A vibrant chronicle of one of today’s most notorious and revered live bands, Gogol Bordello Non-Stop follows Eugene Hütz’s gypsy-punk brigade around the world as they spread their liberating libertine musical gospel. Filmmaker Margarita Jimeno tracks their raucous gigs from 2001 to 2006, from NYC to Italy, as the band rises from dingy basements to festival main-stages. The cast is a rotating circus of polyglot personalities from Israel, Russia and America, who dish on their music, their heritage, and their favored vices. Hütz, a sardonic mustachioed Ukrainian immigrant and the group ringleader, fuses his gypsy heritage with a love of punk rock and burlesque. Part carnival barker, social organizer, and poet, he’s a mesmerizing presence on-stage and off.
Gogol Bordello: Non Stop is an artful documentary that mixes flamboyant costumes, intricate dance choreography, a relentless beat and an explosive energy not seen since the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll.
“Their sound is raucous, sweaty, tuneful and recklessly vibrant, like the punk and Gypsy music that inspired them.”
-The New York Times
Now available on DVD, Meditate & Destroy is now accessible to viewers from the comfort of their homes or on the go exclusively via Alive Mind’s Video On Demand service. Meditate and Destroy is an 81-minute documentary about punk rock, spirituality, and inner rebellion. The film focuses on the bestselling author of Dharma Punx and Against the Stream, Noah Levine. Tattoos, motorcycles, and Buddha are featured in this hard-hitting look at how Buddhism has a place in the world of punks. This inspiring film opens our perception to the possibilities of finding new paths- even in our darkest hours.
This film provides an up-close look at how the driving forces in Noah’s life changed from violence, addiction and rebellion to taking on the role of dedicated meditation teacher and community leader - an individual whose candor inspires others to integrate Buddhist teachings of nonviolence and inner peace with a Western lifestyle.
Available to all U.S households or mobile devices with a high-speed Internet connection, Meditate & Destroy will inspire viewers to embrace the transformational power of Buddhism. Watch Meditate & Destroy now.
I hope you enjoy this quirky, unconventional film. Spread the word to all your friends and family about the upcoming DVD release in August 2009!
Direct from the Knitting Factory stage in downtown Manhattan, A Not So Silent Night features Kate and Anna McGarrigle in a live performance of The McGarrigle Christmas Hour, joined by Kate’s children, Rufus and Martha Wainwright. Other guests include Grammy award-winner Emmylou Harris, Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed, and famed performance artist Laurie Anderson. An eclectic cast performing original and traditional Christmas-themed songs transports viewers through a rousing rendition of the Christmas story.
Performed by a passionate cast of talented musicians, this memorable performance captures the holiday spirit as the performers, with Christmas bows on their sweaters, link arms and sway together with the music. From an upbeat rendition of “Christmas Wrapping” to a soulful “Thank God It’s Christmas,” A Not So Silent Night celebrates the magic of Christmas.
Inspirational Film Offered in Homes and on Mobile in Nationwide Launch from Alive Mind at Fiercelight.MyFilmblog.com
NEW YORK (MAY 4, 2009) - Beginning today, millions of people across the United States will be able to access the transformational documentary that captures the wave of Spiritual Activism exploding around the planet, and the powerful personalities who are igniting it on Video On Demand (VOD). Not yet available on DVD, Fierce Light is now accessible to viewers from the comfort of their homes or on the go at Fiercelight.MyFilmBlog.com. Available to all U.S households or mobile devices with a high-speed Internet connection, Fierce Light inspires viewers to embrace the transformational power of what Martin Luther King called “Love in Action,” and what Gandhi called “Soul Force.” Filmmaker Velcrow Ripper calls this uncompromisingly non-violent phenomenon Fierce Light-and attests that it is this very spirit that swept Barack Obama into the White House.
