” “50 Concerts” April 23, 2015
http://realscreen.com/2015/04/23/hot-‐docs-‐15-‐blue-‐ice-‐docs-‐takes-‐deprogrammed-‐50-‐concerts/ Toronto distributor Blue Ice Docs has picked up the Canadian rights to two films screening at Hot Docs this month. The company, which launched at last year’s festival, acquired director Mia Donovan’s Deprogrammed and veteran filmmaker Heddy Honigmann’s Around the World in 50 Concerts (pictured) ahead of the Toronto event’s kick-‐off tonight (April 23). Deprogrammed looks at anti-‐cult crusader Ted “Black Lighting” Patrick and his controversial technique known as deprogramming or reverse brainwashing. The film is world premiering at Hot Docs. Honigmann’s 2014 IDFA opener is making its Canadian premiere at the festival and follows the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, which performed 50 concerts on six continents in 2013 to celebrate its 125th anniversary. Blue Ice Docs is a joint venture between Blue Ice Group, which co-‐owns Toronto’s Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, and boutique distributor KinoSmith, It has also acquired Canadian rights to recent festival favorites Censored Voices, Tomorrow We Disappear and The Look of Silence. Watch the trailer for Around the World in 50 Concerts:
Hot Docs Blue Ice Docs takes two titles as market begins By: Etan Vlessing | April 23, 2015 http://playbackonline.ca/2015/04/23/hot-‐docs-‐blue-‐ice-‐docs-‐takes-‐two-‐titles-‐as-‐market-‐begins/
Robin Smith snapped up the Canadian rights to Mia Donovan's Deprogrammed (pictured) and Heddy Honigmann's Around the World in 50 Concerts. The market action at the 2015 Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival has begun. Blue Ice Docs has acquired the Canadian rights two film screening at the festival: Canadian director Mia Donovan’s Deprogrammed, which is having a world premiere, and Heddy Honigmann’s Around the World in 50 Concerts, from The Netherlands and having its Canadian premiere in Toronto. Deprogrammed chronicles Ted ‘Black Lightning’ Patrick’s anti-‐cult crusade, where deprogramming works as reverse brainwashing. The doc is produced by Montreal-‐based Eye Steel Film. Around the World in 50 Concerts follows Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw orchestra as it performs 50 concerts on six continents. Blue Ice Docs is a partnership between KinoSmith president Robin Smith and Blue Ice Group co-‐owners Steven Silver and Neil Tabatznik. Hot Docs runs from April 23 to May 3.
Screen Daily – 04.23.2015 -‐“Blue Ice Docs acquires Hot Docs duo”
http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/blue-‐ice-‐docs-‐acquires-‐hot-‐docs-‐duo/5086908.article The distributor has picked up Canadian rights to Mia Donovan’s Deprogrammed and Heddy Honigmann’s Around The World In 50 Concerts ahead of Toronto Hot Docs. Deprogrammed (pictured) will receive its world premiere at the festival on Sunday (April 26) and chronicles Ted “Black Lighting” Patrick and his anti-‐cult crusade based on his ‘reverse brainwashing’ technique inaugurated in the early 1970s. Around The World In 50 Concerts gets its Canadian Premiere and follows Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra members as they travelled the world to celebrate the institution’s 125th anniversary in 2013 by performing 50 concerts on six continents. KinoSmith president Robin Smith and Blue Ice Group co-‐owners Steven Silver and Neil Tabatznik formed Blue Ice Docs in 2014. Hot Docs kicks off in Toronto today (April 23) and runs through May 3.
Hot Docs Festival Taps Into Virtual Reality By: Jennie Punter | April 24, 2015
http://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/hot-‐docs-‐festival-‐taps-‐into-‐virtual-‐reality-‐1201479466/ While market activity — including confab centerpiece the Hot Docs Forum (the high-‐profile “The Jazz Ambassadors” is among 20 committee-‐selected projects being pitched) and face-‐to-‐face sessions like Distributor Rendezvous — has yet to unfold officially, Toronto’s based Blue Ice Docs snapped up Canuck rights to “Deprogrammed” and “Around the World in 50 Concerts” just before the fest. Hot Docs kicked off April 23 and ends May 3.
