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
Mubi has acquired rights to climate change documentary “Invisible Demons” and plans to release the film in select U.S. theaters and on the company’s streaming platform in 2022.
Directed by Rahul Jain, “Invisible Demons” premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and later played at the Zurich Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival. The movie will have its U.S. premiere at Doc NYC in November.
“Invisible Demons” shines a light on the increasingly urgent global climate crisis. Mubi, which functions as a streaming service, a film distributor and a production company, says the film offers new perspective on the clear and present climate realities. A press release about the movie reads: “Told through striking images and eye-opening accounts from everyday citizens fighting to survive, ‘Invisible Demons’ offers a new perspective on the clear and present climate reality. The film delivers a visceral and immersive journey...
Directed by Rahul Jain, “Invisible Demons” premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and later played at the Zurich Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival. The movie will have its U.S. premiere at Doc NYC in November.
“Invisible Demons” shines a light on the increasingly urgent global climate crisis. Mubi, which functions as a streaming service, a film distributor and a production company, says the film offers new perspective on the clear and present climate realities. A press release about the movie reads: “Told through striking images and eye-opening accounts from everyday citizens fighting to survive, ‘Invisible Demons’ offers a new perspective on the clear and present climate reality. The film delivers a visceral and immersive journey...
- 11/3/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Participant and French sales agent MK2 Films have teamed up to jointly represent worldwide rights to Rahul Jain’s documentary feature “Invisible Demons.” The feature film will have its world premiere at Cannes in the cinema for the climate special section.
In “Invisible Demons,” Jain explores the dramatic consequences of India’s growing economy and what it means on the broader world stage.
Using Jain’s experimental style and strong visuals, the documentary zooms in on the situation in New Delhi, where climate change is impacting the daily lives and health of 30 million locals.
Set for July 12, the premiere will mark the Cannes debut of Jain, a rising filmmaking who made his critically acclaimed debut feature with “Machines,” which won Sundance’s best cinematography award in 2017. “Machines” went on to nab 17 international awards at more than 160 festivals.
Rob Williams, Participant’s VP of content sales, and Fionnuala Jamison, MK2 Films’ MD,...
In “Invisible Demons,” Jain explores the dramatic consequences of India’s growing economy and what it means on the broader world stage.
Using Jain’s experimental style and strong visuals, the documentary zooms in on the situation in New Delhi, where climate change is impacting the daily lives and health of 30 million locals.
Set for July 12, the premiere will mark the Cannes debut of Jain, a rising filmmaking who made his critically acclaimed debut feature with “Machines,” which won Sundance’s best cinematography award in 2017. “Machines” went on to nab 17 international awards at more than 160 festivals.
Rob Williams, Participant’s VP of content sales, and Fionnuala Jamison, MK2 Films’ MD,...
- 6/25/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Rahul Jain explores impact of Indian economy on climate.
Participant and French sales agent mk2 Films have teamed up to represent worldwide rights on Rahul Jain’s documentary Invisible Demons ahead of its premiere in Cannes’ Cinema For The Climate sidebar.
Jain explores the consequences of India’s growing economy on the climate and profiles a city in crisis while reflecting on the broader global picture.
Participant co-financed and served as executive producer on Invisible Demons, which Toinen Katse and Ma.Ja.De. FilmProduktion produced with support from Fff-Mdm-Yle-avek. Individual producers are Iikka Vehkalahti and Heino Deckert.
Participant and French sales agent mk2 Films have teamed up to represent worldwide rights on Rahul Jain’s documentary Invisible Demons ahead of its premiere in Cannes’ Cinema For The Climate sidebar.
Jain explores the consequences of India’s growing economy on the climate and profiles a city in crisis while reflecting on the broader global picture.
Participant co-financed and served as executive producer on Invisible Demons, which Toinen Katse and Ma.Ja.De. FilmProduktion produced with support from Fff-Mdm-Yle-avek. Individual producers are Iikka Vehkalahti and Heino Deckert.
- 6/25/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Rahul Jain explores impact of Indian economy on climate.
Participant and French sales agent mk2 Films have teamed up to represent worldwide rights on Rahul Jain’s documentary Invisible Demons ahead of its premiere in Cannes’ Cinema For The Climate sidebar.
Jain explores the consequences of India’s growing economy on the climate and profiles a city in crisis while reflecting on the broader global picture.
