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A NORML LIFE available on DVD August 16th

Cassie Brewer — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:31:26 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A COMPELLING DOCUMENTARY SUPPORTING THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA
A NORML LIFE

“Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use.” – President Jimmy Carter

AVAILABLE ON DVD AUGUST 16, 2011
LOS ANGELES (July 20, 2011)- The war on drugs has been an uphill battle for decades but recent legislation, which was modeled after the Repeal of Alcohol Prohibition, could very well end prohibition against marijuana. The National Organization of the Reform for Marijuana Laws, also known as “NORML”, has been a forefront leader on this issue along with many of its standout supporters. On August 16, 2011, Cinema Libre Studio proudly releases A NORML LIFE on DVD which tells the story of the advocates fighting for the legalization of cannabis.

A NORML LIFE, directed by Rod Pitman and produced by Doug Ross, is based on the same principals that the nonprofit organization, NORML, holds. The documentary presents the case that the use of medicinal marijuana is effective and that it is a safe alternative to pharmaceutical medicine. Through first hand interviews with physicians, patients suffering from chronic illness and a great amount of evidence provided by clinical case studies—the filmmakers prove that there are in fact both physical and psychological benefits produced by marijuana that dramatically affect a patients condition.

In the film we meet NORML founder R. Keith Stroup, ESQ and NORML’s Executive Director Allen St. Pierre whom are both widely known in the media as leaders in the movement for marijuana policy reform. Jodie Emery, the activist and wife of the “Prince of Pot” Marc Emery, appears in the film leading the “Free Marc” campaign and fighting to appeal her husbands conviction for marijuana trafficking— while carrying on Marc’s mission to “Plant the Seeds of Freedom and Overgrow the Government”. This is in hopes that one day people will be able to grow their own cannabis for medicine. We also see Independent candidate for Governor of Kentucky, Gatewood Galbraith, whose determination and strive is a force for cannabis advocates everywhere. Other personalities from all walks of life share their views on the benefits of marijuana and the challenges they face to legalize it.

-MORE-

Rod Pitman has produced television shows, music videos and the recently released film HEMPSTERS: PLANT THE SEED, also distributed by Cinema Libre Studio. Doug Ross, founder of Honolulu Municipal Television, is a recognized video professional who has worked on acclaimed projects such as Global View series on History Channel International and China: Engineering an Empire on History Channel. These two men, who have known each other for approximately 50 years, collaborated on this project to carry out the repeated message from the personal stories of these activists: when western medicine fails and the only solution to end pain and suffering is medicinal marijuana then something needs to be done to end the war on drugs.

SYNOPSIS: NORML or National Organization of the Reform for Marijuana Laws has long advocated for the decriminalization of cannabis for over 40 years. Its founder, current leaders and nationwide chapter representatives describe the patchwork of state and municipal laws that allow the sale of medical marijuana, while the federal government still regards cannabis as a dangerous narcotic.

Voters in the U.S. are increasingly recognizing the positive aspects of accepting and controlling medical marijuana in their communities for its medicinal benefits, as well as for its potential to generate needed tax revenue.

Hear personal stories and testimonies to the efficacy of medicinal marijuana from those who are suffering from chronic illnesses. To what extent should we allow the government to legislate over personal freedoms and liberties with regard to our health and treatment?

SRP: $19.95 | TRT: 60 minutes
Street Date: 8/16/11 | UPC: 881394113329
Catalog: CLS 1133 | Genre: Documentary/ Health

DVD SPECIAL FEATURE:
Interview with Ray Manzarek, Co-Founder and Keyboardist of The Doors
plus an introductory video, “About NORML.”

Hi-res 3d box art: http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/clscatalog/2011/NormlLife_3D_HR.jpg

Low res 3d box art: http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/clscatalog/2011/NormlLife_3D_LR.jpg

Find updates at: www.anormllifethemovie.com | Facebook | Twitter
ABOUT CINEMA LIBRE: Cinema Libre Studio is a leader in distributing social-issue documentaries and features by passionate filmmakers. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Cinema Libre team has released over one hundred films including the Sundance Audience Award‐Winning FUEL, THE END OF POVERTY, and Oliver Stone’s SOUTH OF THE BORDER. The studio is developing John Perkins’ best‐selling memoirs, CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN, into a major motion picture. For more information and updates, please visit: www.cinemalibrestudio.com | Updates | Facebook | Twitter |Affiliate Programs
For screener and interview requests contact:
Cassie Brewer, Publicity Coordinator
Cinema Libre Studio
818.349.8822
cbrewer@cinemalibrestudio.com

In inquire about film’s availability for NORML chapters and at specialty retail accounts:
Stephanie Bishop
Heart Brain Media
(206) 697-2374
Stephanie@heartbrainmedia.com

LIFE AFTER DJANGO REINHARDT, on DVD August 16th

Cassie Brewer — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:19:45 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LIFE AFTER DJANGO REINHARDT
100 GUITARISTS GATHER IN A TRIBUTE TO THE ULTIMATE JAZZ IMPRESARIO

COMING TO DVD AUGUST 16, 2011
LOS ANGELES, CA (July 22, 2011)—Django Reinhardt was a jazz pioneer known for creating an idiom of jazz called “Gypsy Jazz” or “Gypsy Swing”. He was the original “guitar hero” in the sense that he invented a radical new way to play guitar, commonly known as “hot guitar.” This film celebrates the 100th birthday of Django Reinhardt by documenting the “Django 100” a group of a 100 musicians whom have gathered together to honor the talented guitarist as a tribute to his life. Cinema Libre Studio proudly presents LIFE AFTER DJANGO REINHARDT, coming to DVD and digital platforms on August 16, 2011.