Hot Docs taps into virtual reality By: Jennie Punter | April 25, 2015
https://www.bostonherald.com/business/media_marketing/2015/04/hot_docs_festival_taps_into_virtua l_reality The fest's longstanding commitment to value-‐added screenings hits a high note this year with the participation of a record 95% of Hot Docs filmmakers and over 50 guests -‐-‐ among them, Fugees rapper Pras Michel ("Sweet Micky for President"), Olympic gold medal-‐winning boxer Claressa Shields ("T-‐ Rex"), Utah SWAT-‐team founder William Lawrence (SXSW doc competish winner "Peace Officer"), young indigenous activist and lawyer Caleb Behn (the world-‐preeming "Fractured Land"), anti-‐cult crusader Ted Patrick (the fresh-‐out-‐of-‐post "Deprogrammed"), disguise-‐wearing, corruption-‐exposing Ghanaian journo Anas Aremeyaw Anas ("Chameleon"), members of the Middle East's first all-‐women race car team ("Speed Sisters"), and the four young men who ride adopted wild mustangs on a 3,000-‐mile trek across five states in the world-‐preeming "Unbranded." REPOSTED – eBuzz News -‐ http://www.ebuzznew.com/hot-‐docs-‐festival-‐taps-‐into-‐virtual-‐reality
Around the World in 50 Concerts By: Susan G. Cole | April 22, 2015 https://nowtoronto.com/movies/hot-‐docs-‐2015/around-‐the-‐world-‐in-‐50-‐concerts/ AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 CONCERTS (Heddy Honigmann, Netherlands). 94 minutes. Rating: NNN The title's a misnomer. Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra may have gone around the world, but veteran documentarian Heddy Honigmann keeps the focus on three cities: Buenos Aires, Soweto and St. Petersburg. Her subjects in those locations are engaging, but they're part of what should have been a separate project on the power of music around the globe. This doc shines brightest when it tracks the logistical challenges of packing up a full orchestra for an overseas flight or when it focuses on percussionist Herman Rieken and double-‐bassist Dominic Seldis. More sequences with the musicians themselves would have made this fine film even stronger. Apr 24, 1:45 pm, Bloor Hot Docs; Apr 25, 1 pm, Isabel Bader; May 1, 6:15 pm, TIFF 1; May 3, 1:30 pm, Regent
WHAT TO SEE AT HOT DOCS 2015 TODAY By: NOW Staff | April 27, 2015
https://nowtoronto.com/movies/hot-‐docs-‐2015/hot-‐docs-‐2015-‐april-‐24-‐2015/ AROUND T HE W ORLD I N 5 0 C ONCERTS The title's a misnomer. Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra may have gone around the world, but veteran documentarian Heddy Honigmann keeps the focus on three cities: Buenos Aires, Soweto and St. Petersburg. See full review.
Hot Docs // Staff Picks: Kyle
By: Kyle Miller | April 20, 2015
http://www.chch.com/hot-‐docs-‐staff-‐picks-‐kyle/
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: Award-‐winning documentary veteran Heddy Honigmann follows Netherlands’ prestigious Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on an astounding musical journey as they perform 50 concerts on six continents to celebrate their 125th anniversary. With stunning passion and intellect, the masters perform and discuss their music. Directed by Heddy Honigmann. I’m a big fan of orchestral music, and I also love to travel. So when I saw that Hot Docs had a film combining both of those interests I was immediately intrigued. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra celebrated their anniversary in grand style with this international road trip, and it sounds like a feast for the eyes – and ears!
Definitely the Opera Music at Hot Docs By: Lillas Pastia | April 4, 2015
https://definitelytheopera.wordpress.com/2015/04/04/music-‐at-‐hot-‐docs/ Canadian International Documentary Festival announced its 2015 lineup. Some of the music-‐themed films: – Around the World in 50 Concerts. A Dutch doc on Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s 125th anniversary world tour. Making an exciting doc about an orchestra is not an easy job, will this one succeed? The description looks promising. The trailer too. Also, there will be Mariss Jansons.
