
April 16, 2015
Cinedigm Acquires North American Rights to SXSW Audience Award Winner A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY Documentary Follows Extraordinary Womans Journey from Cyber Bullying Target to Inspiring Anti-Bullying Activist and Champion
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) has acquired North American theatrical, digital and home entertainment distribution rights to A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY. The highly acclaimed documentary premiered last month at SXSW, received multiple standing ovations and won the prestigious festivals Audience Award in its category.
The film is targeted to have a traditional theatrical release in October 2015, followed by full distribution in the physical, television and digital home entertainment channels and Cinedigms DOCURAMA digital network in early 2016.
From the producers of the most viewed TEDxWomen event of 2013 comes A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY, a film which follows the inspiring journey of 26-year-old, 63-pound Lizzie from cyber-bullying victim to anti-bullying activist. First-time director Sara Hirsh Bordos company, WOMEN RISING, produced TEDxAustinWomen, where Lizzies famous How Do You Define Yourself? talk was presented. The films production was funded via a Kickstarter campaign and was one of the sites most successful crowd-funded documentary projects of all time.
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 Worlds Ugliest Woman. The film chronicles unheard stories and details of Lizzies physical and emotional journey up to her multi-million viewed TEDxAustinWomen talk and follows her evolution as 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 Lizzies family including her parents, Rita and Lupe, and siblings Chris and Marina Velasquez. 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, also appear in the film, which 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.
Rarely have I seen a film that touches an audience in such a primal way, says Yolanda Macias, Cinedigms Executive Vice President of Acquisitions. We think everyone in the world should see this film and that Lizzie should be extolled for her extraordinary work in human rights activism. In a similar vein to our award-winning projects THE INVISIBLE WAR and GIRL RISING, we could not be more proud to distribute this prestige film.
Cinedigm is building a legacy around supporting important films with extraordinary heroes, said Sara Hirsh Bordo, Director and Producer, and Founder of Women Rising, the shingle that produced the film. We wanted more than a distributor; we wanted a partner. Cinedigm is the perfect addition to Team Lizzie and we are excited and ready to share Lizzies inspiring story of hope with audiences everywhere.
Abby Davis and Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers, with Kristin Harris representing Cinedigm.
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 companys 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 Cinedigms infrastructure, technology, content and distribution expertise, the Company has rapidly become a leader in the quickly evolving over-the-top digital network business. Cinedigms 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 Companys third OTT channel, DOVE ENTERTAINMENT 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 Cinedigms 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 unique 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 the documentary A BRAVE HEART: The Lizzie Velasquez Story. The films production was funded via a Kickstarter campaign and was one of the sites most successful crowd-funded documentary projects of all time. A BRAVE HEART premiered opening weekend of the South by
Most recent headlines
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
06/09/2025
(L-R) Dylan O'Brien and James Sweeney attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Twinless premiere at Eccles Theatre. (Photo by George Pimentel/Shutterstock f...
06/09/2025
LONDON Vizrt has introduced Viz Arena 6, the newest version of its all-in-one live augmented reality (AR) graphics and virtual advertising sports solution. The ...
06/09/2025
SEATTLE Amazon Web Services (AWS) will feature 56 AWS Partners making various demos that showcase the technologies and use cases shaping the future of the Media...
06/09/2025
In news that highlights the ongoing importance of video games, PBS Kids is making its first foray into gameplay content with the September 5 launch of Odd Squa...
06/09/2025
PBS chief executive Paula Kerger has sent an email to staff outlining plans to cut about 100 positions or 15% of its staff, following the loss of Federal fundin...
06/09/2025
A new era of recognition as IABM honors the people, projects and innovations driving real impact
IABM has confirmed the shortlist for the new IABM Impact Award...
06/09/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer experiences, announces new capabilities to help customers create once, adapt automaticall...
06/09/2025
Studio Technologies, a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio, video, and fiber-optic solutions, will spotlight four of its innovative audio solutions at th...
06/09/2025
DigitalGlue, creator of the award-winning creative.space managed storage platform, today announced a technology preview of Creative Intelligence (CI) powered by...
06/09/2025
Eye Filmmuseum is the Netherlands leading film museum, offering a rich variety of experiences from screenings of classic films to cultural exhibitions. With fou...
06/09/2025
The latest innovations in Grass Valley's AMPP applications will be on full display at IBC 2025, as the company brings significant updates to Playout X, its ...
06/09/2025
Disguise has announced the launch of the GX 3 , its most powerful media server ever. Built on NVIDIA's cutting-edge Blackwell GPU architecture and including...
06/09/2025
Autoscript and Autocue have announced the launch of a new advanced PTZ prompter system shared by both brands and designed to provide seamless, professional prom...
