Campaign Updates

65_RedRoses: Live Life. Pass It On. #4Eva

Hello Cool World is the Canadian distributor for the film 65_RedRoses, a personal and touching journey that takes an unflinching look into the lives of Eva Markvoort and her two online friends who are all battling cystic fibrosis (CF) - a fatal genetic disease affecting the lungs and digestive system. Two years after receiving a double lung, her health began to fail. Eva's greatest wish was for the film to launch an international movement for organ donation and CF awareness, and we are using the profits to help make this dream a reality.

Although we are only the distributor in Canada for all versions of the DVD (home DVD, educational & institutional versions), we can organize community screenings internationally. Contact us if you're in the USA and Canada as we are mobilizing for an April/May campaign.

Surviving Progress

From Executive Producer MARTIN SCORSESE and the producers of THE CORPORATION and THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS

This stunning new feature documentary connects the financial collapse, growing inequity, and the Wall Street oligarchy, with future technology, sustainability, and the fate of civilization. When Surviving Progress first launched, #OccupyWallStreet was only few weeks away. Now, the film has made it's sold-out debut on the international scene, been filling seats across Canada, and has just enjoyed successful screenings at the Santa Barbara, Spokane, Boulder and Big Sky film festivals! And it's been nominated by an international jury in the Best Social Change production category for a 2012 History Makers Award recognizing “the very best in History, Current Affairs, and non-Fiction programming from around the world, across digital and TV platforms.”

"In light of the Occupy movement, that this film — 6 years in the making — is being released NOW is some kind of miracle of timing!"
- Mark Achbar, The Corporation

Check out the Surviving Progress Facebook page for all the action!

Prom Night in Mississippi - At the White House

Several weeks ago, film director-producer, Paul Saltzman, was invited to screen his documentary feature, Prom Night in Mississippi, at the White House. The award-winning film tells the story of Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman’s finally successful efforts to have the one high school in his hometown of Charleston, Mississippi hold it’s first ever integrated prom—in 2008!

In the audience were educators and students from several cities; representatives of the Smithsonian, the Urban League and the Southern Poverty Law Center; the Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. and two members of the Toronto District School Board, among others. Saltzman brought along 9 of the student ‘stars’ of the film.

President Obama was a possible guest but sent regrets that he was tied up. He had seen the film, privately, liked it and sent congratulations for the film and the work of Moving Beyond Prejudice—the non-profit founded by Saltzman and co-producer, Patricia Aquino. They have worked with over 25,000 young people and community groups since the film premiered at Sundance in 2009.

The screening was vibrant, with absorbed quiet, wonderful laughter and the audience swaying with the music. At the film’s end, Saltzman took the stage and said: "We have a wonderful surprise for you. Some of the 'stars' of the film are here with us." and as the 9 from Mississippi, most of whom had never flown before, came down the aisles and onto stage the whole audience rose in a standing ovation. The air was electric.

The Q&A lasted 90 minutes, with the audience wanting more. It took almost 20 minutes to clear the South Court Auditorium, as people continued the dialogue, with White House staff gently shooing everyone out, as they needed to prepare the room for another event.