HBO has confirmed the second-season debuts of the acclaimed series “Enlightened” and “Girls,” with both shows scheduled to kick off ten-episode second seasons in Jan. 2013.

“Enlightened” tells the story of an ambitious executive at a global conglomerate, who returns to her fractured life after a humiliating public breakdown, determined to lead a more enlightened existence. But her newfound noble intentions only ratchet up the drama, wreaking unexpected havoc on those around her. Laura Dern stars in the series, which she executive produces along with Mike White, who also co-stars, writes and directs. The show concluded its first season in December 2011, with Dern receiving a 2012 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical.

The Los Angeles Times called “Enlightened” “the most interesting and ambitious series of the fall season,” while the Hollywood Reporter hailed it as “very funny” and “emotionally resonant.” The New York Times described the show as “funny, sardonic,” and the Washington Post termed it “wonderfully realized” and “unique.”

Created by and starring Lena Dunham, “Girls” takes a comic look at the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of a group of girls in their early 20s. Dunham, Judd Apatow and Jenni Konner executive produce the show, which concluded its first season in June. Bruce Eric Kaplan and Ilene S. Landress co-executive produce. The cast also includes Jemima Kirke, Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet, Adam Driver and Alex Karpovsky.

The series recently received five Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Lena Dunham), Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Lena Dunham) and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Lena Dunham).

“Girls” was called “smart, funny” and “groundbreaking” by the San Francisco Chronicle, while New York Magazine hailed it as “the ballsiest show on TV.” People described the show as “brilliant,” and TV Guide said it was “brilliantly raw” and a “true breakthrough.”

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HBO is partnering with VICE on an innovative news magazine show to be hosted by VICE founder Shane Smith, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. The weekly series will be executive produced by Bill Maher, Shane Smith and Eddy Moretti, VICE’s chief creative officer, with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria serving as consultant.

“VICE has emerged as a premier new media brand through a savvy combination of irreverence, smarts and fearlessness,” said Lombardo. “We are excited to offer a forum for their groundbreaking style of news coverage and look forward to a show that’s like nothing else on TV.”

Titled VICE, the HBO series will showcase a mix of stories from around the globe. Among the segments in production for possible inclusion in the show are: Taliban child suicide bombers; North Korean slave labor camps; New York’s underground voodoo heroin clinics; Somalian pirates; and Satanic dentists in the Pacific Northwest.

VICE is a leading youth entertainment company operating in over 34 countries, and includes vice.com, the world’s premier original online video destination; an international network of digital channels; a television production studio; a print magazine; a record label; an in-house creative services agency; and a book publishing division. VICE’s digital channels include: The Creators Project, dedicated to arts and creativity; Motherboard, covering cultural happenings in technology; and Noisey, a music discovery channel.

Image Courtesy of   pamlau

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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 HBO Documentary Films presentation ‘Saving Face’ received an Academy Award in the category of Best Documentary Short at the 84th annual Academy Awards, presented at the 2012 ceremony of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Feb. 26.

Every year in Pakistan, many people – the majority of them women – are known to be victimized by brutal acid attacks, while numerous other cases go unreported. With little or no access to reconstructive surgery, survivors are physically and emotionally scarred, and many reported assailants, typically a husband or someone else close to the victim, are let go with minimal punishment from the state.

Debuting Thursday, 8 (8:30-9:15 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, ‘Saving Face’ chronicles the arduous attempts of acid-attack survivors Zakia and Rukhsana to bring their assailants to justice, and follows the charitable work of Dr. Mohammad Jawad, a plastic surgeon who strives to help them go beyond this horrific act and move on with their lives.

It was a very happy directional team who accepted the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. They were up against ‘The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement’; ‘God is the Bigger Elvis’; ‘Incidents in New Baghdad’; and ‘The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom’. After leaving the stage, Daniel Junge and first time Pakistani directional winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, had an extra opportunity to express their gratitude

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Filmmaker Michael Mann and documentary director David Frankham will collaborate to produce a new limited documentary series, ‘Witness’, for HBO. The series will follow a new generation of young combat photographers into conflict zones in Mexico, Brazil, Uganda and Libya. By following these photojournalists’ immersions, their relations with the people on the ground and their closeness in battle, ‘Witness’ will show audiences why, when everyone else seeks cover, the war photographer stands.

“David Frankham and I share an admiration for combat photography that captures the universal – and sometimes the indescribable – in a single frame in the midst of chaos and danger,” said Mann.

“‘Witness’ will not provide a historical context. The direction Michael and I took in creating ‘Witness’ was to immerse the audience via intimacy with the photographer into the intensity of a situation as it’s developing, as they risk their lives to capture one piece of the truth,” said Frankham.