Blue Ice Docs Acquires 2 Hot Docs Titles By: Shael Stolberg | April 27, 2015
http://filmbutton.com/mainpage/?p=17170 TORONTO – Robin Smith of Blue Ice Docs takes Canadian rights for two much anticipated films premiering at the upcoming 2015 Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival. Deprogrammed, making its World Premiere by Canadian filmmaker, Mia Donovan gives a personal and captivating view of Ted “Black Lighting” Patrick and his controversial techniques. Around the World in 50 Concerts, Canadian Premiere, is the globe-‐trotting orchestra odyssey by veteran filmmaker Heddy Honigmann. Deprogrammed chronicles Ted ‘Black Lightning’ Patrick’s anti-‐cult crusade. His practice of ‘deprogramming’, also known as ‘reverse brainwashing’, started in the early 1970s and quickly snowballed into a vast underground movement composed of concerned parents, ex-‐cultist-‐turned-‐deprogrammers and some sympathetic law-‐enforcers whose mission was to physically and mentally remove individuals from ‘cults’. Around the World in 50 Concerts follows the prestigious Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra as they traveled the world to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2013 by performing 50 concerts on six continents. Acclaimed documentary maker Heddy Honigmann followed the orchestra from Buenos Aires to Soweto to St. Petersburg—capturing the drive and unbounded passion that has continued to draw audiences and performers together for more than a century.
Around The World in 50 Concerts
http://www.citypulse.io/event/3502447/music/bloor-‐hot-‐docs-‐cinema/around-‐the-‐world-‐in-‐50-‐ concerts/24-‐apr-‐15 O n e o f t h e l o n g e s t -‐ r u n n i n g a n d m o s t e s t e e m e d o r c h e s t r a s o n E a r t h , T h e D u t c h R o y a l C o n c e r t g e b o u w O r c h e s t r a d e c i d e d t o c e l e b r a t e i t s 1 2 5 t h a n n i v e r s a r y b y t o u r i n g t h e w o r l d , p l a y i n g 5 0 c o n c e r t s s p r e a d o v e r s i x c o n t i n e n t s . A c c l a i m e d d o c u m e n t a r y m a k e r H e d d y H o n i g m a n n f o l l o w e d t h e o r c h e s t r a f r o m B u e n o s A i r e s t o S o w e t o t o S t . P e t e r s b u r g — c a p t u r i n g t h e d r i v e a n d u n b o u n d e d p a s s i o n t h a t h a s c o n t i n u e d t o d r a w a u d i e n c e s a n d p e r f o r m e r s t o g e t h e r f o r m o r e t h a n a c e n t u r y . A k e e n o b s e r v e r o f d e t a i l s , H o n i g m a n n s e l e c t s m o m e n t s t h a t m a k e t h e a m b i t i o u s t o u r b o t h a c c e s s i b l e a n d e n t e r t a i n i n g , e v e n t o t h o s e u n f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e w o r k . H e r m a s t e r f u l s e l e c t i o n o f m o m e n t s t h a t c o l l e c t i v e l y m a k e u p s u c h a n e x p a n s i v e a n d c u l t u r a l l y d i v e r s e t o u r r e i n f o r c e s t h e s a m e m e s s a g e o f t h e t o u r i t s e l f : t h e r e i s a n i n n a t e e m o t i o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t c a n e x i s t b e y o n d b o r d e r s t h r o u g h a r t . A r o u n d t h e W o r l d i n 5 0 C o n c e r t s i s a j o y f u l e x p l o r a t i o n o f h o w w e c a n c o m m u n i c a t e t h r o u g h i t . ( S a r a f i n a D i F e l i c e ) J o i n T F C M f o r t h e m a t i n e e s h o w i n g o f t h i s m o v i e a t T h e B l o o r H o t D o c s C i n e m a !
Kate Taylor: Why the narrating voice of God has disappeared at Hot Docs
By: Kate Taylor | April 24, 2015
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/kate-‐taylor-‐why-‐the-‐narrating-‐voice-‐of-‐god-‐has-‐ disappeared-‐at-‐hot-‐docs/article24106026/ Not everyone, however, is a Wiseman. My Hot Docs viewing often left me puzzling over questions the films had failed to answer, or distracted by what seemed to be non sequiturs, as the documentarians eschewed any external explanation. Around the World in 50 Concerts, which follows Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to South America and South Africa, left the charming relationship between a pair of Dutch musicians and a Buenos Aires candy store clerk unexplained. Milk, a Canadian doc about breastfeeding, had me reading complicated title cards about UN health policy, but didn’t tell me whether a struggling Filipina mother who had run out of baby formula had previously breastfed. Catalogue descriptions of Original Copy, a lovely German film about the dying art of movie-‐banner painting in Bollywood, makes more detailed claims about the situation of the struggling Mumbai theatre featured in the film than could ever be gleaned from viewing it.