Django Reinhardt is known as a master, creator and “pure ecstasy” to his devotees. These 100 musicians gather to pay homage to the man, who paved the way for them. Without Reinhardt “Gypsy Jazz” may never have been realized. There is an inexplicable passion and obsession that is brought to life by this film, as conveyed by they way the guitarists have given up words in exchange for melodies.

Reinhardt’s musical style of “Gypsy Jazz” has influenced many musicians. Some of these musicians featured in the film include; David Reinhardt, the grandson of the Django Reinhardt who now leads his own trio inspired by his grandfather. Angelo Debarre, an accomplished guitarist who has performed in several significant jazz festivals, including Birdland’s “Django Festival.” Boulou Ferre, who was a child prodigy who began playing professional at the age of twelve and has incorporated Django’s “Gypsy Jazz” with other musical styles such as bebop and classical. Tchavolo Schmitt, who began playing at the age of six is another renowned “Gypsy Jazz” guitarist.

THE LIFE AFTER DJANGO director, Olivier Kowalski, is a classically trained musician, whose passion led him to make this film. Kowalski formed a group called Komintern, who is renowned for the album, The Ball of the Dead Rat, which became a collector’s item. It was his love for film though that changed the direction of his career. Kowalski became the director of a music publishing company and later the head of Davout Studios, which is one of the top studios to record music for French cinema. In 1994, he bought the studio, which he currently manages today.

SYNOPSIS:
LIFE AFTER DJANGO REINHARDT pays tribute to Django Reinhardt, the Roma genius, born to Gypsy parents in 1910, is considered by many to be the single most important guitarist in the entire history of jazz. To honor the 100th anniversary of Django’s birth, one hundred of his disciples, including his grandson David Reinhardt, have gathered together for the “Django 100 Centennial Tour” — traveling the world to pay homage to this exceptional type-setter who marked the 20th century. Hear stories of the influence and passion by some of the more notable jazz guitarists including, Elios and Boulou Ferré, Angelo Debarre and Tchavlo Schmitt, as they prepare for the tour. Listen to the familiar songs performed by these renowned musicians — all of whom have dedicated their lives and their careers to the legend. www.lifeafterdjango.com

SRP: $19.95 | TRT: 54 minutes
Street Date: 8/16/11 | UPC: 881394112827
Catalog: CLS 1128 | Genre: Documentary/ Music | Language: French with English subtitles

DVD SPECIAL FEATURE:
Performance of “Minor Swing” by the Django 100

HI-RES BOX ART: http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/clscatalog/2011/Django_3DNew_HR.jpg

LOW-RES BOX ART: http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/clscatalog/2011/Django_3DNew_LR.jpg

ABOUT CINEMA LIBRE:
Cinema Libre Studio is a leader in distributing social-issue documentaries and features by passionate filmmakers. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Cinema Libre team has released over one hundred films including the Sundance Audience Award‐Winning FUEL, THE END OF POVERTY, and Oliver Stone’s SOUTH OF THE BORDER. The studio is developing John Perkins’ best‐selling memoirs, CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN, into a major motion picture. For more information and updates, please visit: www.cinemalibrestudio.com | Updates | Facebook | Twitter |Affiliate Programs

For screener and interview requests contact:
Cassie Brewer, Publicity Coordinator
Cinema Libre Studio

Daryl Hannah’s interview with HULU, featuring SAVE THE FARM

Cassie Brewer — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:35:39 +0000

Interview: Daryl Hannah

August 5th, 2011 by Naivasha D

Imagine being given this plot of land. A relative hands it off to you because you deserve it. You’ve been through some hardships. You need a place to stay. It’s in a nice neighborhood; you need the community. Plus, that distant uncle has enough plots of land as it is.

The land thrives. It has a truly noble purpose. You turn it into a dance hall or a volunteer fire department. The friends you make from it are invaluable. It’s now where you work, where you spend all of your time, and where you plan to raise a family.

Turns out your uncle hates a few people you’ve invited to your plot of land, though. Right as some folks have gotten comfortable—maybe stopped looking for work elsewhere—your relative pulls the rug out from all of them.

Then he plays around with the money you don’t have in your effort to keep it.

That’s basically what’s going on to the South Central Farm in Los Angeles, says Daryl Hannah. That’s why she needs your help.

Ralph Horowitz sold some land to the city in 1986. Shortly after the Rodney King riots, it was appropriated for urban farming. It flourished, but Horowitz disapproved of some of the alleged illegal immigrants that lived there.

Hannah, the star of the Kill Bill, Blade Runner and Wall Street, was gripped when she heard the story. She desperately wanted to help. She attached her name to “Save The Farm,” Michael Kuehnert’s film about the farm’s demise and subsequent legal wrangling.

Hulu: When did you first hear about this? And when did you know you wanted to help?

Daryl Hannah: There are so many aspects in that question. But, specifically, I originally heard about this from my friend Julia Butterfly Hill. She’s one of those people who tries to find True North no matter what the situation. She made a call for help. It’s the first time she ever reached out to me for help, so I knew how important this was to her. I responded immediately, knowing whatever she was asking for was going to be worthy. The best way, we thought, to make some sort of impact or contribution was to participate by doing a video blog on it for my website, to try to get the word out on it.