The first episode of ‘Witness’ was shot in Juarez, Mexico. The next three are currently in production.

Michael Mann is an acclaimed filmmaker recognized for innovative and successful motion pictures and television. Mann directed the pilot for and is executive producing HBO’s new series “Luck,” a provocative drama set in the world of horse racing. Mann’s first work in television was to direct and co-write 1979’s “The Jericho Mile,” which won four Emmys and a Directors Guild Award.

Mann’s other work in television includes executive producing “Miami Vice” and “Crime Story.” Mann made his feature directorial debut with “Thief,” following it with acclaimed films such as “The Last of the Mohicans,” “Heat” and “The Insider,” which received seven Academy Award nominations, “Ali,” “Collateral” and “Public Enemies.” Films he has produced include “Hancock” and “The Aviator,” with 11 Academy Award nominations and five wins.

David Frankham is an acclaimed documentary and commercial director. He has created commercials for such noted brands as NIKE, UPS, Adidas, FOX Sports, Fiat and Citicard as a director for Smuggler, a film, TV, commercial and music video production company.

Image Courtesy of  magicinfoto / Shutterstock.com

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In many ways, Richard and Mildred Loving were a typical couple. They grew up in the same Virginia town, fell in love and decided to cement their relationship by marrying.  Because she was part-black and part-Native American, and he was white, however, their 1958 marriage was declared illegal by their home state.

But the Lovings fought back and ultimately changed history through a watershed Supreme Court case that overturned bans on interracial marriage in 16 states. The exclusive HBO documentary The Loving Story, the uplifting saga of these unlikely Civil Rights heroes, debuts on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14 during Black History Month.

Married in Washington, D.C. on June 2, 1958, Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter were arrested in their home state of Virginia five weeks later and subsequently convicted of the felony crime of miscegenation. To avoid a one-year jail sentence, they agreed to leave the state, and could only return to Virginia separately. But that was just the beginning of their story.

he Loving Story features never-before-seen vintage film and stills of the Loving family shot in 1965 and 1966, as well as compelling present-day interviews with the Lovings’ daughter Peggy, neighbors, police and their intrepid ACLU lawyers Bernard S. Cohen and Philip J. Hirschkop, who argued the landmark 1967 U.S. Supreme Court case that finally brought justice to the Lovings.

The luminous, newly discovered 16mm footage of the Lovings and their lawyers, which was shot by filmmakers Hope Ryden and Abbot Mills, and photographs by acclaimed LIFE photographer Grey Villet capture the intimate realities of the Lovings’ daily lives. The prints were given to the Loving family by the photographer 45 years ago and given to the filmmakers in 2010. (A selection of these photos is currently on view at the International Center of Photography in New York through May 6.)

After the Lovings failed to have their convictions overturned at the state level, ACLU attorneys Cohen and Hirschkop sought a federal forum, and Loving v. Virginia was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on April 10, 1967. Through his attorneys, Richard Loving said to the justices, “Tell the court that I love my wife, and it is unfair that I can’t live with her in Virginia.”

On June 12, 1967, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the Lovings, striking down the prohibition of interracial marriage in 16 states in a breakthrough decision that continues to shape America’s attitude towards marriage to this day.

Neither dedicated activists nor participants in the protests of their time, the Lovings spent nine years simply trying to be able to live legally in their home state, and on their journey became little-known heroes of the Civil Rights era. They didn’t ask to be heroes. They just wanted to be happy.

Director and producer Nancy Buirski says the message of the film is both timeless and timely. Although depicting a universal love story, it comes at a time when, she says, “white supremacy groups are growing in the U.S. – in the very communities that perpetuated and maintained anti-miscegenation laws up to the 1967 Supreme Court ruling. While we’ve elected the first mixed-race president, we also recently witnessed a Louisiana justice of the peace refusing to marry a mixed-race couple.

“Contemporary parallels are gently embedded in the Lovings’ fight for marriage equality.  Today, 45 years after Loving v. Virginia, Perry v. Schwarzenegger is making its way to the Supreme Court. This is a story not of just civil rights, but of human rights and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of religion, race or gender.”

The Loving Story was an official selection at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and Heartland Film Festival, and won the WGA Screenplay Award at the 2011 SilverDocs Festival.

Nancy Buirski is the founder and former director of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. Her credits include producing five collections of documentary shorts, as well as “Time Piece,” an omnibus documentary combining stories of Turkish and American filmmakers. The film has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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After fleeing his North Carolina hometown, washed-up major-league pitcher Kenny Powers spent a soul-searching season in Mexico as “La Flama Blanca” – and ended up returning to the States a changed man. Or is he?