Participant co-financed and served as executive producer on Invisible Demons, which Toinen Katse and Ma.Ja.De. FilmProduktion produced with support from Fff-Mdm-Yle-avek. Individual producers are Iikka Vehkalahti and Heino Deckert.
Participant and French sales agent mk2 Films have teamed up to represent worldwide rights on Rahul Jain’s documentary Invisible Demons ahead of its premiere in Cannes’ Cinema For The Climate sidebar.
Jain explores the consequences of India’s growing economy on the climate and profiles a city in crisis while reflecting on the broader global picture.
Participant co-financed and served as executive producer on Invisible Demons, which Toinen Katse and Ma.Ja.De. FilmProduktion produced with support from Fff-Mdm-Yle-avek. Individual producers are Iikka Vehkalahti and Heino Deckert.
- 6/25/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Historical drama is one of eight titles announced for Siff’s Golden Goblets competition.
Ann Hui’s Our Time Will Come will open this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival (Siff, June 17-26), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017.
The historical drama, starring Eddie Peng and Zhou Xun, will also compete in the festival’s main competition section, the Golden Goblet Awards.
At a Cannes reception yesterday (May 18), Siff also announced seven other competition titles: Yasuo Furuhat’s Reminiscence (Japan), Dave McCary’s Brigsby Bear (Us), Cătălin Saizescu’s Fault Condition (Romania), Maciej Pieprzyca’s I’m A Killer (Poland), Ivan Bolotnikov’s Kharms (Russia), Robert Mullan’s Mad To Be Normal (UK) and Markus Goller’s My Brother Simple (Germany).
As previously announced, Romanian director Christian Mungiu will head the Golden Goblet Awards jury, which also includes Chinese director Cao Baoping, Chinese screenwriter Li Qiang, Us/Macedonian filmmaker Milcho Manchevski, Japanese director...
Ann Hui’s Our Time Will Come will open this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival (Siff, June 17-26), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017.
The historical drama, starring Eddie Peng and Zhou Xun, will also compete in the festival’s main competition section, the Golden Goblet Awards.
At a Cannes reception yesterday (May 18), Siff also announced seven other competition titles: Yasuo Furuhat’s Reminiscence (Japan), Dave McCary’s Brigsby Bear (Us), Cătălin Saizescu’s Fault Condition (Romania), Maciej Pieprzyca’s I’m A Killer (Poland), Ivan Bolotnikov’s Kharms (Russia), Robert Mullan’s Mad To Be Normal (UK) and Markus Goller’s My Brother Simple (Germany).
As previously announced, Romanian director Christian Mungiu will head the Golden Goblet Awards jury, which also includes Chinese director Cao Baoping, Chinese screenwriter Li Qiang, Us/Macedonian filmmaker Milcho Manchevski, Japanese director...
- 5/19/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Documentary picked up by Kino Lorber and Dogwoof.
Independent documentary Machines, the Sundance-winning debut of director Rahul Jain, has secured deals in North America and Europe.
Doc specialists Autlook Filmsales have sold the film to Kino Lorber (North America), Filmcoopi (Switzerland), Pek Distribution (Finland), Dogwoof (UK) and Docs (Austria). They are considering offers from Benelux, India and Germany.
Machines explores a vast textile factory in India and the human cost of globalisation, it won the world cinema documentary special jury award for excellence in cinematography at Sundance this year.
It will open the MoMa DocFortnight (Feb 16 - 26) in New York, followed by a theatrical rollout in August.
Machines is co-produced by Pallas Film (Thanassis Karathanos), Jann Pictures (Rahul Jain) and IV Films (Iikka Vehkalahti).
Independent documentary Machines, the Sundance-winning debut of director Rahul Jain, has secured deals in North America and Europe.
Doc specialists Autlook Filmsales have sold the film to Kino Lorber (North America), Filmcoopi (Switzerland), Pek Distribution (Finland), Dogwoof (UK) and Docs (Austria). They are considering offers from Benelux, India and Germany.
Machines explores a vast textile factory in India and the human cost of globalisation, it won the world cinema documentary special jury award for excellence in cinematography at Sundance this year.
It will open the MoMa DocFortnight (Feb 16 - 26) in New York, followed by a theatrical rollout in August.