How did you get involved in freeing up the South Central Farm in particular?

Basically how I got involved specifically with the South Central Farm: What happened there, as upsetting as it was, was what motivated the revival of urban gardening. They’ve been having a renaissance in the urban gardening arena. Areas have been creating communities. South Central Farm was a catalyst in that realization and their awareness of how important it is to all of our futures and how important it is in cities to make food available

Click here to read the rest of Daryl Hannah’s interview with HULU

Review: WILL THE REAL TERRORIST PLEASE STAND UP? by Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant

Cassie Brewer — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:04:38 +0000

Will the Real Terrorist
Please Stand Up

Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up
Cinema Libre Studio
2010 / Color / 1:78 enhanced widescreen / 82 min. / Street Date July 26, 2011 / 19.95
Starring Danny Glover, Fidel Castro, Saul Landau
Cinematography Roberto Chile, Haskell Wexler
Film Editor Rick Tejada-Flores
Original Music Camilo Landau, Greg Landau
Produced and Directed by Saul Landau

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up is a reasoned and factual documentary about the political mess of this country’s relationship to Cuba, the communist dictatorship 90 miles off the coast of Florida. This proximity made Havana a tempting target for American gangsters and corporations before Fidel Castro’s revolution, and remains an embarrassment to this day: America deals regularly with countries with regimes much more abhorrent than Cuba’s, yet insists on dictating terms to this tiny island nation in its own back yard. 52 years after the revolution the U.S. is still dead-set against Cuba for a number of reasons, some of them legitimate. Although America’s politicians and media vilify Castro’s Cuba as a dangerous threat, producer-director Saul Landau’s Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up calmly demonstrates that the opposite is the case. Every documentary has a political bias and this show is no different. But the facts presented here, often by U.S. officials and politicians, are pretty damning to our foreign policy as regards Cuba.

Saul Landau ventured to Cuba during the revolution and has made several films about Fidel Castro; his 1971 docu Fidel follows the dictator on a tour of the Cuban provinces. Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up sticks to the specific conflict between Cuba and the “exiled” community that transferred itself to Southern Florida after the revolution. Fidel got rid of Fulgencio Batista’s worst generals and officers, but many of the upper-class Cuban rich and the middle-class professionals left the country. Fidelistas would say that they were either too cozy with payoffs from American companies, or unwilling to commit to a new society. Anti-Fidel Cubans either consider the (appallingly corrupt and unjust) Batista regime a good republic (it made many of them rich) and Fidel an abomination.

The docu shows how the exiled Cubans formed what can only be considered terrorist groups for anti-Fidel activities. While the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations attempted assassinations, exile agents carried out a campaign of sabotage and killings in Cuba, trying to destabilize the Castro regime. The C.I.A. encouraged “private” bombing raids over Cuba; Eisenhower refused to acknowledge the air strikes and simply replied that Cuba should shoot the planes down if they wanted to.

To read more please click here

CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE- Available June 12 on DVD

Cassie Brewer — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:47:22 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A REAL AND RAW LOOK AT WRESTLING’S INDEPENDENT CIRCUIT

“With its eclectic blend of wrestling legends, fallen stars, future hopefuls, disillusioned dreamers and one hardcore, backwoods philosopher, ‘Card Subject to Change’ is AN ABSORBING LOOK at the journey of pro-wrestling…” - Mick Foley, Pro Wrestling Legend

‘CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE’

PROVIDES A REVEALING PEEK INTO THE LIVES OF WRESTLERS

Available on DVD on July 12, 2011

LOS ANGELES (June 15, 2011) – In the critically-acclaimed film, The Wrestler, Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is a down-and-out wrestler trying to re-capture the glory days of the ’80s. In doing so, and despite being well past his prime, he is relegated to small town matches with local “nobodies” putting his body through unimaginable pain and torture. Despite his heart condition, he knows he belongs in the ring with his fans who truly love him. Card Subject to Change: Pro Wrestling’s UNDERGROUND is the real-life version of the film, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of independent pro wrestlers. The DVD will be released on July 12, 2011 by Cinema Libre Studio.

The independent circuit, often referred to as “the indies,” is local in nature, never televised and offers a paltry $5.00 to $20.00 per match. It began to gain ground in the mid-1980s, but when World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) promoter, Vince McMahon, testified in front of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission in 1989 that wrestling was in fact entertainment, regulations were lifted and the indy circuit exploded opening up to anyone who wanted to be a promoter or a wrestler. Since 1990, there have been over 250 wrestling associations organizing local matches throughout the country. Today, about half of them are still in business. With the glitz, the glamour and the popularity of the WWE, the life of an indy pro wrestler is quite the contrary.

CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE marks Tim Disbrow’s feature-length directorial debut. The title refers to the disclaimer that all promoters include on their flyers given the unpredictable nature of wrestlers and the featured match-ups. Disbrow is a lifelong fan and started out to make a film about the merits of the indy circuit.” As Disbrow put it, “My goal when making this film was to show the struggle that these dedicated athletes must endure in order to become successful in this strange and unorthodox industry.”