Find out when the comedy series Eastbound & Down, executive produced by Will Ferrell, Chris Henchy, Adam McKay, Jody Hill and Danny McBride, kicks off its eight-episode third season Sunday, February 19, exclusively on HBO, just as real-life baseball spring training begins. The new comedy series “Life’s Too Short” debuts immediately after the season debut at 10:30 p.m.

Starring Danny McBride (“Pineapple Express,” “30 Minutes or Less”), Eastbound & Down tells the story of Kenny Powers, who used to be a star pitcher until his self-destructive behavior knocked him out of Major League Baseball. Picking up a year after season two, the third season finds Kenny in action on the “Redneck Riviera” (aka Myrtle Beach, SC), somehow resurrecting his baseball career by becoming the closer for the minor-league Myrtle Beach Mermen.

Even as he tries to pass himself off as the “King of Myrtle Beach,” Kenny struggles to come to terms with growing older and accepting the responsibilities of being a new father.

Eastbound & Down also stars Steve Little (“The Ugly Truth”) as Stevie, Kenny’s faithful sidekick; John Hawkes (HBO’s “Deadwood,” Oscar nominee for “Winter’s Bone”) as Kenny’s brother Dustin; Jennifer Irwin (“Still Standing”) as Dustin’s wife, Cassie; Andrew Daly (“Mad TV”) as Terrence Cutler; and Elizabeth De Razzo as Maria, Stevie’s Mexican wife. Jason Sudeikis (“Saturday Night Live”) joins the cast as Kenny’s new best friend and kindred spirit Shane, a veteran catcher with the Mermen.

Returning special guests on the third season include Katy Mixon (“Mike & Molly”) as April, the mother of Kenny’s one-year-old child; Will Ferrell as car dealer Ashley Schaeffer; and Matthew McConaughey as baseball scout Roy McDaniel.

Upcoming episodes:

Episode #14:  “Chapter 14,” Enjoying a new lease on his baseball career as the closer for the minor-league Myrtle Beach Mermen, Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) settles into a life of body-boarding, jet-skiing and hard-partying with his catcher, Shane (Jason Sudeikis).  A detour to Shelby to attend the one-year birthday of his child reunites Kenny with April (Katy Mixon).

Episode #15:  “Chapter 15,” With the baby in tow, a seething Kenny heads north in search of April.  Getting no assistance from Dustin (John Hawkes), Maria (Elizabeth De Razzo) or Jamie (Jerry Minor), Kenny tracks down his erstwhile lackey Stevie (Steve Little), currently employed at Ashley Schaeffer’s (Will Ferrell) car dealership.  Kenny crashes a perverse plantation fete the dealer is throwing in an effort to liberate Stevie.

Episode #16:  “Chapter 16,” Pro scout Roy McDaniel (Matthew McConaughey) arrives in Myrtle Beach to ask Kenny to mentor Ivan Dochenko (Ike Barinholtz), a promising young Russian pitching prospect. Stevie lays down the ground rules for his return to Kenny’s team, while grappling with Shane and Kenny’s relationship.

This season’s episodes were directed by David Gordon Green and Jody Hill, both of whom also directed episodes of the first and second season of Eastbound & Down.

The seven-episode second season of Eastbound & Down, which concluded in Nov. 2010, followed Kenny on his adventures in Mexico as he played baseball, made new enemies, reconnected with his deadbeat dad and smuggled Stevie’s Mexican girlfriend back into the USA on his return. The hit season inspired critical praise, with Entertainment Weekly saying that the show “continues to amaze,” while the Huffington Post called it “hilarious.”

The New York Post called the series “very funny,” and Rolling Stone hailed Kenny Powers as “an American anti-hero for our troubled times.” Danny McBride was named Comedy MVP for his role as Kenny Powers at the 2011 Spike Guy’s Choice Awards.

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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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Painter Beverly McIver was enjoying a skyrocketing career when she promised her mother, Ethel, that she would take care of her mentally disabled sister, Renee. Years later, following Ethel’s death, that promise came due.

Filmed over the course of six years, the compelling HBO2 documentary ‘Raising Renee’ chronicles Beverly McIver’s efforts to make good on her promise. A testament to the power of family bonds, this thought-provoking film is produced and directed by Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan (the Oscar-nominated “Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern”).

Marked by drama, humor and unexpected twists, Raising Renee begins in 2003, as Beverly McIver is savoring opening night of her first solo art show in New York, joined by her mother, Ethel, and mentally disabled sister, Renee, a 43-year-old who functions at the level of a third grader. When Ethel dies the next year, Beverly’s pledge to care for Renee is put to the test.

