HBO Documentary Films has acquired the U.S. television rights to Tom Donahue’s feature documentary film ‘Casting By’. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday evening to an enthusiastic crowd and will next be screened at the New York Film Festival.

Produced by Kate Lacey, Tom Donahue, Ilan Arboleda & Joanna Colbert, ‘Casting By’ puts the spotlight on filmmaking’s unsung heroes – the casting director – and takes us on a fast-paced journey through the last half-century of Hollywood history from an entirely new perspective. Casting pioneers like Marion Dougherty and Lynn Stalmaster were iconoclasts whose exquisite taste and gut instincts helped change the old studio system and usher in the New Hollywood with movies like ‘Midnight Cowboy’, ‘The Graduate’, ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’. Afforded the unprecedented freedom and power of the new medium of television, they broke away from the traditional typecasting of Hollywood and brought a new kind of leading man and leading lady to the screen, as in actors like James Dean, Dustin Hoffman, Bette Midler, Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman, et al.

Tom Donahue combines personal narratives from countless actors and directors including Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Clint Eastwood, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Jeff Bridges, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Diane Lane, Jon Voight, Bette Midler and John Travolta, with extensive archival material to reconstruct the untold tale of Hollywood’s most invisible and unheralded profession.

“The creation of ‘Casting By’ was a collaborative process made in the spirit of the late Marion Dougherty to recognize these unsung heroes.  We could not be more excited to have found the perfect home for our film at HBO,” said Donahue.

Josh Braun of Submarine negotiated the ‘Casting By’ deal on behalf of the producers –Genmaicha, CreativeChaos vmg and Our8s, with HBO.

Image Courtesy of  Casting By

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HBO Documentary Films continues its commitment to groundbreaking films in the second half of 2012. From an in-depth portrait of Ethel Kennedy by her daughter, to Rosie O’Donnell’s ‘Don’t Divorce Me! Kids’ Rules for Parents on Divorce’, to a moving look at dyslexia from James Redford, HBO showcases works by top directors who tackle thought-provoking topics.

Upcoming HBO documentaries include (in chronological order):

‘Don’t Divorce Me! Kids’ Rules for Parents on Divorce’ (September 20) spotlights children ranging in age from five to ten who have met the confusing, often-painful challenge of their parents’ divorce. Combining candid interviews, drawings, songs and photos, this insightful film gives kids a chance to share poignant stories of how divorce has impacted their lives – and offer helpful advice to their parents.

Executive produced by Rosie O’Donnell (HBO’s “A Family Is a Family Is a Family”), this heartfelt, upbeat documentary shows how children comprehend and cope with the separation of their parents, suggesting ways adults can make this difficult transition easier for their kids. Directed by Emmy winner Amy Schatz (HBO’s “Classical Baby”).

‘The Latino List: Volume 2’ (September 24) focuses on a remarkable group of Latino notables as they share candid personal stories in intimate interviews with NPR correspondent Maria Hinojosa, offering a unique glimpse into the vibrant and flourishing culture of Hispanic America. Directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (HBO’s “About Face: Supermodels Then and Now” and “The Black List”), the film spotlights individuals from a variety of backgrounds and professions who have richly contributed to the fabric of contemporary society, including George Lopez, Soledad O’Brien, and Victor Cruz.

‘Ethel’ (October 18) celebrates the remarkable life of Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Robert F. Kennedy, highlighted by revealing, little-known anecdotes from those who know her best: her family. Directed by Emmy-winning daughter Rory Kennedy (HBO’s “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib”), this personal portrait is the first film made about the Kennedys from within the family.

The documentary features candid interviews with Ethel – her first extended interview in more than two decades – and her children Kathleen, Joe, Bobby, Courtney, Kerry, Chris and Max, spanning her political awakening, the life she shared with Robert Kennedy, and the years following his death, when she raised their 11 children.

‘The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia’ (October 29), a 2012 Sundance Film Festival selection, tells the moving story of four young people who strive to overcome dyslexia and surpass society’s low expectations.

Inspired by the challenges facing his son Dylan, who was diagnosed as dyslexic after being functionally illiterate in the fourth grade, filmmaker James Redford includes appearances from such notable dyslexics as Sir Richard Branson, Charles Schwab, Gavin Newsom and David Boies, all of whom confirm what children, experts and families suggest: Dyslexia is as much a gift as a challenge.