The film’s festival run included official selections to: DocMiami International Festival, DocUtah International Film Festival, Hoboken International Film Festival, Lighthouse International Film Festival and the Atlantic City International Film and Music Festival. Many of the sport’s insiders have lauded Disbrow for his honest portrayal of a wrestler’s life. Some of the notables featured are: Kevin Sullivan, Johnny Falco, Michael “Trent Acid” Verdi (who was battling drug addiction during filming), Rhett Titus, Lacey Von Erich (member of the Von Erich wrestling dynasty), Necro Butcher (who appeared in The Wrestler), Sabu and Kamala, to name a few.

DETAILS:

CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE: PRO WRESTLING’S UNDERGROUND takes you deep inside the underground world of professional wrestling. This compelling film follows several wrestlers as they make their way through local VFW halls, high school gyms and Elks’ lodges grinding it out on the independent circuit where the payouts can range from $5 to $20 per match. Some do it for the love of the sport, others desperate to make it big; it is both heart-pounding and heart-wrenching. Tim Disbrow makes his directorial debut as he documents the circuit’s standouts, including: Kevin Sullivan, Michael “Trent Acid” Verdi, Rhett Titus, Sabu, Kamala and Necro Butcher, who made an appearance in the critically-acclaimed film, The Wrestler. www.cardsubjecttochange.com | Facebook | Trailer | Clips | Art

High Res Box Art: http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/clscatalog/2011/CardSubjectToChange_3D_HR.jpg

Low Res Box Art: http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/clscatalog/2011/CardSubjectToChange_3D_LR.jpg

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

TRT: 87 minutes| Street Date: 7/12/11

Catalog: CLS 1126 | UPC: 881394112629 | Genre: Documentary/Sports

Special Features: Deleted Scenes, Outtakes, Promotional Videos

ABOUT CINEMA LIBRE:

Cinema Libre Studio is a leader in distributing social-issue documentaries and features by passionate filmmakers. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Cinema Libre team has released over one hundred films including the Sundance Audience Award‐Winning FUEL, THE END OF POVERTY, and Oliver Stone’s SOUTH OF THE BORDER. The studio is developing John Perkins’ best‐selling memoirs, CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN, into a major motion picture. For more information and updates, please visit: www.cinemalibrestudio.com | Updates | Facebook | Twitter |Affiliate Programs

###

For screener and interview requests contact:

Cassie Brewer, Publicity Coordinator

Cinema Libre Studio

818.349.8822

cbrewer (at) cinemalibrestudio (dot) com

For screenings, grassroots and educational use contact: screening (at) cinemalibrestudio (dot) com

HEMPSTERS: PLANT THE SEED, coming to DVD June 28, 2011

Cassie Brewer — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:20:50 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HEMPSTERS: PLANT THE SEED

A compelling documentary that will move us one step closer towards a more sustainable planet

Available on DVD June 28, 2011

LOS ANGELES, CA–As our society continues to consume 30% more than the planet can regenerate, Industrial Hemp is proven to be a viable and cost-effective crop that can reduce our reliance on some of the earth’s most precious resources. HEMPSTERS: PLANT THE SEED, featuring Woody Harrelson, will be released on DVD June 28th by Cinema Libre Studio.

This lively documentary, directed by Michael Henning and produced by Diana Oliver, explores the reasons why the United States is the only developed country that still bans the growth of Industrial Hemp. Hemp, which is a durable fiber cultivated from plants of the cannabis genus, can be used for paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel. Due to its relation to marijuana, it is illegal to grow in the U.S. under Federal law. Hemp is considered a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act even though it contains minimum levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

The film begins with the arrest of Woody Harrelson for planting four uncultivated hemp seeds in Kentucky and his subsequent trial and acquittal. Harrelson then joins traveling hemp activist Craig Lee and a number of featured old-school Kentucky tobacco farmers including Andrew and Jake Graves who just want to grow the multi-purpose crop as a way to save their farms. Viewers meet Alex White Plume, leader of the Lakota “Tiospaye” (family clan), and the first family to plant Industrial Hemp on American soil since the 1950′s. He makes a startling case that his right to grow hemp is a sovereignty issue. Julia Butterfly Hill, who has gone to extreme lengths to protest the pulping of old-growth forests by living for over two years at the top of a 1,000 year old redwood tree in Northern California, believes that hemp is the solution to cutting down trees for paper. Gatewood Galbraith, the Independent candidate for Kentucky’s gubernatorial race, attempts to bring the public at large to its senses over this issue in his own inimitable style.

A hyper-paced ride with a sizzling soundtrack, this motion picture puts hemp at the heart of just about every grassroots issue in America today. Featured players include Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ralph Nader. More than a political study of cannabis, HEMPSTERS is a rousing portrait of our country’s most spirited and sensible free-thinkers.

This is the feature-length directorial debut for Michael Henning, who brings a wealth of experience to the film, having worked in the industry since 1978 with acclaimed artists such as Ron Howard, Mike Nichols, Bruce Beresford, Oliver Stone, and many others. HEMPSTERS was a longtime labor of love for Producer Diana Oliver who came to Henning with the idea after Harrelson had planted the infamous four seeds. They began shooting footage for the documentary in the late ‘90s. The film won the “Best Work in Progress” Award at the 2001 Deep Ellum Film Festival in Dallas. More information is available at www.hemsptersthemovie.com and http://www.facebook.com/hempsters

Synopsis:

HEMPSTERS: PLANT THE SEED follows seven activists and their allies as they fight to legalize industrial hemp in the United States, which is used in over 30 countries and is widely known to have numerous environmental benefits such as: less reliance on oil, more efficient use of energy, forest conservation, and soil redemption, just to name a few. Hemp does not need pesticides to grow; it actually leaches toxins out of the ground. Any product that can be made from petroleum oils can also be produced by hemp.

