Update on "Dear Zachary"
A LOT of positive buzz. Here's an update he sent around on what's
what with "Dear Zachary" of late. Check it out if you haven't yet
seen it.
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, May 27, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Subject: "Dear Zachary" #3 audience favorite at Hot Docs -- Silverdocs
in D.C. up next
Hello everyone,
It is with great pleasure that I write to you to report the
overwhelming reception "Dear Zachary" received at its Canadian
premiere last month at the Hot Docs International Documentary Film
Festival in Toronto. We were one of the critic's picks of the
festival in the local paper NOW...
http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/story.cfm?content=162802
...and continued to receive more wonderful notices:
http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/30/hot-docs-review-dear-zachary-a-letter-to-a-son-about-his-fathe/
When I arrived outside the Bloor Cinema for the 6:30 PM show on
Friday, April 25th, I was surprised to see a line down the block and
around the corner to get in. The packed audience was the most vocal
I've yet heard throughout the film, literally hissing the government
officials who refused to speak to me about what happened to Zachary.
When I accompanied Kate & David Bagby to the stage after the show, the
citizens of Toronto welcomed us with a 2 minute standing ovation, and
applauded yet again when I announced that I had sent letters to every
member of Canadian Parliament requesting the opportunity to screen the
film for them. (I have begun to receive responses and am in the
process of talking with certain helpful folks on Parliament Hill to
work toward making this screening a reality sometime later this year.)
The next screening on Sunday, April 27th was a virtual repeat of the
Friday screening. An article documenting the audience reaction is
here:
http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/30/hot-docs-2008-a-bunch-of-films-and-sadness-later/
After the festival wrapped that weekend, Hot Docs published the
results of their audience ballots -- out of 172 distinguished
documentaries from around the world, the Toronto audiences voted "Dear
Zachary" the #3 most popular film of the festival:
http://www.hotdocs.ca/index.php/daily/audience_award_winner_and_top_ten_announced_cida_award_presented_to_shock_w/
Numerous audience members have told us they've since written their
Members of Parliament in support of bail reform, and some have even
copied us on their letters. So it has begun. The response truly
couldn't have been better.
We have been invited to several more festivals throughout the rest of
this year, though I can't announce most of them publicly yet, as it's
common courtesy to wait until the festival itself announces its slate.
But the next big one is Silverdocs - the AFI/Discovery Channel
Documentary Film Festival, which runs from June 16-23 in Washington,
D.C. "Dear Zachary" shows June 21st & 22nd and I will be attending;
tickets can be purchased here:
http://silverdocs.com/festival/films/2008/dear-zachary-letter-son-about-his-father/
And at last, we're almost done negotiating our distribution contracts.
I'll let you know details just as soon as I'm allowed. Sorry again
to be so tight-lipped and thanks for your patience...all will be
public soon. :)
I hope this email finds everyone doing well. Happy June!
All the best,
Kurt
www.dearzachary.com
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