‘Witness’ (November) follows a new generation of young combat photographers into conflict zones in Mexico, Brazil, Uganda and Libya. The four-part series chronicles these photo journalists’ immersions, their relations with the people on the ground and their closeness in battle – showing audiences why, when everyone else seeks cover, the war photographer stands.

Produced in collaboration with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Mann (“Ali,” HBO’s “Luck”) and acclaimed documentary and commercial director David Frankham.

‘The Lady of Rangoon’ (December) profiles Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition movement for democracy in Burma, who was under house arrest for 15 of the last 21 years. The film features an interview that was filmed covertly before her release. Directed by Angus MacQueen.

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On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck off the coast of Japan, leaving 15,372 people confirmed dead and 7,762 reported still missing. In the wake of the largest earthquake in the country’s history, some people drew the courage to revive and rebuild from cherry-blossom season, which began within weeks of the tragedy.

Oscar-nominated this year for Best Documentary Short Subject, ‘The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom’ shows how nature can be a rejuvenating – as well as a destructive – force when it debuts Monday, July 16 (10:00-10:40 PM ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Directed by Lucy Walker (the Oscar-nominated documentary feature “Waste Land”), this poignant film debuts immediately after the debut of the SXSW Film Festival hit “Birders: The Central Park Effect,” which offers a different look at how nature touches people.

The documentary will also show on HBO on July 18 (12:15 PM), July 24 (4:15 PM) and July 28 (6:00 AM, 3:15 PM).

The film will also be shown on HBO2 on July 18 (9:00 PM).

HBO Documentary Films presents another weekly series this summer, debuting provocative new specials every Monday through July 30. Other July films include: “Hard Times: Lost on Long Island” (July 9); “Birders: The Central Park Effect” (July 16); “Vito” (July 23); and “About Face: Supermodels Then and Now” (July 30).

‘The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom’ is a stunning visual poem about the ephemeral nature of life, and the healing power of Japan’s most beloved flower. The nation is transfixed by cherry blossom season, which runs from late March through April, with many people tracking the blossoms’ short life-cycle and attending “hanami,” or viewing parties, with family and friends.

Walker had originally planned to visit Japan to make a film about the cherry-blossom season, but on March 11, 2011, while she was making final preparations for her trip, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck, triggering tsunami waves of up to 133 feet on Japan’s northeastern coast. Initially unsure whether to continue, she flew to Tokyo with a small film crew and headed north to the Tohuku region, where she captured both the utter devastation and stoic resolve of survivors, many of whom had lost family members and friends.

‘The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom’ opens with harrowing home-video footage, shot from a hill, of a huge wave destroying the town below. A month later, a young woman stands on the same hill, remembering how she “watch[ed] people being consumed by the tsunami.” An older man tells how he tried and failed to save his oldest friend, proclaiming, “I don’t want a house. I don’t want clothes. I don’t want anything. I just want his life back.”

Others tell their stories of survival, escaping in their slippers and seeing whole houses rush toward them on a wave of black water. One couple living at a community center returns to the ruins of their house, hoping to rebuild. Their town is within the 30km exclusion zone around the Fukushima power plant, and many people wear cotton masks as protection from radiation.

Amidst the despair in the days following the tsunami comes a glimmer of hope in “sakura” (cherry blossom), a harbinger of spring in Japan and a national symbol of renewal. One man explains how the cherry blossom reflects the Japanese character, saying, “Each flower is tiny, and you can’t see one individually. But it’s beautiful when you see lots of flowers together. Japanese people see themselves that way too.”

Out of respect for the victims, many viewing parties were canceled this year, but people still visit the blossoms and take pictures. A man who lost his house shows where new plant shoots have sprouted on the beach, commenting that if plants can hang in there, humans can too. A young woman looking at the cleanup and construction adds, “Every year that the trees bloom, they’ll give us the courage to keep going.”

In addition to its Oscar nomination, ‘The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom’ received the Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was an official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Hamptons International Film Festival and BFI London.

‘The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom’ was directed by Lucy Walker with executive producers Tim Case and Charles V. Salice and producers Kira Carstensen and Lucy Walker. The director of photography was Aaron Phillips, the editor was Aki Mizutani, and the music was produced by Moby.

Image Courtesy of   Kasper Nybo

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Though the recession officially ended in summer 2009, the fallout continues for some 25 million unemployed and underemployed Americans, many of whom worked their way up the corporate ladder, achieving the American Dream, only to see it slip through their fingers.