Machines is co-produced by Pallas Film (Thanassis Karathanos), Jann Pictures (Rahul Jain) and IV Films (Iikka Vehkalahti).
- 2/13/2017
- ScreenDaily
Plus: Array, Indiegogo aim to raise profile of content creators of colour and female filmmakers; and more…
Cinedigm has acquired all North American rights to Amateur Night (formerly Drive, She Said) starring Jason Biggs. The film centres on an out-of-work father who accepts a job on Craigslist to drive around three prostitutes.
Cinedigm plans a mid-year theatrical release with day-and-date digital and TV roll-out. Kristin Harris negotiated the deal with UTA. The Works represents international rights and will screen the film at the Efm next month.
Filmmakers aged 14 to 19 will have an opportunity to delve into the world of cinema at the fifth annual Tiff Next Wave Film Festival. Running February 12-14, the events kick off with Battle Of The Scores, a case study on young musical talent. Other highlights include a 24-hour short film contest and screenings of John Carney’s Sundance premiere Sing Street and Array’s Ayanda.Hot Docs will...
Cinedigm has acquired all North American rights to Amateur Night (formerly Drive, She Said) starring Jason Biggs. The film centres on an out-of-work father who accepts a job on Craigslist to drive around three prostitutes.
Cinedigm plans a mid-year theatrical release with day-and-date digital and TV roll-out. Kristin Harris negotiated the deal with UTA. The Works represents international rights and will screen the film at the Efm next month.
Filmmakers aged 14 to 19 will have an opportunity to delve into the world of cinema at the fifth annual Tiff Next Wave Film Festival. Running February 12-14, the events kick off with Battle Of The Scores, a case study on young musical talent. Other highlights include a 24-hour short film contest and screenings of John Carney’s Sundance premiere Sing Street and Array’s Ayanda.Hot Docs will...
- 1/20/2016
- ScreenDaily
Pirjo Honkasolo’s Concrete Night and J-p Valkeapään’s They Have Escaped were among the winners at the Finnish Film Week (Sept 18-24) in Helsinki.
Honkasolo’s drama - Finland’s Best Foreign Language Film submission at the last Oscars - won awards for art director Pentti Valkeasuo and the team of gaffer Jani Lehtinen, camera operator Nea Salmisen, key grip/second unit cameraman Arttu Peltomaan and colour editor Jussi Myllyniemen.
Helsinki-Filmi’s Aleksi Bardy was named Producer of the Year for They Have Escaped, for which J-p Valkeapään was named Director of the Year.
Bardy, Valkeapään and screenwriter Pilvi Peltola have also been nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize which will be announced during a session of the Nordic Council in Reykjavik on Oct 27.
Professional associations also recognised the achievements of screenwriter Petja Peltomaa, head of drama at Yellow Film & TV, and Iikka Vehkalahti, documentary filmmaker and Yle commissioning editor.
Actors to receive...
Honkasolo’s drama - Finland’s Best Foreign Language Film submission at the last Oscars - won awards for art director Pentti Valkeasuo and the team of gaffer Jani Lehtinen, camera operator Nea Salmisen, key grip/second unit cameraman Arttu Peltomaan and colour editor Jussi Myllyniemen.
Helsinki-Filmi’s Aleksi Bardy was named Producer of the Year for They Have Escaped, for which J-p Valkeapään was named Director of the Year.
Bardy, Valkeapään and screenwriter Pilvi Peltola have also been nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize which will be announced during a session of the Nordic Council in Reykjavik on Oct 27.
Professional associations also recognised the achievements of screenwriter Petja Peltomaa, head of drama at Yellow Film & TV, and Iikka Vehkalahti, documentary filmmaker and Yle commissioning editor.
Actors to receive...
- 9/28/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
A still from Vinay Shukla and Khushboo Ranka’s Proposition for a Revolution
Nfdc Film Bazaar’s Work-in-Progress Lab has announced its selection in Fiction and Documentary categories.
The Work-in-Progress (Wip) Lab gives filmmakers a chance to have their rough-cut feature-length films viewed by an eminent panel of international advisers. These advisers have a one-on-one discussion with the filmmaker with an intention to help the filmmaker achieve an accomplished final cut of the film.
Nfdc Film Bazaar 2014 will be held from November 20-24 in Goa Mariott Resort.