Beverly grew up in a Greensboro, NC housing project with her sisters, Renee and Roni, and their mother, Ethel, who singlehandedly raised them while working as a maid for white families. Segregation in Greensboro was notorious: When Beverly was 17, an anti-KKK rally resulted in five people being shot dead by the Klan in front of the McIvers’ home.

Though most of her relatives stayed in the area, Beverly’s talent led to fellowships in New York and a professorship at Arizona State University. The politics of race would inform her art, and she vowed never to live in the South again.

Renee had lived with Ethel her whole life, making colorful potholders and doing good deeds with her mother. After Ethel’s death from cancer, Beverly moved Renee to Arizona to live with her. She was concerned that this added responsibility would end her life as an artist, but Renee was happy to be with her sister.

After a few years, Beverly decided she needed help caring for her sister, so she and Renee moved back to North Carolina, where she has been offered a position at North Carolina Central University, to be closer to their sister Roni and her family.

Though her sister seemed happy, Beverly worried that Renee was at home much more than when she lived with their mother. In fall 2009, shortly after Renee turned 50, an opportunity arose for her to live independently in an assisted-living apartment complex, something that was unthinkable when their mother was alive. Renee’s astonishing response to this challenge at age 50 raises key questions about disability and ability.

Beverly McIver is currently the Suntrust Endowed Chair Professor of Art at North Carolina Central University. Her work is in the collections of the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro and the Baltimore Museum of Art, among other institutions, and has been reviewed in Art News, Art in America and the New York Times.

Critic Irving Sandler has described McIver’s art as a merger of “personal confession and social commentary, photography and painting, and realism and expressionism.” Husband and wife team Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan have been making documentary and fiction films for more than 20 years.

Their feature documentaries include 1995’s “Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern,” which won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance, the Prix Italia, and Peabody and IDA awards, and received an Academy Award nomination. Their documentary “So Much So Fast” premiered at Sundance and was broadcast worldwide.

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He’s a self-aggrandizing actor who’s appeared in some of Hollywood’s biggest hits. But now his career is on the wane, and he’ll do anything to reverse his fortunes.

From Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, Life’s Too Short is a faux documentary starring Warwick Davis (“Willow,” the “Harry Potter” and “Star Wars” films) as a fictionalized version of himself: a little person who’s down on his luck, desperately trying to hustle and connive his way back into the spotlight. The comedy series kicks off its seven-episode season Sunday, February 19, following the third-season debut of the comedy series “Eastbound & Down,” with other episodes debuting subsequent Sundays at the same time, exclusively on HBO.

In Life’s Too Short, actor Warwick Davis is struggling to jumpstart his fading career and maintain his status as Britain’s “go-to” little person. He runs a talent agency for fellow showbiz little people called “Dwarves for Hire,” though he often takes the best roles for himself, and serves as vice chairman of a society for small people, though he’d rather be chairman.

Davis also seeks advice from his old pals Gervais and Merchant (playing versions of themselves) in hopes that their A-list celebrity connections will aid his career.

Each episode features cameos by top stars, including Johnny Depp, Liam Neeson, Sting, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Carell and Kat Deeley. Other cast regulars include Jo Enright as Davis’ soon to be ex-wife Sue, Rosamund Hanson as his dim-witted assistant Cheryl, Steve Brody as his incompetent accountant and “EastEnders” actor Shaun Williamson as himself.

February’s episodes

Episode #1: For more than two decades, Warwick Davis was Britain’s “go-to dwarf.” Now, with his career on the slide, a massive tax bill caused by his useless accountant and a wife who’s divorcing him, he decides to open his doors to a reality TV film crew. After interviewing a new assistant, he drops by unannounced to see old pals Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, but Liam Neeson already has an appointment to pitch himself as a serious actor who is serious about breaking into comedy.

Episode #2: While selling autographs at a sci-fi convention, Davis agrees to be the special guest at a “Star Wars”-themed wedding. His fortunes appear to rise when Johnny Depp hires him to help research a new movie role, but Depp ends up having a bone to pick with Ricky Gervais.

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are the creators of the Golden Globe-winning BBC comedy series “The Office” and the HBO series “Extras” and “The Ricky Gervais Show.” In addition to his feature film credits, Warwick Davis guest-starred on the series “Extras.”

Life’s Too Short was created by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant & Warwick Davis.

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The 27th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place Saturday, April 14, 2012 in Cleveland and debut on HBO in early May. The 2012 ceremony will again be open to the public, as it was – for the first time in the event’s history – at the 2009 inductions in Cleveland.