Directed by Emmy winner Marc Levin and produced by Emmy winner Daphne Pinkerson, “Hard Time: Lost on Long Island” follows four families on Long Island – often labeled the birthplace of the post-war suburban American Dream – as they struggle to find work amidst shrinking finances and declining morale. The timely film debuts Monday, July 9 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

HBO Documentary Films presents another weekly series this summer, debuting provocative new specials every Monday from June 18 through July 30. Other July films include: “Marina Abramović The Artist Is Present” (July 2); “Birders: The Central Park Effect” (July 16); “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” (July 16); “Vito” (July 23); and “About Face: Supermodels Then and Now” (July 30).

Starting in summer 2010, when many hoped an era of recovery would begin, and continuing through the holiday season six months later, “Hard Time: Lost on Long Island” spotlights the challenges facing highly skilled, well-educated Long Islanders who lost their jobs. Public relations professional Anne Strauss notes, “Being unemployed for two years is not just a financial loss. It’s an emotional loss. It’s a loss of friendships. People disappear. You can’t socialize. It changes every facet of your life.”

When both people in a couple suffer economic hardships, it can cause considerable strain on their relationship, as Heather and David Hartstein testify. “Things between Heather and I became really difficult,” admits David.“I didn’t know how to handle and deal and feel emotion.” Compounding their crisis, the bank rejected their application for a loan modification on the same day their son tested positive for Down syndrome. They subsequently filed for bankruptcy. “That was when we decided…we’re done with all this,” explains Heather.

Image Courtesy of  Hard Time: Lost on Long Island

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HBO Documentary Films heats up the summer with thought-provoking new films on Monday nights, kicking off a new seven-week series Monday, June 18, exclusively on HBO.

From an unflinching study of America’s complex relationships with canines, to a mesmerizing portrait of preeminent performance artist Marina Abramović, to an inside look at the phenomenon of internet celebrity, to the lives of legendary supermodels, HBO documentaries take subscribers to worlds others rarely see.

This year’s summer series features the work of a wide range of directors, from veterans such as Marc Levin, Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Timothy Greenfield-Sanders to exciting first-time filmmakers, including Matthew Akers, Chris Moukarbel and ValerieVeatch.

Upcoming documentaries include (in chronological order):

‘One Nation Under Dog: Stories of Fear, Loss and Betrayal’ (debuting June 18) reveals the sobering realities behind America’s obsession with dogs, using startling images to show not only how far some dog lovers will go for theirpets, but how far the nation has to go before it treats all dogs humanely.

Americans have conducted a long love affair with canines, but lost amidst all the pampering are unpleasant truths about dog ownership, care and commerce, not to mention the daunting odds that face millions of unwanted shelter animals. Directed by Ellen Goosenberg Kent, Amanda Micheli and Jenny Carchman.

‘Me @The Zoo’ (June 25) is an in-depth exploration of the phenomenon of internetcelebrity. Profiling teenage video blogger Chris Crocker, who captured the international spotlight with his infamous “Leave Britney Alone” YouTube declaration, the film reveals how video sharing and social platforms have shaped the way people tell their stories and mediate their lives. An official selection of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, U.S. Documentary Competition; directed by Chris Moukarbel and Valerie Veatch.

‘Marina Abramović the Artist is Present’ (July 2) is an exclusive, behind-the-scenes portrait of “the grandmother of performance art” as she prepares for a blockbuster retrospective exhibit of her controversial work at The Museum of Modern Art. This mesmerizing cinematic journey inside the world of radical performance reveals an astonishingly magnetic, endlessly intriguing woman who draws no distinction between life and art. Directed by first-time filmmaker Matthew Akers.

‘Hard Times: Lost on Long Island’ (July 9), directed and produced by Marc Levin (HBO’s duPont Award-winning “Triangle: Remembering the Fire” and Emmy-winning “Thug Life in D.C.”), looks at the long-term unemployed and the shrinking of the middle class. Chronicling the lives of four families over a six-month period, beginning in summer 2010, the film chronicles the growing problems and despair of subjects searching in vain for employment.

‘The Tsunami & The Cherry Blossom’ (July 16), recently nominated for a Documentary Short Oscar, follows survivors of Japan’s March 2011 tsunami, who find the courage to revive and rebuild as cherry blossom season begins. The film is an allegory about the transient nature of life and the healing power of Japan’s most beloved flower. Directed by Lucy Walker (the Oscar-nominated documentary feature “Waste Land”).