Work-in-Progress Lab 2014:
Fiction :
Bokul by Reema Borah Highway by Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni Nil Battey Sannata by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari Tathagat by Manav Kaul Thithi by Raam Reddy
Documentary :
12 Acres by Rajesh Thind Maidaan (Home Ground) by Kavita Carneiro Nehi Mozo Hanü Dizo Le (Without You, I am Nothing) by Anushka Meenakshi and Iswar Srikumar Proposition for a Revolution by Khushboo Ranka...
Nfdc Film Bazaar’s Work-in-Progress Lab has announced its selection in Fiction and Documentary categories.
The Work-in-Progress (Wip) Lab gives filmmakers a chance to have their rough-cut feature-length films viewed by an eminent panel of international advisers. These advisers have a one-on-one discussion with the filmmaker with an intention to help the filmmaker achieve an accomplished final cut of the film.
Nfdc Film Bazaar 2014 will be held from November 20-24 in Goa Mariott Resort.
Work-in-Progress Lab 2014:
Fiction :
Bokul by Reema Borah Highway by Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni Nil Battey Sannata by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari Tathagat by Manav Kaul Thithi by Raam Reddy
Documentary :
12 Acres by Rajesh Thind Maidaan (Home Ground) by Kavita Carneiro Nehi Mozo Hanü Dizo Le (Without You, I am Nothing) by Anushka Meenakshi and Iswar Srikumar Proposition for a Revolution by Khushboo Ranka...
- 11/8/2014
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Is Somebody Looking For His Stuffed Toy Octopus? Does Anybody Know A Man Missing A Plushy Darling?
We found this poor creature in the men's room of Rotterdam's Cinerama right after a screening of some serious Brazilian smut-fest, Jean Garret's Fuk Fuk à Brasileira (1986). It was lying around there looking lost. There was nobody else at the pissoirs. The stalls proved empty. Someone was obviously so lost in his own sweet or sour self that he forgot his stuffed toy octopus! What could he have been thinking about for this to happen?
Could he have contemplated the programmers' collective nastiness which made them select a film in which, as we were told, a donkey gets slaughtered en detail and for an extended period of running time? And no, we won't mention the title here knowing only too well that this might encourage some sickos to search out this...this.
We found this poor creature in the men's room of Rotterdam's Cinerama right after a screening of some serious Brazilian smut-fest, Jean Garret's Fuk Fuk à Brasileira (1986). It was lying around there looking lost. There was nobody else at the pissoirs. The stalls proved empty. Someone was obviously so lost in his own sweet or sour self that he forgot his stuffed toy octopus! What could he have been thinking about for this to happen?
Could he have contemplated the programmers' collective nastiness which made them select a film in which, as we were told, a donkey gets slaughtered en detail and for an extended period of running time? And no, we won't mention the title here knowing only too well that this might encourage some sickos to search out this...this.
- 8/27/2012
- MUBI
Today's announcement from the International Film Festival Rotterdam (January 25 through February 5) concerns a tribute to Peter von Bagh, part of the main Signals section: "With over fifty film titles under his belt, Peter von Bagh may still be the better known in his other persona: as writer of more than twenty books, as television presenter, as artistic director of the Midnight Sun Festival in Sodankyla, which he co-founded in 1986 with the Kaurismäki brothers and as well Il Cinema Ritrovato, Bologna, since 2001. He also is editor-in-chief, since 1971, of the Filmihullu magazine, and a professor of film history in the Helsinki University of Arts."
On to the lineup, with descriptions from the festival, beginning with the features:
Lastuja – Taiteilijasuvun vuosisata (Splinters - A Century of an Artistic Family). Finland, 2011, 74’. A century of development, starting in the era of Finland's nascent nationalism, when the country still belonged to Tsarist Russia, ending in the heydays of post-wwii liberalism,...
On to the lineup, with descriptions from the festival, beginning with the features:
Lastuja – Taiteilijasuvun vuosisata (Splinters - A Century of an Artistic Family). Finland, 2011, 74’. A century of development, starting in the era of Finland's nascent nationalism, when the country still belonged to Tsarist Russia, ending in the heydays of post-wwii liberalism,...
- 1/12/2012
- MUBI
The 9th edition of DocedgeKolkata is now inviting entries. It is a Forum for documentaries which focuses on intensive training and mentoring of documentary filmmakers working on their new projects and looking for further guidance and additional funding.