DVD DETAILS

SRP: $19.95 | TRT: 78 minutes

Street Date: 6/28/11 | UPC: 881394108325

Catalog: CLS 1083 | Genre: Documentary/ Health

DIGITAL ASSETS

TRAILER: http://www.vimeo.com/24581595

CLIPS: http://www.vimeo.com/album/1613264

HIGH RES ART: http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/clscatalog/2011/Hempsters_3D_HR.jpg

LOW RES ART: http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/clscatalog/2011/Hempsters_3D_LR.jpg

Featured in the film is award-winning actor and well-known hemp and environmental activist, Woody Harrelson, who challenged Kentucky State law when he planted four feral hemp seeds in 1996. His subsequent trial and acquittal brought the issue to the forefront of mainstream media more than ten years ago, but the fight continues on. Also featured are: Willie Nelson, Ralph Nader and Merle Haggard.

HEMPSTERS is a thought-provoking and compelling documentary that will not only encourage all of us to take action, but move us one step closer towards a more sustainable planet.

About Cinema Libre Studio:

Cinema Libre Studio is a haven for independent filmmakers with one-stop shopping for production and distribution. The company has been a leader in distributing social issue films with a full array of offerings including: acquisitions, theatrical distribution, international & television sales, grassroots outreach, digital download and post-production services. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company is best known for distributing award-winning films that include: ‘Outfoxed,’ ‘Uncovered: The War on Iraq,’ ‘The Empire in Africa,’ Participant Media’s ‘Angels In The Dust,’ and Oliver Stone’s “South of the Border.’ The company will release ‘The End of Poverty?’ in select US theatres in November 2009. For more information, please visit www.cinemalibrestudio.com.

About earthNOW!

In 2008, Cinema Libre Studio launched the earthNOW! label to focus on films that analyze how we co-exist with our planet. These films examine the environment, health, ecology and sustainability. Keep an eye out for A NORML LIFE, coming to DVD August 16, 2011. For more information, please visit www.earthnowfilms.com.

Media Contacts:

Cassie Brewer | Cinema Libre Studio | 818.349.8822 | cbrewer (AT) cinemalibrestudio (DOT) com

SAVE THE FARM! 5th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEMOLITION OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL FARM IN LOS ANGELES

Beth — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 01:46:14 +0000

**MEDIA ADVISORY**

5^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEMOLITION OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL FARM IN LOS ANGELES

COMMUNITY VISIONING ART & VIGIL – SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2011

Council member Jan Perry Refuses to Meet with Farmers to restore the South Central Farm

*Award-winning documentary “Save the Farm” to anchor day by screening at 8:30pm*

What: On Saturday, June 11, the South Central Farmers and their supporters will gather for the fifth time to remember the demolition of the South Central Farm and renew their promise to restore the land for family food production: “Aqui estamos y no nos vamos.” The Farmers invite the broader Los Angeles community to join them in celebrating the Farm and the promise of green space for poor neighborhoods and urban communities by participating in “Community Visioning Art and Vigil,” an all day event starting at 11:00 a.m. and ending around 9:00 p.m.

“Save the Farm,” screening at 8:30pm, tells the story of how the local community came together in 2006 to fight for the land they depended on for their survival. The documentary focuses on the 11th hour tree sit organized by the Farmers and environmental activists Julia Butterfly Hill and John Quigley who were joined by actors Daryl Hannah, Alicia Silverstone, Amy Smart, Martin Sheen, Danny Glover and Laura Dern as well as musicians such as Willie Nelson, Tom Morello, Joan Baez, Ben Harper and many other creative talents, musicians and politicians. (Available on digital platforms this month via Cinema Libre Studio, http://www.savethefarmmovie.com/)

Where: Between Long Beach Ave and Alameda Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90058

When: Saturday, 6/11 – 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Who: Available for interview, Tezozomoc, Spokesperson for the Farmers & Michael Kuehnert, Director of “Save The Farm”

Why: This year could be the last year the Farmers and their supporters celebrate and remember the South Central Farm on the site of the Farm at 41^st Avenue and Alameda. It seems likely that by 2012, the land will have another owner. The question is whether the owner will be adding another bleak warehouse to the manufacturing wasteland of the area, or whether the occupants will be neighborhood farmers, restoring family farming and green space to mitigate the environmental destruction of the industrialization encroaching on their playgrounds and schools. It’s a subject Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry won’t discuss with the Farmers.