‘Birders: The Central Park Effect’ (July 16), reveals the extraordinary array of wild birds who grace Manhattan’s celebrated patch of green and the equally colorful New Yorkers who schedule their lives around the rhythms of migration. A 2012 SXSW selection in Documentary Feature Competition, it focuses on seven subjects who have discovered a profound connection with this hidden natural world and regularly visit the park, including author Jonathan Franzen, Anya, a teenager fascinated with the birds because they are “so alive, active, varied, and beautiful,” and Starr Saphir, the “matriarch” of Central Park bird watching. Directed and produced by first-time filmmaker Jeffrey Kimball.

‘Vito’ (July 23) recounts the life of Vito Russo, one of the founding fathers of the gay liberation movement. Playing a pivotal role in the formative years of the GAA (Gay Activists Alliance), GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), he was also a writer, best known for “The Celluloid Closet,” the first book to examine how LBGT people were portrayed in the movies. Just months before his death from AIDS in 1990, Russo remained an active lecturer on gay issues, traveling to college campuses and gay film festivals. Directed by Jeffrey Schwarz (“Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story”).

‘About Face: Supermodels, Then and Now’ (July 30), directed by portrait photographer and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (HBO’s “The Black List” and “The Latino List”), explores the lives of some of the fashion world’s most legendary models, highlighting the complex relationship between physical appearance and the business of beauty.

The film features conversations with such celebrated supermodels as Carol Alt, Marisa Berenson, Karen Bjornson, Christie Brinkley, Pat Cleveland, Carmen Dell’Orefice, Jerry Hall, Bethann Hardison, Beverly Johnson, China Machado, Paulina Porizkova, Isabella Rossellini, Lisa Taylor and Cheryl Tiegs, revealing their role in defining — and redefining — beauty over time. An official selection of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

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HBO Documentary Films has acquired the domestic TV rights to ‘The Central Park Effect’, it was announced today by HBO and Submarine Entertainment. A 2012 SXSW selection in Documentary Feature Competition, the film will debut on HBO this summer.

Featuring Chris Cooper, Jonathan Franzen and Starr Saphir, among others, the film is directed and produced by Jeffrey Kimball and executive produced by Pamela Hogan and Tom Casciato. The deal was negotiated by Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers with HBO Documentary Films.

‘The Central Park Effect’ reveals the extraordinary array of wild birds who grace Manhattan’s celebrated patch of green and the equally colorful New Yorkers who schedule their lives around the rhythms of migration. The film focuses on seven main subjects who regularly visit the park and have found a profound connection with this hidden natural world.

“HBO is the ideal home for ‘The Central Park Effect’ and gives us the ability to tell an important story to millions of people,” says filmmaker Jeffrey Kimball. “Even though it’s set in the middle of New York City, this is a story about people’s connection to nature. It’s important for us to realize that as the world becomes more urbanized, nature doesn’t have to entirely disappear from cities.”

‘The Central Park Effect’ is an Other Noises production; directed and produced by Jeffrey Kimball and executive produced by Pamela Hogan and Tom Casciato.

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This spring, HBO Latino, the HBO network’s dedicated Spanish-language premium channel, will present an incredible lineup of programs certain to appeal to today’s multigenerational and bilingual Hispanic households.

Two new and exciting original series from HBO Latin America, Destino Deporte and Mujer de Fases, will make their U.S. television premieres on HBO Latino along with three new Spanish-language films under the Estrenos Latinos banner.

The HBO Latino lineup will also include Spanish presentations of HBO original programs including the return of Games of Thrones, the new series Girls and Veep, HBO Films Hemingway & Gellhorn, the HBO Documentary Films presentation of The Weight of the Nation and HBO Sports events.

Content exclusive to HBO

Destino Deporte (“Sports Destination”) (Mexico) – This international journalistic documentary series goes beyond the scores and statistics to cover the unexplored side of sports.

Stories include the triumphs and tragedy of “lucha libre” in Mexico City, Brazil’s preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games, the excessive competitiveness and persistent cases of drug use in sports, and the looming fear of retirement that is a reality for many athletes.

Meet the cliff divers of Acapulco, female bullfighter Lupita Lopez, former Uruguayan soccer idol Dario Silva, Patrick, who sees soccer as the only way out of the “City of God” favela in Rio de Janeiro, and more. Via in-depth investigations, Destino Deporte delves below the surface to reveal the incredible diversity and the unexpected facets of what is defined as sports. Premiere: Monday, April 9, 8:00 p.m. ET. (Visit for more information or artwork).

