Canadian Premiere - Toronto International Film Festival 2015 - In TIFF DOCS
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Films We Like are pleased to announce they have acquired all Canadian rights to HEART OF A DOG, the new film by creative pioneer Laurie Anderson. The film will have its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, followed by an international premiere at the Venice Film Festival and Canadian premiere at The Toronto International Film Festival.
Since her surprise hit single, “O Superman” in 1981, Laurie Anderson’s work has defied categorization, and with Heart of a Dog, Anderson takes us on a wry, wondrous and unforgettable cinematic journey through love, death and language.
A personal essay that weaves together childhood memories, video diaries, philosophical musings on data collection, surveillance culture and the Buddhist conception of the afterlife, Heart of a Dog is also a heartfelt tribute to the artists, writers, musicians and thinkers who inspire her.
With HEART OF A DOG, Anderson bursts open the conventions of the documentary format and the essay film in her first feature since the 1986 concert movie Home of the Brave.
The deal was negotiated by Ron Mann, Filmmaker + Founder of Films We LIke with Richard Abramowitz, President of Abramorama.
Said Abramowitz, “It’s particularly comforting to put this magical film by an extraordinary artist in the hands of artist (and distributor) Ron Mann and his crack team at Films We Like. They’re the obvious – the only – choice north of the 49th parallel.”
LAURIE ANDERSON
Laurie Anderson is one of America’s most renowned — and daring — creative pioneers. She is best known for her multimedia presentations and innovative use of technology. As writer, director, visual artist and vocalist she has created groundbreaking works that span the worlds of art, theater and experimental music.
Her recording career, launched by “O Superman” in 1981, includes the soundtrack to her feature film HOME OF THE BRAVE and “Life on a String” (2001). Anderson's live shows range from simple spoken word to elaborate multi-media stage performances such as “Songs and Stories for Moby Dick” (1999). Anderson has published seven books and her visual work has been presented in major museums around the world.
In 2002, Anderson was appointed the first artist-in-residence of NASA which culminated in her 2004 touring solo performance “The End of the Moon”. Recent projects include a series of audio-visual installations and a high-definition film, “Hidden Inside Mountains,” created for World Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan. In 2007 she received the prestigious Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize for her outstanding contribution to the arts. In 2008 she completed a two-year worldwide tour of her performance piece, “Homeland,” which was released as an album on Nonesuch Records in June 2010. Anderson’s solo performance “Delusion” debuted at the Vancouver Cultural Olympiad in February 2010. In October 2010 a retrospective of her visual and installation work opened in Sao Paulo, Brazil and later traveled to Rio de Janiero. In 2011 her exhibition of new visual work titled “Forty-Nine Days In the Bardo” opened in Philadelphia, and “Boat,” her first exhibition of paintings, curated by Vito Schnabel in New York.
ABOUT ABRAMORAMA
An independent distribution and marketing company, Abramorama is an industry leader in the focused, personalized form of film distribution that provides invaluable alternatives to filmmakers and content owners. Over the course of more than 20 years, Abramorama has successfully distributed and marketed hundreds of films, including Asif Kapadia’s SENNA, Robert Stone’s PANDORA’S PROMISE; Cameron Crowe’s PEARL JAM TWENTY; Sacha Gervasi’s ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL, and Banksy’s Oscar-nominated, EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP. Abramorama released the surprise indie hit AWAKE: THE LIFE OF YOGANANDA, the critically acclaimed documentary PARTICLE FEVER, New York Times critics’ pick AN HONEST LIAR, and Tribeca FF Opening Night’s LIVE FROM NEW YORK!, and is currently releasing Laurie Anderson's astonishing HEART OF A DOG (Venice, Telluride, Toronto, NYFF 2015). Abramorama continues to lead in event cinema distribution, with recent titles including the Royal Opera House Ballet and Opera Cinema Season, Shakespeare’s Globe on Screen, Matisse at the Tate, Hermitage Revealed, PLANETARY (launched theatrically on Earth Day, 2015), and the visceral action sport feature THE SEARCH FOR FREEDOM. Upcoming event cinema releases include Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein’s THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING and Green Day’s HEART LIKE A HAND GRENADE.
FILMS WE LIKE
Founded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Grass, Comic Book Confidential, Altman) Films We Like is a boutique distributor of documentary, independent and international films in Canada. Recent releases include Force Majeure, Finding Vivian Maier, and the Academy Award-winner Ida.
Running time: 75 min.
Download high rez images, press notes.
Screenings at TIFF:
- Press & Industry, September 12, 11am, Scotiabank 4
- Public 1, September 13, 9:30pm, Isabel Bader Theatre
- Public 2, Monday, September 14, 11:45am, TIFF Bell Lightbox 2
- Press & Industry, September 17, 4:15pm, Scotiabank 14
- Public 3, September 20, 10:15am, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema
Media Contact
Virginia Kelly, V Kelly & Associates