ARTS ALLIANCE AMERICA AQUIRES U.S. DVD RIGHTS
TO JULIE STEVENS and GIL CATES JR. DOCU
"LIFE AFTER TOMORROW"
New York, NY September 20, 2007 – Arts Alliance America, formerly Hart Sharp Video, has acquired domestic DVD rights to “Life After Tomorrow,” the highly acclaimed documentary produced and directed by Julie Stevens and Gil Cates, Jr., it was announced today by Joe Amodei, President of Arts Alliance America. Winner of Best Documentary and Best Director Awards at the Phoenix Film Festival, the film explores the life-changing repercussions of child performers in the long-running Broadway musical “Annie.” “Life After Tomorrow” features appearances by Sarah Jessica Parker, Danielle Brisebois, Martha Byrne, Martin Charnin, Allison Smith, and Charles Strouse.
“We are thrilled to be releasing this film on DVD,” said Amodei. “Cates and co-director Julie Stevens, who was actually one of the orphans in the Broadway cast of ‘Annie,’ take viewers on an insightful and thought-provoking personal journey, while sharing the journey of others who overcame the hard knocks that follow the early success of being the iconic character known simply as Annie.”
The New York Times says, "The magic of Annie has always been related to the tens of thousands of girls who dreamed of being in the show, and the film is about those girls whose dreams came true." Entertainment Weekly comments "Plucked from obscurity at age 7, Studio 54 vets by 9, washed up at 12 – so it was for many girls who starred in the musical Annie.” A-"
and Veryshortlist.com stated “a fascinating, often harrowing documentary about the precocious kids who minted money for the show’s producers." “Life After Tomorrow” was also featured on the news show, “20/20.” The film was an Official Selection at the AFI Festival, Museum of TV & Radio Doc Fest, Malibu Film Festival and Palm Beach International Film Festival, among others.
Stevens recently produced and directed the short film, "The Conversation," which premiered at the Director's Guild in Los Angeles and is currently touring film festivals around the world. Stevens was one of 20 filmmakers selected for a new international cultural exchange program, AFI Project: 20/20. The program is a component of the U.S.’s new Global Cultural Initiative that brings together AFI, the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the U.S. Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. She recently traveled to Kuwait to screen “Life After Tomorrow” as part of the first American Film Festival.
Gil Cates, Jr. just completed directing a film with Seven Arts Pictures entitled, “Deal.” The film, set against the world of high-stakes poker, stars Burt Reynolds as an ex-gambler who meets a young hot shot card player who sucks him back into the world he’s been trying so hard to avoid. Additional cast members include Bret Harrison, Charles Durning, and Shannon Elizabeth. Cates’ previous film was the ensemble drama, “A Midsummer Night’s Rave,” which was released by THINKFilm. He also directed “The Mesmerist,” starring Neil Patrick Harris and Jessica Capshaw, and “$pent,” starring Jason London, Rain Phoenix and Margaret Cho.
ABOUT ARTS ALLIANCE AMERICA
Arts Alliance America (AAA), is part of Arts Alliance Media (AAM), Europe’s leading provider of digital film distribution services to the cinema, home and entertainment industry. Arts Alliance America, formerly Hart Sharp Video, was founded in 2003 by Joe Amodei to develop, acquire, market and distribute DVD product in the theatrical feature film, documentaries, special interest and sports categories. The company has built partnerships with Sundance Channel Home Entertainment, ESPN, MLB Productions, Bombo Sports and Entertainment, TV Guide and NESN and other high profile entertainment brands since their inception. Some upcoming AAA releases include Chalk, which pulls you in to the frenetic and awkwardly painful journey of three novice teachers, by director Mike Akel and Impossible to Forget: The Story of the 1967 Red Sox chronicling the most beloved, mythical team in the history of Boston sports.
For more information please visit www.artsallianceamerica.com and www.artsalliancemedia.com