Two films expected to be in the awards hunt as the year progresses will screen in tandem at a special one-night only film festival in Tulsa, OK.
04.05.2024 - 11:03 / variety.com
Addie Morfoot Contributor Elaine Epstein says that winning Hot Docs Forum’s top First Look prize of Can $20,000 cash for her film “Arrest the Midwife” is a “game changer.” The project, which has been on a close to year-long hiatus, will now finally be able to resume due to the award. “The last money we raised was 10 months ago,” Epstein said. “So it’s been a while.
We raised money and then things stopped.” “Arrest the Midwife” was one of 20 projects presented to key funders and decision-makers as well as filmmakers, producers and other observers at the 25th edition of the two-day Forum pitch event. Produced through Epstein’s Underdog Films (U.S.), with producer Robin Hessman and executive producer Ruth Ann Harnisch, the doc chronicles the arrest of three midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities. When a Mennonite baby died after being attended to by a homebirth midwife, an unprecedented legal drama ensued.
One midwife was charged with 95 felony charges, including criminally negligent homicide. Shortly after, two other midwives were arrested and similarly charged. In the film, Epstein follows an unlikely group of activists who fight for freedom of choice in birthing rights.
“It’s a difficult funding landscape right now,” said Hessman. “I’ve been in this business for 30 years and I have not quite seen it like this. With Participant closing down, the Threshold Foundation’s documentary fund closing and and HBO going through its own turmoil, the funding landscape has changed so much in so many significant ways.” Hessman said the money from Hot Docs will go toward “paying things that have not been paid.” “Winning this prize is the leg up we need right now,” Epstein said.
Two films expected to be in the awards hunt as the year progresses will screen in tandem at a special one-night only film festival in Tulsa, OK.
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events.
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