The new inductees are:

Performer Category

• Beastie Boys
• Donovan
• Guns N’ Roses
• Laura Nyro
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Small Faces/The Faces

Early Influence

• Freddie King

Ahmet Ertegun (nonperformer) Award

• Don Kirshner

The Award for Musical Excellence

• Cosimo Matassa
• Tom Dowd
• Glyn Johns

“We are pleased to announce this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, who represent the broad spectrum of artists that define rock and roll,” says Joel Peresman, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “We are also thrilled this year to again be partnered with HBO, who presented the Hall of Fame’s 25th Anniversary Concerts.”

“Our previous collaboration with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was a landmark television event,” says Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. “We are delighted to team up with the Hall of Fame again for what should be a memorable evening.”

Leading up to the April 14 ceremony, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will host more than a week of special events, including the grand opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s new Library and Archives, tours of the newly-redesigned Museum interior space, the unveiling of a major new exhibition, the Rock My Soul gospel tribute, a free concert for Cleveland and a special series of education programs designed to teach students across the nation about the history and impact of rock and roll.

Once open, the Library and Archives will be the world’s most comprehensive repository of written and audio-visual materials relating to the history of rock and roll. The 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performer inductees were chosen by more than 500 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first recording. All inductees are ultimately represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. Through approaches as creative and diverse as the music itself, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum tells the story of rock music with its exhibits, education programs and library and archives.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was established by legendary record executive Ahmet Ertegun and a group of music business executives to honor the artists that have defined rock and roll and have inspired and continue to inspire a generation. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music.

It carries out this mission both through its operation of a world-class museum designed by I.M. Pei in Cleveland, Ohio that collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets this art form and through its library and archives, as well as educational programs. For further information, please visit rockhall.com.

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David Milch’s Redboard Productions has entered into a new multi-year exclusive television deal with HBO, which will also cover any further services on the upcoming series “Luck,” starring Dustin Hoffman and debuting on the network Sunday, Jan. 29.

Redboard has also concluded an agreement with the William Faulkner Literary Estate to produce films and television series based on selections from Faulkner’s bibliography. The deal covers all of the 19 novels and 125 short stories in the estate, as well as other works, with the exception of those currently contracted with other parties.

ICM, which represent Milch, brokered the deal with Redboard and the William Faulkner Literary Estate. Under the terms of the agreement, Milch will partner with Lee Caplin, the executor of the William Faulkner Literary Estate and CEO of Picture Entertainment Corp., to choose which works to develop, package and produce.

Both Milch and Caplin will act as executive producers of those projects, with Milch serving as the executive writer in charge of adapting the works. The agreement gives HBO an exclusive first opportunity to finance, produce and distribute the projects as movies, miniseries and series. Olivia Milch will serve as coordinating producer on the projects.

“We are especially pleased to continue our longstanding relationship with one of the industry’s most talented contemporary writers,” says Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. “We know that whatever David brings to the HBO table will be exciting and innovative.”

“I’m delighted to expand my longstanding relationship with HBO to encompass the adaptation of some of the most important literary works by any American writer into television films and series,” says Milch. “As we embark on this ambitious project, our first commitment is to serve the material, and we look forward to identifying and collaborating with the best screenwriters and filmmakers to help each of the pieces find its ideal form onscreen.”

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For many children, going to school is as simple as a trip around the block. For others, it means a long and dangerous journey through deserts and war zones. In the volatile Middle East, some students have found happy refuge at Bialik-Rogozin, a public school in the heart of Tel Aviv that welcomes Jews, Christians and Muslims from 48 countries.

Many arrive fleeing violent pasts, and others have limited, if any, prior education. For every child who attends Bialik-Rogozin, the school is like a home. Here, no child is a stranger. This year’s Oscar winner for Best Documentary Short, Strangers No More tells the inspiring story of this extraordinary school and the students who struggle to acclimate to life in a new land when it debuts Monday, Dec. 5, exclusively on HBO.

Produced & directed by Karen Goodman & Kirk Simon (HBO’s “Masterclass”), Strangers No More follows three Bialik-Rogozin students over the course of a school year as they try to fit in, and slowly open up to share their stories of hardship and tragedy. Mohammed, a 16-year-old refugee from Darfur, witnessed the killing of his grandmother and father before escaping alone through Egypt to Israel.

Though he’s never been in school before, his sharp mind and tremendous determination enable him to make up for years of missed study. Johannes arrived at Bialik-Rogozin after spending most of his life in refugee camps across the Middle East. As his father struggles to obtain a work visa, 12-year-old Johannes tries to adjust to attending school for the first time.