Mujer de Fases (“States of Grace”) (Brazil) – An all-new, 13-part comedy series from Brazil, Mujer de Fases is a modern chronicle on romantic relationships and the search for love. Based on the book Louca por Homen (Crazy for Men) by Brazilian author Claudia Tajes, the series follows the adventures of Grace, a recently divorced 30-something woman who is anxious to restart her life.

Along her journey, Grace becomes involved with a number of men, but soon realizes that finding a mate is not an easy task, and unlike a fairy tale, in most cases the prince turns into a frog – not the other way around. Cast includes Elisa Volpatto, Rodrigo Pando, Antoniela Canto, Mira Haar and Julia Assis Brazil. Premiere: Friday, April 13 at 10:00 p.m. ET.  (Visit for more information or artwork).

Cutting edge and critically acclaimed Spanish-language films from Latin America, Spain and the Caribbean take center stage on Friday nights, with a new film making its U.S. television on the first or second Friday of every month:

La Isla Interior (Spain) – The imminent death of their father brings together three siblings struggling with a genetic legacy of mental illness. Martin wants to leave his job as a teacher and become a writer in Paris. Gracia, an actress, wants to put some reality back into the fictional world her life has become.

And Coral seeks love, hiding a dark secret that keeps her from forming healthy relationships. Brought together by their father’s illness, they must confront their inner conflicts to avoid following in his footsteps. Starring Candela Peña, Alberto San Juan and Cristina Marcos. Premiere: Friday, April 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

A Tiro de Piedra (Mexico) – After dreaming he will discover a fortune, 21-year-old Jacinto Medina leaves behind his sheepherder life in Mexico and sets off on a mysterious and sobering journey to the northwest United States, where he believes fortune awaits him. Starring Rogelio Medina, Jacinto Medina and Alejandra España. Premiere: Friday, May 4 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Habana Eva (Cuba/Spain) – In a Havana that’s been shaken by Fidel’s retirement, a young seamstress dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Frustrated by her lazy but endearing Cuban boyfriend, she meets a sophisticated expatriate Venezuelan photographer who dazzles her with promises of a glamorous future.

After many deceptions and surprises, Eva has to choose between the two men she loves, reaching an unexpected decision that is a humorous metaphor for Cuba’s options for the future. Starring Prakriti Maduro, Yuliet Cruz, Juan Carlos Garcia and Carlos Enrique Almirante. Premiere: Friday, June 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Original HBO Programming

Among the HBO original programs that will also be available in Spanish on HBO Latino are the following highly-anticipated series and programs.

Game of Thrones — Based on the bestselling fantasy book series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning HBO drama series continues the epic story of duplicity and treachery, nobility and honor, conquest and triumph in the land of Westeros.

In the all-new second season, kings from across the land vie for the single, all-powerful throne against the backdrop of a fast-approaching winter – the season of the white raven. Returning cast members include Emmy and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Michelle Fairley, Aidan Gillen, Jack Gleeson, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Richard Madden, Rory McCann, Iain Glen, Alfie Allen, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams. Premiere: Sunday, April 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Girls — Created by and starring Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture), the new series takes a comic look at a group of 20-something women in New York City who are trying to figure out what they want – from life, from men, from themselves and each other.

Cast includes Jemima Kirke, Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet and Adam Driver, with recurring guest stars including Chris Abbott and Alex Karpovsky. Premiere: Sunday, April 15 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Veep — Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Emmy winner for Seinfield and The New Adventures of Old Christine), stars in this new series which follows the story of a woman who becomes vice president, only to discover the job is nothing like she expected, but everything she was warned about. Ensemble cast includes Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh, Reid Scott, Timothy C. Simons and Sufe Bradshaw. Premiere: Sunday, April 22 at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Hemingway & Gellhorn — The HBO Films presentation stars Academy Award nominee Clive Owen (Closer) and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman (The Hours) in a story about the tumultuous romance and subsequent marriage of literary master Ernest Hemingway and war correspondent Martha Gellhorn. Premiere: Monday, May 28 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

The Weight of the Nation — A 4-part, multi-platform project from HBO Documentary Films, this series addresses one of the most pressing health issues in America today – obesity.  Premiere: Monday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

An additional 3-part series, The Weight of the Nation for Kids, will look at children who have taken action to prevent obesity in their lives and communities. Premiere: Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. ET

HBO Latino is a dedicated Spanish-language premium channel that delivers compelling and relevant programming to the U.S. Latino market. Exclusive to the channel are the regular U.S. premieres of Spanish-language series, films, and documentaries acquired from North America, Latin America and Spain, as well as original short-form programming.