Velcrow Ripper, visionary filmmaker of Fierce Light said, “The philosophy that guides my work is the transformation of our world one person at a time. Fierce Light was created to empower people, to continue the change that is sweeping the world from Africa to Washington, from Mexico to Sri Lanka to South Central Los Angeles. By making my film available on demand, I hope to tap into the digital revolution that helped sweep Barack Obama into office.”
When viewers purchase a ticket to watch Fierce Light On Demand at MyFilmBlog.com, the price of the ticket ($4.95) will be applicable to the purchase of the DVD when released later in 2009 by Alive Mind. Fierce Light will also be available at select theaters and community screenings across America before the DVD release.
About Fierce Light
Fierce Light reveals the power of what Alice Walker calls the ‘Human Sunrise.” This film reveals what is possible when human beings, faced with a world in crisis, rise to their absolute best. The film features such luminaries as Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Alice Walker; Buddhist peace-activist monk Thich Nhat Hanh; famed tree-sitter Julia Butterfly Hill; Hollywood celebrity turned spiritual activist Daryl Hannah; dharma punk, Noah Levine, and many more. Fierce Light shows how small changes made by individuals have the power to transform our world. When billions of people make small changes, this results in enormous change. This exciting transformation begins in the heart, when one person dares to care. Each and every person has a role to play in this profound shift in consciousness, a shift from the small ‘me’ to the great ‘we.’ This is the evolution of activism, and the evolution of spirituality - a revolution of the heart.
MyFilmBlog, an Alive Mind portal, is a new online community connecting filmmakers with their audiences, who can watch their favorite films on demand from home or on the go. Critically-acclaimed documentarians, such as Nik Sheehan and Velcrow Ripper, as well as first-time filmmakers such as
Emma Franz, blog about their films as they move from festivals to theatrical distribution to DVD. Their films are also available on-demand from their individual myfilmblog site and visitors may purchase a seven-day VOD ticket and later apply the cost to the purchase of the DVD when released directly
by Alive Mind. VOD tickets will remain available throughout the theatrical and DVD release of each film.
About Alive Mind:
Alive Mind releases high quality documentaries in the areas of enlightened consciousness, secular spirituality and cultural change. Alive Mind’s recent DVD releases include FlicKeR, about the Beatnik artist and inventor of the Dreamachine; Tibetan Book of the Dead, narrated by Leonard Cohen; HAIR: Let the Sun Shine In about the generation-changing musical; and Through the Eastern Gate, a soul-provoking look into the deeper meaning of life.
Visit Alive Mind at www.alivemind.net. Sign-up for the newsletter and receive 10% off of your first purchase.
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New York, NY - March 12, 2009 - Lorber HT Digital has acquired all North American rights to the much anticipated documentary INTANGIBLE ASSET #82, the directorial debut of Australian jazz singer Emma Franz. The film will enjoy its North American premiere on March 14th at the 2009 South by South West Film Festival (SXSW) in the 24 Beats Per Second section. The deal was negotiated by Emma Franz for In The Sprocket Productions and by Richard Lorber and Elizabeth Sheldon for Lorber HT Digital.
Lorber HT Digital will open INTANGIBLE ASSET #82 theatrically at select venues in the second quarter of this year, and will also make it available to educational and cultural institutions. After the initial theatrical release, the Company will release the DVD to the consumer market on its soon to be announced music related label later in 2009.
Richard Lorber comments on the acquisition, “In the true tradition of transformative filmmaking, Emma Franz has documented an artist’s personal odyssey that results in a universal cultural epiphany. INTANGIBLE ASSET #82 is that rare work of alchemy where the power of music and film combine to transform character and transport an audience through art. We expect it to achieve a high degree of critical recognition and find a wide audience.”