Event Details:

11:00 am 4:00 pm Community Visioning and Mural Painting

12:00 am 2:00 pm Community bicycle ride from Downtown LA, Boyle Heights, MacArthur Park to the South Central Farm (meet at 41^st and Alameda)

2:00 pm 5:00 pm Bike Repair and Maintenance Workshop (bring your broken bikes)

Traditional Flower Staffs Making Workshop (come work with flowers)

5:00 pm 6:00 pm South Central Farm Produce Cooking Demo and Potluck (BYO)

6:00 pm 7:00 pm Youth Art Presentation
SCF Site Plan Presentation

7:00 pm 8:00 pm Poetry/Music/Palabra from the Heart
Community Story Sharing

8:00 pm 8:30 pm Danza Azteca Ceremony in all directions and Candlelight Vigil

8:30 pm 9:00 pm Special Screening with Director Michael Kuehnert of “Save the Farm”

More: http://cinemalibrestudio.com/clsblog/2011/05/19/1535/

http://www.savethefarmmovie.com/

Background:

The property at 41^st and Alameda is in escrow, and the developer, Ralph Horowitz, has said that he will sell the land to the Farmers if they can raise the money. That challenge has rekindled the dream of restoring the South Central Farm, and the Farmers have turned to area benefactors for assistance. However, raising the money from non-profit foundations has stalled because of the interference of the district’s councilmember, Jan Perry. Perry, who originally orchestrated the sale of the city-owned land out from under the Farmers, now refuses to meet with the Farmers or give her approval to the restoration of the Farm. Potential investors in the Farm are shy of proceeding with what they perceive as reluctance from city government.

Meanwhile, Perry has been busy whipping up support from major downtown developers for her mayoral campaign. Perry has been soliciting campaign dollars from local moguls who have worked with Perry to create a cultural mecca in the section of Perry’s district that encompasses downtown Los Angeles. The less glamorous part of her district, in low-wealth South Los Angeles, has seen little in the way of quality of life improvements. Perry has brought the area a patchwork of strip malls while showing little interest in her constituents’ concerns and desires for improved access to city amenities. No where has this been more evident than in her transfer of the South Central Farm to a developer. The Farm was a concession to the community by Mayor Tom Bradley in 1992, after much of the South Central area exploded in rebellion at the inequitable treatment of poor and minority communities in Los Angeles.

The story of the South Central Farm has entered the annals of Angelenos’ battle for green space, alongside the Cornfields, Chavez Ravine, Taylor Yard, and the Ballona Wetlands, except that the Farmers have halted development on the land for the past five years. In the early morning of June 13, 2006, thousands of people poured into the low-income neighborhood and clutched the chain link fence around the Farm and wept from across the street to witness the sheriffs in jackboots storm across the carefully crafted rows of herbs, cactus, and vegetables. The City forcibly removed protestors who had camped on the land and clung to platforms in tree branches in defiance of an eviction order. Forty-four were arrested. Television cameras from around the country recorded the destruction of nearly twenty years of family farming, and on the noonday news, millions watched as fire trucks uprooting trees and rolled across plots cultivated by parents and their children.

Since then, the Farmers and the community around the land have been in a standoff with developer Ralph Horowitz, demanding that any construction on the site include an Environmental Impact Report. That demand, carried to the City Planning Division in 2008, halted construction of a Forever 21 trucking and warehouse facility and any other construction until just over a month ago.

Since the announcement of the potential sale, the South Central Farmers are waiting for Perry to return their phone call. If it comes, the South Central Farm could be a reality once more.

Photos: Remembering the fight of the South Central Farmers | Opinion L.A. | Los Angeles Times

http ://opinion .latimes .com /opinionla /2011/05/photos -remembering -the -fight -between -the -south -central -farmers .html #more

Two TV news stories from SCF’s 2006 showdown w/property developer:

Daryl Hannah Takes to Trees to Save a Farm – ABC News

http ://abcnews .go .com /US /story ?id =2030497&page =1

Cops Arrest Tree-Sitters In L.A. – CBS News

http ://www .cbsnews .com /stories /2006/06/13/entertainment /main 1709118.shtml ?tag =mncol ;lst ;1

For additional information on the Farm and the contact:

tezozomoc @hotmail .com, (800) 249-5240

SAVE THE FARM- Coming to VOD

Cassie Brewer — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:40:34 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AWARD WINNING DOCU SHORT ‘SAVE THE FARM’

RELEASED FOR THE FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE EVICTION OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL FARMERS IN LOS ANGELES

Featuring Daryl Hannah, Julia Butterfly Hill, Alicia Silverstone, John Quigley and More

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LOS ANGELES (May 19, 2011) – June 13, 2011 marks the five-year “anniversary” of the eviction of the farmers from the South Central Farm in downtown Los Angeles. The award-winning documentary short film SAVE THE FARM, directed by Michael Kuehnert, will be released on digital platforms on June 7, 2011 to commemorate the needless destruction of an important environmental and cultural oasis.

The South Central Farm (SCF) sprung up on an abandoned industrial area of approximately 14 acres in South Central Los Angeles. The land had been acquired by the City of Los Angeles in 1986 from developer Ralph Horowitz for $4.7 million. The land was left undeveloped for years until Mayor Bradley (following the Rodney King riots) bequeathed it to the community. Doris Block, the President of the Food Bank, then founded the farm. For fourteen years the farm provided local, organic food and medicinal remedies for 350 families, as well as, to thousands of area residents.

In 2004, Horowitz, a partner in the company Alameda-Barbara, which originally sold the land to the city, sued for breach of contract for failure to honor a clause in the original right of repurchase agreement. The courts ruled against Horowitz three times. Soon after the city sold the land back to him, in a deal that was initially undisclosed to the public, it was later revealed to have been for the amount of $5 million. On January 8, 2004, Horowitz issued an eviction notice to the gardeners to leave the farm by the end of February of the same year. In response, the South Central Farmers filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the sale of the property. The farmers lost the lawsuit, but they were able to obtain an injunction that allowed them access to the land for two more years- until Horowitz evicted them in February of 2006.