After a slow start, his teachers realize he is nearly blind in one eye and take him to an eye clinic. With his new glasses, Johannes is reading and writing before long, and helping other newcomers to adjust. Esther and her father fled South Africa with nothing after the murder of her mother. At Bialik-Rogozin, they are welcomed with clothing, food and counsel on how to begin a new life.  Esther’s teachers try to relieve the trauma of this nine-year-old girl, who is still dealing with the loss of her mother.

Strangers No More also spotlights the school’s compassionate and dedicated faculty, including: teacher Smadar Moers, who works closely with Johannes’s family and teaches 21 hours of Hebrew classes a week to new students; elementary principal Nehana Shapira, who helped a disoriented and hungry Esther through her first days at the school; and the school’s principal, Karen Tal, who recently received The Charles Bronfman Prize for her humanitarian work at the school.

As Karen Tal notes, Bialik-Rogozin differs from other schools in that students aren’t just taught the values of human rights and tolerance – they are able to live out those values every day. Upon graduation, Mohammed provides the finest evidence of the school’s ultimate success, declaring his dream to return to Darfur and build a school for the children of the village he once fled.

In addition to their Academy Award for Strangers No More, Kirk Simon and Karen Goodman’s films have garnered four other Oscar nominations, several Emmys and the DuPont-Columbia Award for Independent Programming.

Their documentaries have screened at festivals around the world, including the New York Film Festival, Sundance, New Directors/New Films, London, Berlin and Saint Petersburg. Their other HBO credits include:  “Masterclass” (2010), “Locks of Love:  The Kindest Cut” (2008), “Rehearsing a Dream” (2006), “Kindergarten” (2001), “27th & Prospect:  One Year in the Fight Against Drugs” (1997) and “Chimps: So Like Us” (1989).

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The turbulent story of a child’s journey from the slums to becoming a national sensation in India debuts on HBO on November 3. The documentary takes us back six years ago, in an impoverished corner of India, where an orphanage director and a slum boy captured the imagination of their country.

Plucked from obscurity and thrust into the national spotlight, Budhia Singh ran 48 marathons by the age of four, winning thousands of fans and making headlines around the world. But what started as a remarkable rags-to-riches saga morphed into a tale of greed, corruption and broken dreams.

The action-packed Marathon Boy recounts Budhia Singh’s fascinating story when it debuts on Thursday, November 3, exclusively on HBO. Filmed between 2005 and 2010, Marathon Boy is a riveting exploration of poverty, corruption and exploitation. Born next to a railroad track, Singh was sold by his destitute mother to a street hawker at age three.

Destined to lead a desperate existence as a beggar, he was rescued by Biranchi Das, a concerned local judo coach who ran an orphanage for slum children. Recognizing in Singh an uncommon talent for long-distance running, Das became his mentor and nurtured the boy’s gift.

A master showman, Das also organized marathon events designed to showcase Singh’s talent and raise his profile, thereby turning him into a folk hero for the underprivileged masses.

Fascinated by the boy’s ability after reading about him online, British filmmaker Gemma Atwal set out to film his story, focusing on his complex relationship with Biranchi Das, whose genuine affection for the child is countered by his zeal to burnish Singh’s celebrity at all costs.

Allowed direct access over the course of five years, Atwal and her crew captured many of the boy’s racing milestones as a three- and four-year-old, as well as intimate moments between Singh, Das and his wife Gita, who is interviewed for the film, along with several other principals.

Atwal chronicles the government’s growing disapproval of Das’ tactics, especially in the wake of the four-year-old’s highly publicized 40-mile run – a marathon is just over 26 miles – in 93-degree heat, after which Singh collapsed on the “victory” stand.

That incident, combined with criticism of Das by Singh’s birth mother, Sukanti Singh, led to investigations of the coach, who lost custody of Budhia in 2007. The conclusion of Marathon Boy is jarring and unexpected, as Singh is coerced to entrap Das, who pays a heavy penalty for helping turn a slum boy into a celebrated, albeit polarizing, figure across India.

In addition to striking location footage shot in Orissa and Delhi, Marathon Boy includes animated shadow puppet sequences that underscore a dark fairytale quality of this unsettling story.

The film is the first of four documentaries about contemporary India debuting on HBO and HBO2 in November. The others are: “The Bengali Detective,” a profile of Rajesh Ji, who solves crimes in the city of Kolkata while following his dreams of being a professional dancer, debuting Nov. 16 on HBO2;

“The Sound of Mumbai,” the upbeat story of tenacious, musically inclined Indian street children recruited to perform a one-time-only concert with members of the elite Bombay Chamber Orchestra, debuting Nov. 23 on HBO2; and “Pink Saris,” profiling the unlikely female activists of Northern India’s Gulabi Gang, who battle violence against women, debuting Nov. 30 on HBO2.