The Forum conducts training cum pitching workshops devoted to international co-production. It also involves pitching of projects to an international panel consisting of broadcasters, producers and foundations.
There are masterclasses and mentoring by international tutors through screening and open discussions. Victor Kossakovsky, Russia, Leonard Retel Helmrich, The Netherlands, Iikka Vehkalahti, Finland, Rada Sesic, The Netherlands, Claas Danielsen, DOKLeipzig, Germany, Audrius Stonys, Lithuania and Matthias Heeder, Germany will be the tutors for 2012 edition.
Apart from selected participants developing and pitching projects, the community includes observers and special guests who participate in the contributory discussions on the project improvement.
The submission deadline for applications is November 26, 2011 while the selections will be announced on December...
The Forum conducts training cum pitching workshops devoted to international co-production. It also involves pitching of projects to an international panel consisting of broadcasters, producers and foundations.
There are masterclasses and mentoring by international tutors through screening and open discussions. Victor Kossakovsky, Russia, Leonard Retel Helmrich, The Netherlands, Iikka Vehkalahti, Finland, Rada Sesic, The Netherlands, Claas Danielsen, DOKLeipzig, Germany, Audrius Stonys, Lithuania and Matthias Heeder, Germany will be the tutors for 2012 edition.
Apart from selected participants developing and pitching projects, the community includes observers and special guests who participate in the contributory discussions on the project improvement.
The submission deadline for applications is November 26, 2011 while the selections will be announced on December...
- 10/31/2011
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
A good number of Indian documentaries will be presented at the eight edition of Film Southasia to be held from September 29-October 2, 2011 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Film Southasia is a biennial festival of documentaries organized in Nepal. Tickets are available for Rs. 50 at the venue of the festival Kumari Cinema, Kathmandu.
The films at the festival will be judged by a three-member South-asian jury and the best film will be awarded the ‘Ram Bahadur Trophy’ for Best Film along with a citation and a cash prize of Usd 2,000. The second best film will be awarded a citation and cash prize of Usd 1,000 and the Best Debut Film will be awarded a citation and cash prize of Usd 1,000.
Journey to Yarsa (55 min) by Dipendra Bhandari of Nepal will be screened as the opening film of the festival.
An event called ‘Tareque Masud Memorial: A Dialogue’ will be conducted on the theme– ‘Documentary:...
Film Southasia is a biennial festival of documentaries organized in Nepal. Tickets are available for Rs. 50 at the venue of the festival Kumari Cinema, Kathmandu.
The films at the festival will be judged by a three-member South-asian jury and the best film will be awarded the ‘Ram Bahadur Trophy’ for Best Film along with a citation and a cash prize of Usd 2,000. The second best film will be awarded a citation and cash prize of Usd 1,000 and the Best Debut Film will be awarded a citation and cash prize of Usd 1,000.
Journey to Yarsa (55 min) by Dipendra Bhandari of Nepal will be screened as the opening film of the festival.
An event called ‘Tareque Masud Memorial: A Dialogue’ will be conducted on the theme– ‘Documentary:...
- 9/26/2011
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
TORONTO -- Former New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell will head the jury for the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, organizers said Thursday.
Mitchell, currently host of KCRW's "The Treatment" and editor-at-large at Interview magazine, will be joined on the jury for international features by Canadian film writer Johanna Schneller and Iikka Vehkalahti, a documentary commissioning editor at Finland's YLE TV 2 channel.
The Canadian features jury will comprise Iranian filmmaker Massoud Bahkshi, Canadian documentary producer Michael Burns and Rada Sesic, a festival programmer with the International Rotterdam Film Festival and the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Hot Docs, North America's largest documentary festival, runs April 17-27 in Toronto.
Mitchell, currently host of KCRW's "The Treatment" and editor-at-large at Interview magazine, will be joined on the jury for international features by Canadian film writer Johanna Schneller and Iikka Vehkalahti, a documentary commissioning editor at Finland's YLE TV 2 channel.
The Canadian features jury will comprise Iranian filmmaker Massoud Bahkshi, Canadian documentary producer Michael Burns and Rada Sesic, a festival programmer with the International Rotterdam Film Festival and the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Hot Docs, North America's largest documentary festival, runs April 17-27 in Toronto.
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