The events of SAVE THE FARM took place during June of 2006, as Horowitz tried to reclaim the land, believing that control of the property should be “market driven”. Filmmaker Michael Kuehnert arrived at the farm just as it was about to be bulldozed and as the gardeners were still trying to raise the $16.3 million required to buy it back from Horowitz- a figure that was three times the initial amount for which he had purchased the plot. The farmers were joined by environmental activists such as Julia Butterfly Hill and John Quigley. They initiated a tree-sitting vigil with the collective efforts and support of actors Daryl Hannah, Alicia Silverstone, Amy Smart, Martin Sheen, Danny Glover and Laura Dern who were also joined by musicians such as Willie Nelson, Tom Morello, Joan Baez, Ben Harper and many other creative talents, musicians and politicians.

The farmers struggled valiantly to raise funds to meet Horowtiz’s extortionate price under the continued threat of forced eviction by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. On June 7, 2006, the Annenberg Foundation announced that it would provide $10 million toward the acquisition of the farm through The Trust For Public Land. The farmers successfully raised the $16.3 million. However, Horowitz turned down the offer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Central_Farm – cite_note-offermade-7). Ultimately, the County Sheriff’s department surrounded the farm and arrested over 40 people, including Daryl Hannah and John Quigley.

For director Kuehnert, the situation with the farm and this film underscores a more global problem: “For me the urban farm is a solution to our surpassing peak oil, our issues with obesity and health, sustainable food supplies, our debates about land use. The South Central Farm is a model for sustainability; reversing the effects of greenhouse gases by taking oil out of the food cultivation and distribution equation while providing people a way to sustain themselves in this time of rising food and oil prices affected by increasingly volatile weather patterns.” As of May 2011 the land remains an empty lot.

Details:

SAVE THE FARM tells the story of the largest urban farm in the United States, 14-acres sitting right in the middle of South Central Los Angeles. For 14 years, over 350 families had cultivated this farm, feeding themselves and thousands in their community local, organic food. When the city sells it to a developer in a closed-door meeting, activists and celebrities stage an 11th hour tree sit to save the farm. As the 5-year anniversary of the eviction approaches, director Michael Kuehnert demonstrates how a local community can come together to fight to save a farm they have come to depend on for their survival. www.savethefarmmovie.com | Facebook | Twitter | Trailer | Clips | Art

Technical Details:

DIGITAL RELEASE

TRT: 31 minutes

Catalog: CLS 1129 | Genre: Documentary

ABOUT CINEMA LIBRE:

For more information and updates, please visit: www.cinemalibrestudio.com | Updates | Facebook | Twitter |Affiliate Programs

For screener and interview requests contact: press (at) cinemalibrestudio (dot) com

For screenings, grassroots and educational use contact: screening (at) cinemalibrestudio (dot) com

GOD WENT SURFING WITH THE DEVIL, coming to DVD May 24th

Cassie Brewer — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:02:39 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“HIGHLY ENTERTAINING, with beautiful surf shots that blend well with the beauty of these goodwill ambassadors…” – Kathleen Amboy, SBCC Film Reviews

GOD WENT SURFING WITH THE DEVIL

DIVIDED BY POLITICS, UNITED BY SURF

Available on DVD May 24, 2011

LOS ANGELES (April 7, 2011) – Surf culture is not something usually considered in context to the Palestinian city of Gaza. But for the surfers of the Gaza Strip, Al Deira beach is a refuge where the allure of the surf allows them to forget “the situation.” A story in the Los Angeles Times about a rag-tag group of Arabic surfers inspired surfing legend, Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, to bring a dozen surf boards into the besieged country on a Surfing 4 Peace mission. GOD WENT SURFING WITH THE DEVIL, filmed in the spring 2008, tells the epic journey of the Surfing 4Peace emissaries, while they attempt to deliver an additional 23 surfboards to Gaza during a particularly violent time. The film will be released on DVD/digital platforms on May 24, 2011 with the DVD featuring the making-of and a photo journal.

Directed by professional skateboarder-turned filmmaker, Alexander Klein, the film documents the struggles and triumphs in catching a perfect wave in an imperfect land and the brotherhood that exists among surfers. Surfing 4 Peace founded in the Summer of 2007 by “Doc” Paskowitz, Arthur Rashkovan, an Israeli surfer and surf-industry professional, Dorian’s son David Paskowitz and 8-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater, is not a formal organization, but rather a community of concerned surfers and supporters that aims to bridge cultural and political barriers between surfers in the Middle East.

Klein and his team followed the Surfing4Peace crew to Gaza in 2008, when the borders had been locked down due to an escalation in violence. Military activity and violence has become part of daily life for the people of Gaza and Klein’s lens brings the difficulties and dangers encountered by the surfers on both sides of the political and cultural spectrum to technicolor life. Klein and crew dodged rocket fire and evaded arrest in his quest to capture the surfers’ stories while interviewing Jewish-Israelis, Arab-Israelis, and Palestinians affected by the violence.

This is the directorial debut for Klein, a graduate from UC Berkeley. Klein, who began his career as a professional skateboarder says, “My basic hope is that this film inspires viewers to once again believe in peace, just to get in the mindset that it’s possible. Cynicism is a destructive and self-fulfilling state of mind, but as the young surfers of GOD WENT SURFING WITH THE DEVIL show, a little love and optimism can create huge waves of change for the future”. The film won the “Duke Spirit” award at the California Surf Film Festival and was an official selection at Palm Beach Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Woods Hole Film Festival, Globians DocFest Berlin and Hawaii International Film Festival.