INTANGIBLE ASSET #82 will screen at SXSW as follows:
• 9:15 PM, Saturday March 14th - Alamo Lamar 3, North American Premiere
• 8:30 PM, Tuesday March 17th - Alamo Lamar 2
• 9:00 PM, Saturday March 21st - Austin Convention Center
INTANGIBLE ASSET #82 will screen at Hot Docs as follows:
• 7:15 PM, Saturday May 2 - CUMB 2
• 2.00 PM, Tuesday May 5 - CUMB 2
About The Film
In her debut film, director Emma Franz captures the creative odyssey of Australian drummer Simon Barker in search of his muse, Korean Shaman Kim Seok-Chul - a Grand Master in his seventies who plays with immense energy and complex technique. After hearing a rare recording of Kim Seok-Chul’s music, Barker knew right away that he was listening to one of the world’s greatest improvisers. So unique, in fact, is the artistry of the Shaman that the Korean Government bestowed upon him the honorary title “Intangible Asset Number 82,” recognizing him as the pre-eminent practitioner, Grand Master and protector of his art form. Intrigued, Barker commits to find and learn from the enigmatic master. Yet Kim Seok-Chul proves elusive, despite the fame accompanying his official honor as being South Korea’s 82nd Intangible Asset.
Despite seven years of setbacks and obstacles, and with the Shaman now in his eighties, Barker’s commitment intensifies and he returns to Korea for the seventeenth time. Imbued with a sense of destiny, the journey becomes a rite of passage as Barker experiences life-changing encounters with the engaging and exotic characters who eventually lead him to the Shaman. INTANGIBLE ASSET #82 is a true testimony to the universal language of music and its transformative power.
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New York, NY, February 23, 2009 — Richard Lorber has acquired the U.S. home entertainment rights to the controversial hit Israeli comedy series ARAB LABOR (Avoda Aravit), it was announced today. The deal was negotiated by Keren Shahar for Israeli producing broadcaster Keshet (Channel 2) and by Richard Lorber and Elizabeth Sheldon for Lorber HT Digital. The pact was facilitated by Steven Lawrence for Link TV, the independent television network which premiered the series on U.S. television this past fall to enormous success and media attention. The uniqueness and quality of the series also led to the unprecedented presentation of individual episodes at leading U.S. film festivals. The Los Angeles Times calls the series, “…groundbreaking and amazing,” and the San Francisco Chronicle calls it’s creator, Sayed Kashua, “The Palestinian Seinfeld.” Lorber and Link will partner in marketing and cross-promoting continued U.S. broadcast and DVD and digital download sales of the series.
Lorber states, “Our Alive Mind label is quickly growing into a powerful force in the international documentary market because we are populating a niche that fills an underserved demand for transformative cultural programming. By “transformative” I mean programming that changes the viewer through watching and provides that coveted “Ah ha” response, which in the case of ARAB LABOR becomes “Ha ha,” the rare laughter of relief from truth wrought into comedy that transcends all cultural barriers.”
Alive Mind has acquired the U.S. theatrical, public performance and home video rights to the acclaimed documentary THEATER OF WAR, directed by John Walter (How to Draw a Bunny – Winner, Special Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival). Featuring Meryl Streep as the unforgettable Mother Courage, this 2008 documentary was based on the New York Shakespeare Festival production of Bertolt Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her Children” in Central Park. THEATER OF WAR displays yet another facet to the brilliance of Streep, recently honored at the Oscars® where she was cited for an unprecedented 15 nominations and two wins. The deal was negotiated by Sheri Levine and Michael Thornton of Forward Entertainment, Jack Turner of White Buffalo productions, and by Richard Lorber and Elizabeth Sheldon of Lorber HT Digital, for release under its Alive Mind banner.
Alive Mind will now advance the theatrical and festival roll-out of THEATER OF WAR which was recently showcased at New York’s Film Forum to stellar reviews, including that of Mahohla Dargis of the New York Times who called it an “…inspired, inspiring essayistic documentary.” The company has set bookings next month at the Coolidge Corner in Boston with other dates at the Walker in Minneapolis, Facets in Chicago, the Loft Cinema in Tucson, the Wexner Center in Columbus, the Kimball Theatre in Williamsburg, and many more to be announced soon. In addition, Alive Mind will offer public performance copies of the DVD for sale to cultural institutions, universities and libraries under its Alive Mind Education label, and will release the DVD to the consumer market next year.