Marathon Boy is the first feature of Gemma Atwal, who has worked as a freelance director and producer on a variety of documentaries. Prior to her documentary work, she spent four years working as a journalist in Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe.

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Despite opening to mixed reviews in 2009, Bored To Death continues its third season this fall on HBO. The show won the 2010 Emmy Award for Main Title Design over other successful shows and has picked up from its bland start.

The story revolves around Jonathan Ames, a well-meaning but unsuccessful writer who takes up detective work as an unlicensed private eye to pass time. Jonathan is played by Jason Schwartzman who is known for his quirky style of acting, often playing underdog characters and misfits.

The cast also includes Ted Danson as George Christopher, Jonathan’s friend and editor of the magazine Edition where Jonathan works. Zach Galifianakis plays Jonathan’s best friend Ray Hueston who is a comic book artist. Heather Burns plays Ray’s on/off girlfriend Leah and Oliver Platt is Richard Antrem, editor of GQ and George’s rival.

Episode #21: “I Keep Taking Baths Like Lady Macbeth” – Debut: Monday, Nov. 7 (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT)

Jonathan and George see a “friendship” counselor (Sarah Silverman). George begins taking singing lessons from Josephine (Mary Steenburgen), a delightful pothead.  Jonathan attempts to win back George’s affection. Ray becomes irresistible to women.

Episode #22: “Two Large Pearls and a Bar of Gold” – Debut: Monday, Nov. 14 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

Jonathan’s college sweetheart (Casey Wilson) enlists him to guard her wedding jewels and reminds him of their prenuptial pact. Ray moves in with George. George warns Josephine about growing too attached.

Episode #23: “Forget the Herring” – Debut: Monday, Nov. 21 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

Rose Hiney (Isla Fisher) connects with Jonathan on new leads. George and Ray attempt to right their unrightable wrongs.

Episode #24: “Nothing I Can’t Handle by Running Away” (season finale) – Debut: Monday, Nov. 28 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)

George throws a wedding for Emily (Halley Feiffer) and Bernard (David Rasche).  Jonathan is hesitant to break it off with his new lady.  Ray retreats into Spencer’s (Nate and Darren Cangelosi) arms. Jonathan is taken hostage and Ray gathers an army of his newfound Super Ray fans.

Bored To Death was created by Jonathan Ames; executive producers, Jonathan Ames, Sarah Condon, Stephanie Davis and Dave Becky.

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New York City is getting a boost in its economy all thanks to the entertainment business. A recent surge in movies and television shows being filmed in New York City over the past few months is said to add 100,000 new jobs for New Yorkers as well as $5 billion to the city’s economy.

There are now 23 prime time television shows being filmed throughout New York City, which is an all time record in the metropolitan area. This number has skyrocketed over the past five years. In 2006, there were only nine television shows filmed in New York City. Recent hits on the small screen call New York City home, including HBO’s Emmy Award winning show Boardwalk Empire.

The prohibition-era Atlantic City set is recreated in Brooklyn’s Steiner Studios. Located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Steiner Studios is becoming one of the most important movie studios in the country. Understanding the positive financial impact movie and television production has on the local economy, New York City has invested $28 million in the expansion and renovation of Steiner Studios.

Along with private investments, Steiner Studios is receiving a large upgrade and is attracting more attention as a prominent movie studio on the east coast. Thousands of jobs have been created for the expansion of this studio. It is projected to be the biggest movie studio in all of New York City.

ABC’s recent hit, Pan Am, is also filmed at Steiner Studios. Set in the 1960’s, Pan Am is a newly debuted prime time television show that focuses on the lives of Pan Am stewardesses. The interior of the plane’s cockpit and cabin are recreated in Steiner Studios. Also filmed at this Brooklyn studio recently was Will Smith’s Men in Black III.

Not far from Steiner Studios is Silvercup Studios in neighboring Long Island City, Queens. Silvercup Studios is also a famous movie and television location and is host of shows such as Gossip Girl and A Gifted Man. NBC’s popular show, 30 Rock, and newly debuted show Unforgettable are also filmed in Queens.

The rise in television production on the east coast has shown that New York City is growing popular among the entertainment industry, rivaling Hollywood. Along with television shows and movies filming within indoor movie studios, New York City is famous for being the backdrop to hundreds of movies and shows every year.

The Law and Order series is widely known to shoot on location throughout New York City, when they are not filming at their indoor set in Chelsea Piers. Shows like Pan Am, Gossip Girl, Blue Bloods, Nurse Jackie, and Unforgettable have been spotted filming on the streets of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.

The uniquely characteristic streets of New York City can be seen on both the small and big screens. Local businesses benefit from the recent increase in film production throughout the city. There are over 4,000 businesses that assist in the movie and television production.