SYNOPSIS:

In 2006, when Israel sealed off the borders into the region, that ended the free-flow of people and goods. Shortly thereafter, it emerged that a small group of young men were surfing in Gaza, sharing battered surfboards and used gear. From first-time director, Alexander Klein, comes an inspirational film that charts the difficulties and dangers encountered by surfers in Gaza and how a non-profit group would attempt to deliver 23 surfboards into the region. Along the way, Israelis, Arab-Israelis and Palestinians who are affected by the violence, speak candidly about their daily struggle to supercede the conflict through the pure joy of surfing. www.godwentsurfing.com | Facebook | Clips & Trailer |

DVD DETAILS:

SRP: $19.95 | TRT: 84 minutes

PreBook: 4/12/11 | Street Date: 5/24/11

UPC: 881394111622 | Catalog: CLS 1116

Genre: Documentary/ Politics

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

· Entering the War Zone – The Making of God Went Surfing with the Devil

· Production Photo Journal with Audio Commentary

· Original Ending

DIGITAL ASSESTS :

High Res Box Art: http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/clscatalog/2011/GodWentSurfing_3D_HR.jpg

Low Res Box Art: http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/clscatalog/2011/GodWentSurfing_3D_LR.jpg

ABOUT CINEMA LIBRE: Cinema Libre Studio, a leader in distributing social issue documentaries and features by passionate filmmakers, is a haven for independent filmmakers offering a complete array of production and distribution resources. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Cinema Libre team has released over one hundred films and is best known for releasing the award‐winning films: OUTFOXED, UNCOVERED:THE WAR ON IRAQ, Participant Media’s ANGELS IN THE DUST, the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award Winner, CONVENTIONEERS, the Sundance Audience Award‐Winning FUEL and the studio’s highly acclaimed production, THE END OF POVERTY?. Others include Oliver Stone’s documentary SOUTH OF THE BORDER with films from Haskell Wexler and Rachid Bouchareb slated for 2011 releases. In 2011, Cinema Libre Studio is producing THE LAST DAYS OF KARL MARX in Algeria and Belgium as well as developing John Perkins’ best‐selling memoirs, CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN, into a major motion picture. For more information and updates, please visit: www.cinemalibrestudio.com

Media Inquiries:

Cinema Libre Studio

press (at) cinemalibrestudio (dot) com

Cinema Libre’s weekly #filmchat, Tuesdays at 4pm PT

Beth — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:38:49 +0000

Cinema Libre Studio will be hosting its first #filmchat on Twitter on Tuesday, March 22 at 4pm PT. This will be a one-hour chat via Twitter where we will make our team members available to answer questions about the indie film distribution process in as direct a manner as we can achieve in 130 characters.

Our goal is to share some tips with the filmmaking community so they can best prepare their films during the production and post production process to avoid expensive mistakes and help maximize opportunities for recoupment.

Disclaimer: This is the first time we’ve hosted and/or participated in this kind of event. We state apologies in advance for any hiccups that may occur during the event. We assume you know how to use Twitter and will not be offering any advice on how to use it.

How to participate/how we envision it working:

1) Make a search on your Twitter service provider (i.e. Twitter, TweetDeck, Hootsuite, etc.) for #filmchat

2) Starting at 4pm PT, start posing questions to @cinemalibre #filmchat (Please try and be concise and specific and specific. Example: @cinemalibre #filmchat, I’m about to output my film and wrap editing. Any last minute tips to maximize digital sales options?

3) We will answer questions as follows: @twittername #film chat A: Make sure frame rates from all sources match. Improper output limits a film’s options in digital world

About us: Cinema Libre Studio is a leader in the distribution of feature films by independent filmmakers and social issue documentaries. Our full-service studio, located in the Los Angeles area, has in-house divisions that include: DISTRIBUTION [inclusive of U.S. theatrical releases (from one-city to national), service deals (strategy and campaign management), DVD/Digital (direct relationships with the major retailers, rentailers, e-tailers (i.e. Netflix, itunes), and wholesalers), and EDUCATIONAL; INTERNATIONAL SALES (including annual presence at major markets: Cannes, MIP, AFM, etc.) and U.S. TV SALES that include MTV, SITV, CNBC, Starz, Sundance Channel, etc.), MARKETING/PR (from campaign strategy, graphics, web design, media buying, grassroots outreach and publicity), POST-PRODUCTION (complete post all the way to transfer from digital to 35mm) as well as PRODUCTION/co-production.

The parent company for Cinema Libre Studio has been in existence for twenty years. In the last eight years as Cinema Libre, we have released over 100 films that range from a mainstream commercial comedy such as “Raising Flagg” with Alan Arkin, to “The Beautiful Truth,” a cult doc about alternative cures to cancer, to the Sundance Award-winning/ green community favorite, “FUEL,” and Oliver Stone’s “South of the Border.” We produce films in the $1 – $35m range with John Perkins’ best-selling memoirs “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man” next on our slate.

For more information, please visit www.cinemalibrestudio.com.

Inquiries about acquisition for finished films of 52 minutes or more should be emailed to acquisitions (at) cinemalibrestudio (dot) com

info@cinemalibrestudio.com