Richard Lorber, commented, “In the gifted vision of John Walter, Brecht’s work via Tony Kushner takes on a new power, hugely amplified by Streep and Kline, a way of looking at the world through the creation of art and at a work of art from the inside out.”
John Walter adds, “The Alive Mind team has quickly demonstrated that they have an unique and intelligent way of bringing a film to its audience and we are excited to be working with them on THEATER OF WAR.”
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New York, NY – December 16, 2008 – Alive Mind has acquired all North American rights to Antonio Ferrera and Albert Maysles’ landmark documentary, THE GATES. The acquisition was negotiated by Antonio Ferrera and Patricia Jones (on behalf of Maysles Films, CVJ Corporation, and Ferrera Films) and Richard Lorber and Elizabeth Sheldon on behalf of Lorber HT Digital for release on their new specialty distribution label, Alive Mind.
Alive Mind will open THE GATES theatrically in New York next spring, and it will play select venues around the country throughout 2009. The film will also be immediately available to educational institutions that have been clamoring for it since its gala debut at The Tribeca Film Festival.
Richard Lorber, industry pioneer and founder of Alive Mind, elaborates, “The release of this extraordinary new film about the epic journey of Christo and Jeanne-Claude creates the opportunity for all Americans to experience the transformation of New York City by two of the world’s greatest living artists. This remarkable adventure was chronicled from its inception thirty years ago by the world renowned Maysles brothers and masterfully brought to fruition by Antonio Ferrera.” Albert Maysles adds, “We are delighted that through our film Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s visionary achievement will find new appreciation long after The Gates have come down. We look forward to working with Richard and his Alive Mind team to keep the story of the long march to Central Park alive.”
About The Film
Albert Maysles and his brother David (who died in 1987), who are best known for such films as Salesman, Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter and other landmark documentaries, began filming THE GATES in 1979, when internationally acclaimed artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude began actively pushing their installation project forward with Albert Maysles and his brother David (who died in 1987), who are best known for such films as Salesman, Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter and other landmark documentaries, began filming THE GATES in 1979, when internationally acclaimed artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude began actively pushing their installation project forward with the New York City government. The Maysles – Albert on camera, David on sound — captured the emerging controversy at community board hearings that pitted neighbor against neighbor over the appropriate use of Central Park. While Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s artistic vision sought to unite all of New York City, the public reaction was accusations of publicly financed defacement of a masterpiece, akin to putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa at tax payers’ expense. The proposal was eventually denied by Parks Commissioner Gordon Davis, but Christo and Jeanne-Claude were not to be deterred. Twenty-four years later, after 9/11 and the election of art patron Michael Bloomberg as mayor, the project was approved in January, 2003. The subsequent film, brought to fruition by Antonio Ferrera and co-directed with Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Matt Prinzing, chronicles the evolution of The Gates from concept to installation, ultimately overcoming public disapproval and transforming Central Park into a visual symphony of color, light, joy and beauty at an eventual cost to Christo and Jeanne-Claude of $21 million. The event, which brought over 4 million visitors from around the world to Central Park in mid-winter, is lovingly captured in this masterful film.
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New York, NY - March 12, 2009 - Lorber HT Digital has acquired all North American rights to the much anticipated documentary 
New York, NY – December 16, 2008 – Alive Mind has acquired all North American rights to Antonio Ferrera and Albert Maysles’ landmark documentary, THE GATES. The acquisition was negotiated by Antonio Ferrera and Patricia Jones (on behalf of Maysles Films, CVJ Corporation, and Ferrera Films) and Richard Lorber and Elizabeth Sheldon on behalf of Lorber HT Digital for release on their new specialty distribution label, Alive Mind.