Additionally, HBO Latino offers the best Hollywood movies and HBO original programming from the network’s main channel in Spanish. Visit http://www.hbolatino.com for more information and scheduling. HBO Latino is included with an HBO subscription.

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The Ricky Gervais Show, the animated comedy series based on the record-breaking podcast, returns to HBO for its 13-episode third season on Friday, April 20, with other new episodes debuting subsequent Fridays at the same time. The voices are recorded by Ricky Gervais, his longtime collaborator, Stephen Merchant, and Gervais’ colleague and friend, Karl Pilkington, whose offbeat musings inspire many of the storylines.

The Ricky Gervais Show animates the podcast that first appeared on the Guardian website, subsequently earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloads. In March 2011, the podcast reportedly passed the 300 million download mark.

Topics covered in season three include: Karl ruminating on museum collections, his invention of the mug coaster, a movie pitch, and Karl, Stephen and Ricky shedding new light on charitable causes.

The Ricky Gervais Show has inspired critical praise, with the New York Times saying the series is “proof that big laughs can come in small doses,” while the New York Post described the show as “crazy fun,” and the Houston Chronicle observed that the show’s “pointless conversations will keep you in stitches.”

The Ricky Gervais Show is produced for HBO Entertainment by Media Rights Capital in association with Wildbrain Entertainment; executive producers, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington, Glyn Hughes, Bob Higgins, Lisa Ullmann and Steve Patrick; supervising producers, Margaret M. Dean and Shannon Nettleton; producer, Pamela J. Arseneau and director, Dan Fraga.

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The concluding documentary in HBO and HBO2‘s month of documentaries about modern-day India is the story of women’s rights in rural India. As a young girl in rural India, Sampat Pal was married into a family where she was often beaten. But she fought back, leaving her in-laws and eventually becoming famous as a champion for beleaguered women throughout Uttar Pradesh.

The latest foray into the lives of extraordinary women from director Kim Longinotto (Rough Aunties), Pink Saris profiles the unlikely political activists of Northern India’s Gulabi Gang and their fearless leader, Sampat Pal, who battle antiquated caste traditions that produce lives of verbal, physical and sexual abuse. The moving documentary debuts November 30, exclusively on HBO2.

Sampat Pal is the leader of the Gulabi Gang (aka the Pink Gang), a vigilante group of women in Northern India distinguished by their distinctive bright pink saris. Like many other women, Pal was married as a young girl into a family that made her work hard and often beat her. Unlike most other Indian women, she overcame her problems to become an outspoken, self-described “messiah” for women.

Though domestic abuse is illegal in India, tradition and the caste system are steadfastly upheld by many, especially in the rural areas where the Pink Gang operates. By tradition, women are not allowed to live with their own parents once they are married, and are at the mercy of the husband’s family.

If a woman comes from a lower caste, she is often not allowed to marry a man of higher rank. Pal’s strategy is to expose abusive husbands, in-laws and other offenders by settling family matters out in the open, turning the tables on those who did the damage.

Among the women who see her and the Pink Gang as their only hope are Rekha, a 14-year-old homeless “untouchable” (the lowest caste, whose members are now known as Dalits) who is three months pregnant and unable to marry her unborn child’s father because of her low caste, and 15-year-old Renu, whose husband from an arranged marriage has abandoned her and whose father-in-law has been abusing her.

Pal says, “Forget tradition. Women won’t suffer in silence. They won’t keep quiet any more.” While Pink Saris highlights Sampat Pal’s strength and passion as a leader, as well as her unique way of resolving disputes, it also sheds light on her private troubles. Her partner, Babuji, who has watched Pal change over the years, is less certain about her high-profile methods.

Kim Longinotto, the world-renowned director of Pink Saris, has won awards at festivals worldwide, including the World Cinema Jury Prize in Documentary at Sundance for Rough Aunties, which aired on HBO2 in May 2010; a 2008 Peabody Award and two Cannes awards for Sisters in Law; and an Amnesty International DOEN Award at IDFA and Best Doc UK Spotlight at Hot Docs for The Day I Will Never Forget, which premiered at Sundance in 2003 and debuted on Cinemax that year.

The Museum of Modern Art honored her with a film retrospective of her body of work in 2009 and she received Hot Docs’ Outstanding Achievement Award in 2010.

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