LOS ANGELES – January 10, 2001 – IFC Films has acquired all North American distribution rights to David and Laurie Gwen Shapiro’s unconventional and award winning documentary Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale, the extraordinary story of Tobias Schneebaum, from Next Wave Films, it was announced today by Bob Berney, Senior Vice President of Marketing &Distribution for IFC Films.
IFC Films is planning a March 2001 release for the film which has already received critical and audience acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and received the Special Jury Award at the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam and the Golden Starfish (Best Documentary) at the Hamptons Film Festival.
“Tobias’ story is a very theatrical experience and it’s a privilege to bring this film to audiences across the country,” said Berney. “This unconventional films demands an extraordinary release campaign and I am looking forward to working with Tobias, Laurie, David and everyone at Next Wave.”
Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale, was produced and directed by the brother and sister team of David and Laurie Gwen Shapiro. The film was executive produced by Peter Broderick.
Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale tells the amazing story of 78-year-old Tobias Schneebaum, an artist and author. In 1955, this seemingly conventional man walked into the Peruvian jungle with the vague directions of “keep the river on your
right.” Seven months later, after he was presumed dead by the U.S. State Department, he
emerged from the jungle naked and covered in body paint with an unbelievable story to tell: not only was he adopted by the Amarakaire Indians but he also willingly participated in a hunting raid which culminated in killing and cannibalism. Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale is the not just an account of Schneebaum’s incredible adventure but also the story of a man coming to terms with his past.
IFC Films is a new theatrical film distribution company that is currently releasing Spring Forward, starring Ned Beatty and Liev Schreiber. The company’s upcoming slate of films includes: the fourth DOGME film, The King Is Alive, scheduled for release in April; Jim McKay’s Our Song, which is set for release in May; and acclaimed Swedish director Lukas Moodysson’s new comedy, Together, scheduled for release in June.
IFC Films is a division of The Independent Film Channel’s IFC Entertainment Division, a division of Bravo Networks. IFC Entertainment also consists of IFC Productions, a feature film production company, Next Wave Films, a finishing fund company and IFC Originals, which produces original programming for the network.
Contact:
Melissa Hufjay
Rogers & Cowan
(310) 201-8894
mhufjay@shandwick.com
Vicky Eguia
Rogers & Cowan
(310) 201-8889
veguia@shandwick.com
Bill Brennan
IFC Entertainment
(516) 803-4528
bfbrennan@rainbow-media.com