06/09/2025
Sachtler has added four new models to its award-winning aktiv and FSB Mk II fluid head ranges. The aktiv16T and aktiv18T, plus the FSB 16T Mk II and FSB 18T Mk...
06/09/2025
CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, will present its bold new vision for the fu...
06/09/2025
DHD has chosen IBC 2025 (Amsterdam, 12-15 September) as the launch venue for the latest version of its RM1 all-in-one portable audio production and broadcast sy...
06/09/2025
AJA Video Systems debuted IP25-R, a Mini-Converter for connecting SMPTE ST 2110 networks with 4K SDI/HDMI infrastructures. IP25-R lets broadcast, production, an...
06/09/2025
AJA Video Systems today introduced new products and updates ahead of the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2025 that streamline signal flow management...
06/09/2025
Researchers map key human proteins that power coronavirus replication, pointing to new treatment strategies Findings from Scripps Research reveal promising drug...
05/09/2025
Your listening habits are as unique as you are-and this year, Spotify has introduced a wave of new features to help you personalize your experience. From playli...
05/09/2025
SBS kicks off a confident slate with the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 , premium dram...
05/09/2025
Today's Historic Settlement Underscores SBS's Powerful New Series The Pe...
05/09/2025
L3Harris Chief Financial Officer and Aerojet Rocketdyne President Ken Bedingfiel...
05/09/2025
PHILADELPHIA NBC Sports will present tonight's NFL Kickoff Game between the '25 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys on Peacock in...
05/09/2025
Warner Bros. Discovery filed a lawsuit against Gen AI company Midjourney this week, claiming that the company violated the studio's copyright....
05/09/2025
Alum Esin Ayd ng z Pens Nevermore Alma Mater' for Netflix's Wednesday The Grammy-nominated composer appears on this season's soundtrack alongside...
05/09/2025
C-SPAN and YouTube this week announced an agreement in which YouTube will sponsor C-SPAN's America 250 programming and expand access to C-SPAN's politic...
05/09/2025
LONDON Live broadcast infrastructure solutions provider Techex has added Peter Dawidzik as senior director, sales and business development....
05/09/2025
As news organizations and broadcasters face more pressure than ever to capture, verify, and distribute real-time access to breaking news, Reuters and Amazon Web...
05/09/2025
LOS ANGELES The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today said it has begun accepting submissions for its expanded HPA Engineering Excellence Awards, which...
05/09/2025
Sage has released an update to its most recent firmware for its Digital ENDEC model 3644....
05/09/2025
LONDON and LOS ANGELES ThinkAnalytics will debut ThinkMetadataAI, the company's latest step in recommendations, search and discovery services....
05/09/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commissions Media Bureau has announced that the agency is initiating a phased process to lift the current freeze on major ...
05/09/2025
TORONTO Quickplay will feature its newly unveiled AI Studio that assists broadcasters and streamers in transforming their content libraries into short-form asse...
05/09/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Five-Year Partnership with The Verdon F...
05/09/2025
Alum Esin Ayding z Pens Nevermore Alma Mater' for Netflix's Wednesday The Grammy-nominated composer appears on this season's soundtrack alongside...
05/09/2025
Rohde & Schwarz UK awarded Silver Award under Defence Employer Recognition Schem...
05/09/2025
Back to All News
Two Desperate Souls and One Desperate Choice: As You Stood By...
05/09/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils New BAKI-DOU' Anime and First Look at BE...
05/09/2025
This weekend sees another feast in store for all sport fans as RT airs a jam-packed schedule of live, free-to-air sport.
The Amgen Irish Open continues all we...
04/09/2025
(Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones appear in Train Dreams by Clint Bentley, an of...
04/09/2025
SBS kicks off a confident slate with the 2026 FIFA World Cup2026 , premium drama...
04/09/2025
Watch the Record-breaking Koori Knockout 2025 LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on NITV and SBS...
04/09/2025
WALTHAM, Mass. Zixi, a provider of video-delivery-over-IP technology, has named Sue Mitchell as director of account management, EMEA....
04/09/2025
NEW YORK In news that highlights the importance of the NFL and sports for the TV and streaming industry, NBCUniversal is reporting record revenue for its 20th s...
04/09/2025
OTTAWA Ross Video has acquired LAMA, a Dutch-based developer of advanced audio production software known for its innovative live mixing solutions. The acquisiti...
04/09/2025
CINCINNATI GatesAir will bring its 5G passthrough demo to IBC audiences once again as interest in the technology's value for broadcast-to-mobile delivery gr...
04/09/2025
BURY ST. EDMUNDS, England Autoscript and Autocue will showcase their newly launched PTZ prompter system during IBC2025, Sept. 12-15 at the RAI Amsterdam Convent...
04/09/2025
Watch the Benn Family Band Perform I Wont Give Up on Americas Got Talent Assistant Professor Loren Benn and her family gave an emotional live performance of t...