LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) will release “A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY” on Friday, September 25th in the following cities: New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Washington D.C., Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Scottsdale/Phoenix, San Antonio, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Chicago, as well as on Digital HD and On Demand simultaneously. The film is also available now for pre-order to individuals, educators, communities and organizations who want to host their own screenings in local theaters or license the film for schools via the Tugg platform on the film’s website. Women Rising will be donating a percentage of proceeds from the film to The Megan Meier Foundation.
The highly acclaimed documentary, which won the Audience Award at SXSW this year, has gone on to win awards at all eight film festivals it has been a part of. Directed and produced by first-time filmmaker, Sara Hirsh Bordo, A BRAVE HEART showcases original music from multi Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles. YouTube celebrity Justine Ezarik (“iJustine”) and Alexis Jones, founder of I AM THAT GIRL, serve as executive producers alongside Velasquez.
A BRAVE HEART follows the inspiring journey of 26-year-old, 63-pound Lizzie from cyberbullying victim to anti-bullying activist. Born with a rare syndrome that prevents her from gaining weight, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Velasquez was first bullied as a child in school for looking different. As a teenager, she was bullied even more prominently online when she discovered a YouTube video labeling her “The World’s Ugliest Woman.” The film chronicles unheard stories and details of Lizzie’s physical and emotional journey up to her multi-million viewed TEDxAustinWomen talk (#1 TEDWomen event of 2013) and follows her evolution as a motivational speaker and activist as she lobbies Congress for the first federal anti-bullying bill: the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA). The film features private moments with Lizzie’s family including her parents, Rita and Lupe, and siblings Marina and Chris Velasquez. Also appearing in the documentary are anti-bullying advocate and founder of the Megan Meier Foundation, Tina Meier, anti-bullying expert Dr. Bob Faris, and Congresswomen Linda Sanchez, author of SSIA.
A BRAVE HEART will be playing at the following theaters opening weekend (9/25):
- New York/Village East
- Los Angeles/ArcLight Hollywood
- Washington, DC/ArcLight Bethesda
- Austin/Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane
- Austin/Violet Crown Cinema
- Dallas/AMC Grapevine Mills
- Houston/AMC First Colony 24
- Philadelphia/AMC Neshaminy 24
- Scottsdale|Phoenix/Harkins Shea
- San Antonio/Santikos Embassy 14
- San Antonio/Santikos Bijou Cinema Bistro
- Minneapolis/Minneapolis Film Society
- San Francisco/Roxie
- Chicago/AMC South Barrington
To watch a very special video from Lizzie announcing each city where the film will be shown, please view the following link: https://youtu.be/fVWBZ7o0w4U
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ABOUT CINEDIGM
Cinedigm is a leading independent content distributor in the United States, with direct relationships with thousands of physical retail storefronts and digital platforms, including Wal-Mart, Target, iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon, as well as the national Video on Demand platform on cable television. The company’s library of films and TV episodes encompasses award-winning documentaries from Docurama Films®, next-gen Indies from Flatiron Film Company®, acclaimed independent films and festival picks through partnerships with the Sundance Institute and Tribeca Films and a wide range of content from brand name suppliers, including National Geographic, Discovery, Scholastic, NFL, Shout Factory, Hallmark, Jim Henson and more.
Additionally, given Cinedigm’s infrastructure, technology, content and distribution expertise, the Company has rapidly become a leader in the quickly evolving over-the-top digital network business. Cinedigm’s first channel, DOCURAMA, launched in May 2014, and is currently available on iOS, Roku, Xbox and Samsung, with additional platforms currently being rolled out. Cinedigm launched CONtv, a Comic Con branded channel in partnership with WIZARD WORLD, on March 3, 2015. The Company’s third OTT channel, DOVE CHANNEL, will be a digital streaming subscription service targeted to families and kids seeking high quality and family friendly content approved by Dove Foundation. Adding to Cinedigm’s diversified portfolio of digital networks, in early 2015 the Company announced an OTT partnership with TV4 Entertainment and the planned launch of the BRIGHT edu-tainment OTT channel. Cinedigm™ and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp™ are trademarks of Cinedigm Corp.
ABOUT WOMEN RISING
Women Rising champions stories and creates memorable experiences that empower women and girls worldwide. In 2013, Women Rising produced and programmed the inaugural TEDxAustinWomen in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. The event became the #1 viewed TEDWomen event of 2013 from over 220 events across 58 countries. In 2014, Women Rising produced its first film, “A BRAVE HEART: The Lizzie Velasquez Story.” The film’s funding was launched via a Kickstarter campaign, becoming one of the site’s most successful crowdfunded documentary projects of all time. A BRAVE HEART premiered opening weekend of the 2014 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival and went on to win the Audience Award in its category in addition to top honors at every following festival including Newport Beach Film Festival, the Geena Davis founded Bentonville Film Festival, Illuminate Film Festival, Justice Film Festival, New York’s Lower East Side Film Festival, Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival and the Rhode Island International Film Festival. Directed and produced by Women Rising CEO and Founder, Sara Hirsh Bordo, the film will begin its US release by Cinedigm in September 2015 and its International release early 2016.