Although many residents in local neighborhoods don’t always appreciate street closings and restricted parking spots, the film industry has been able to boost the city’s economy tremendously.

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It’s been more than two years since the film about the life of Liberace was announced but now there should be official movement in the production. Academy Award winning director Steven Soderbergh will direct Michael Douglas and Matt Damon as they explore the stormy relationship between the legendary entertainer and his younger lover, Scott Thorson.

Douglas will play Liberace and Damon Scott Thorson while Emmy Award winning producer Jerry Weintraub will help get this movie to the screen on HBO.

The film Behind the Candelabra was announced by Len Amato, the president of HBO Films last week. With Soderberg, who we know from Contagion, Traffic and Ocean’s Eleven, comes a script by Oscar nominee Richard Lagravenese (Water for Elephants) and producers Gregory Jacobs (Contagion, The Informant!) and Susan Ekins (Ocean’s Eleven, The Karate Kid series) while Weintraub will be the executive producer.

“This is a story that’s going to surprise a lot of people,” said Amato in a press release. “It’s funny, heartbreaking and always fascinating, and we are delighted that Jerry and Steven brought the film to HBO. With Steven at the helm, directing such accomplished actors as Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, this is a dream project for us.”

Weintraub continues “I’ve wanted to make a film about Liberace for a very long time, and after the amazing experience I had with HBO on ‘His Way,’ I knew that they were absolutely the right place for this movie. I am thrilled that we have the incomparable Michael Douglas to inhabit the role of Liberace, as well as the exceptional Matt Damon to play the pivotal part of Scott Thorson.

Putting these two fine actors in the creative hands of Steven Soderbergh – it doesn’t get better than that!” It has come a surprise to many that the behind-the-scenes feature will hit TV rather than cinemas. The flamboyant Liberace made a name for himself as the highest paid entertainer in the world between the 1950s and 1970s, according to Wikipedia.com

“From the inception of this project, we’ve had two priorities: getting it right creatively, and getting as many people as possible to see it,” says Soderbergh. “HBO’s fearless approach to original programming and their unparalleled ability to pull in viewers make them the perfect fit for us. Apart from my hair growing back, I couldn’t be happier.”

Behind The Candelabra will start production in 2012, with locations in Los Angeles, Palm Springs and of course, Las Vegas.

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The life-confirming documentary about Dee Dee Ricks and her emotional rebirth as a cancer survivor will debut on October 27, exclusively on HBO in conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The 39-year-old mother-of-two was living her dream as a self-made millionaire on New York City’s Upper East Side when she was diagnosed with aggressive stage II breast cancer.

Insured and affluent, she could afford the best treatment money could buy, but was shocked to realize how difficult it is for uninsured women in the same situation, and determined to do something about it. So there she was; a successful woman who finally made her full potential in the face of breast cancer.

The honest story of The Education Of Dee Dee Ricks tracks the transformation of Dee Dee from successful businesswoman to determined advocate for poor breast-cancer patients, even as she faces her own battle with the disease.

According to HBO’s press release, the story begins in 2008, when this self-described “vain” woman and single parent was diagnosed with aggressive stage II breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. She decided to document her experience for her children, in case anything happened to her.

During her successful recovery, Ricks receives her first medical bills. Although able to afford the payments, she is disturbed by the realization that many women are bankrupted by the expense.

Ricks subsequently meets with Dr. Harold P. Freeman, founder and president of Harlem’s Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care, believed to be the only cancer center in the nation to provide or ensure access to timely cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment to all patients, irrespective of their ability to pay, and she pledges to raise $2.5 million for the clinic.

At the clinic, Ricks bonds with Cynthia Dodson, an uninsured African-American breast cancer patient whose resilience and optimism are an inspiration. According to the American Cancer Society, African-American women are less likely to develop breast cancer, but 37 percent more likely to die, from the disease than their white counterparts.

The two become as close as sisters, supporting each other through treatment. As Ricks celebrates her last chemotherapy session, she learns that Dodson has spots on her liver and resolves to make sure her friend receives the best care possible, while stepping up her support for the Center.

Unfortunately, because Dodson’s diagnosis and treatment came late due to her financial status, her future is in doubt. Reflecting on her new priorities in life, Dee Dee concludes, “Cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me.” The Education Of Dee Dee Ricks showed at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year and will screen at the Paley Center’s DocFest later this month.

The filmmakers have also joined a major National Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign. Perri Peltz, the documentary’s director, is a former news correspondent and longtime public health advocate who reported on health-related issues for NBC and CNN and has worked for the Robin Hood Foundation supporting organizations that fight poverty.

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