Hot Docs 2015: Laughter, Tears, Music & the Future By: Classical Staff | April 24, 2015
http://www.classical1031fm.com/arts-‐review/hot-‐docs-‐2015-‐laughter-‐tears-‐music-‐the-‐future/
Each year, the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival looms larger and larger in this city’s cultural calendar. Hot Docs is a prominent player in the development of the Bloor Street Cultural Corridor, which extends from The Royal Ontario Museum, where the festival holds screenings and it opening night party to the now iconic Bloor Hot Docs cinema, its permanent home. Of course, Hot Docs is much bigger than that; screenings take place until May 3 at the four main cinemas at TIFF Bell Lightbox, in three of the Scotiabank theatres; and around University of Toronto at the Isabel Bader Theatre, Hart House and Innis College. Many Zoomers must be shaking their heads, remembering when documentaries were associated with slow days at school when films like the NFB’s How to Build an Igloo were shown on 16mm Bell & Howell projectors. Now, docs couldn’t be more fashionable: fodder for clever talk at parties and the smartest and most reliable part of the indie cinema scene. After all, with docs you’ll at least learn something while too many low-‐ budget fiction films are just moronic exercises in style, with no substance at all. There’s no particular theme at Hot Docs this year so I’m unofficially offering one: Laughter, tears, music and the future. … Music? There are three docs that are easily recommendable: Mavis, a portrait of the great soul and gospel vocalist, Mavis Staples; What Happened, Miss Simone?, Liz Garbus’s poetic look at the great singer, pianist, feminist and black activist Nina Simone and Dutch auteur Heddy Honigmann’s Around the World in 50 Concerts, which covers the global tour of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in celebration of its 125 year anniversary. If there’s a best pick for Classical 96’s listenership, this is the one—though, of course, as a concert film, it is not the best Honigmann doc (try Forever, about the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, for that honour.)
Hot Docs 2015 By: Paul Ennis | March 31, 2015
http://www.thewholenote.com/index.php/newsroom/blog/music-‐and-‐the-‐movies/25403-‐hot-‐docs-‐2015 The 22nd incarnation of the Canadian international documentary festival known as Hot Docs runs from April 23 through May 3 at various locations in Toronto. If you look carefully in Section E: The ETCeteras, beginning elsewhere on this page, you will find an entry for it in the Screenings section. Here are details on many of Hot Docs’ 17 music-‐centric films. Around the World in 50 Concerts: Definitely one to look forward to. Dutch filmmaker Heddy Honigmann’s keen eye followed the Concertgebouw Orchestra from Buenos Aires to Soweto to St. Petersburg as the acclaimed orchestra celebrated its 125th anniversary by playing 50 concerts in six continents. TheHollywood Reporter’s Neil Young enthused about the mutually beneficial relationship between the musicians and their audiences that forms the film’s core. April 24, 23, May 1, 3
A look ahead at Hot Docs By: Staff | April 26, 2015
http://www.northernstars.ca/News/01504261219_hotdocs.html Of some note, the Canadian company Blue Ice Docs has announced it has acquired the Canadian distribution rights to Deprogrammed and one other film, Around the World in 50 Concerts. Founded in 2014 as a partnership between Robin Smith, president of KinoSmith, and Blue Ice Group co-‐owners, Steven Silver and Neil Tabatznik, Blue Ice Docs uses the expertise and skills of both organizations to acquire, fund and develop a wide variety of non-‐fiction projects from around the world. Upcoming releases from Blue Ice Docs include The Look Of Silence, I Am Bird Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story, Tomorrow We Disappear, The Forecaster, Censored Voices, and the US rights only for the Canadian film, Chameleon.
5 Music Documentaries Premiering At Hot Docs 2015 March 13, 2015
http://4479toronto.ca/5-‐music-‐documentaries-‐premiering-‐at-‐hot-‐docs-‐2015/
The 2015 edition of Canadian international documentary film festival Hot Docs will take place April 23 – May 3 at Toronto’s Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, with five of the 17 films announced being music-‐focused.Mavis!, the bipoic of gospel pioneer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples directed by Canadian Jessica Edwards, will make its Canadian debut following its world premiere at SXSW. Canadian Michael Mabbott will also premiere his documentary Music Lessons about the teachers and children at Sistema Toronto AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 CONCERTS D: Heddy Honigmann | Netherlands | 2014 | 94 min | Canadian Premiere In celebration of their 125th anniversary, Netherlands’ prestigious Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra performed 50 concerts on six continents. Award-‐winning documentary veteran Heddy Honigmann follows the orchestra as they perform around the world and discuss their passion for the music.
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