Chely Wright – Wish Me Away – Film Documentary

As part of the June 2012 Pride of the Ocean festival program, Pride of the Ocean is partnering with First Run Features to present “Wish Me Away,” starring country western singer-sensation, Chely Wright, with filmmakers Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf on board.

For all the details, visit the First Run Features site.

Dear Friends,

Yesterday we found out that we did not make the Oscar short list. While our first reaction was disappointment, after we looked at the list of films that made the list, and thought about all of you, all that we have accomplished together and how bright and exciting our future looks – we decided to not let it get us down or derail us in any way. We always knew it was a long shot, that there was no real rhyme or reason to how films were selected – and the truth is, we have suffered disappointments and set-backs before and they always seems to make us stronger.

This is how our sales agent, Andrew Herwitz, put it:

“…It is a big disappointment that I share with you. I have no explanation to offer. Some of the films on the list were awful, in my opinion. Others were better known films. Many were overtly political. At any rate, I am comforted by the knowledge that Wish Me Away already has a distribution deal to be in theaters and will soon have a tv deal as well so the world will get to appreciate the wonderful film you made.”

What we know is that this disappointment does not detract from the fact that audiences are hungry for this film. ONWARD to a great theatrical release.  There is a silver lining in this and together, we will find it and use it to propel us forward.

With continuing thanks and love,
Beverly & Bobbie

First Run Features has acquired U.S. rights to the award-winning Chely Wright doc “Wish Me Away.” The film, directed by Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf, tracks three years in the life of the country music star, as she struggles to come out publicly.

The doc is slated to hit theaters next Spring, followed by a VOD release.

Full release below:

First Run Features Acquires Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf’s
Award-Winning Documentary WISH ME AWAY

November 2, 2011, (New York) – First Run Features announced today its acquisition of the multiple award-winning documentary WISH ME AWAY from filmmakers Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf. First Run is planning a Spring 2012 theatrical launch with VOD, home video and television to follow. The deal was negotiated by Film Sales Company head Andrew Herwitz and First Run’s Marc Mauceri.

WISH ME AWAY tells the story of Chely Wright, the first country music star to come out as gay. After a lifetime of hiding, she shatters cultural and religious stereotypes within Nashville, her conservative heartland family, and most importantly, herself.

Over a three-year period, the filmmakers were given extraordinary access to Chely’s struggle and her unfolding plan to come out publicly. Using interviews with Chely, her family, key players in Nashville and her management team, and Chely’s intimate private video diaries, the film goes deep into her back story as an established country music star and then forward as she prepares to step into the national media glare to reveal that she is gay. Chronicling the aftermath of that decision in her hometown of Nashville and within the larger LGBT community, WISH ME AWAY reveals both the devastation of her own internalized homophobia – which led to Chely putting a gun in her mouth – and the transformational power of living an authentic life. It shows the struggles of being a Christian who happens to be gay. And it reveals how “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” has found it’s way into the culture of Nashville.

“This redemptive and inspiring true story shows how one brave soul risks her career, family, fame and fortune, so that she can be true to herself. It is drama of the highest order,” said First Run’s president, Seymour Wishman, in a statement. “We’re proud to be working with Bobbie and Beverly to bring Chely’s story to audiences in North America.”

“From the beginning, our vision has been to take this film not only to urban audiences, but to small towns in the heartland, the South, the West, and across the country,” said Birleffi and Kopf. “As they did for Dan Karslake’s FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO, we’re confident First Run will make our film available to people everywhere, and we look forward to working with them.”

WISH ME AWAY has so far been honored with the Jury Award at the Los Angeles Film festival, the Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature at Frameline, The San Francisco LGBT Film Festival, and the Audience Award at the Nashville Film Festival, among many others.

Founded in 1979, First Run Features is one of American’s notable distributors of documentary and foreign films. Recent releases include DA Pennebaker’s and Chris Hegedus’s KINGS OF PASTRY, Ken Bowser’s PHIL OCHS: THERE BUT FOR FORTUNE, Joe Berlinger’s CRUDE, and Judith Ehrlich’s and Rick Goldsmith’s Academy Award-nominated THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS.

It’s been a busy week!  “Wish Me Away” took three new awards!

• Favorite Documentary at the Seattle LGBT Film Festival

• Golden Strand Best Documentary at the Tallgrass Film Festival in Kansas

• Best Documentary prize at the Pittsburgh LGBT Festival

It takes a movement to move a mountain, and that’s what we’re creating.

Thank you all for your support!

“Wish Me Away” was awarded the Best Documentary Jury Award at the Out on Film Atlanta festival  on October 6th!

For more details, visit the festival website at OutOnFilm.org.

Dear Supporters,

In the midst of gay teens committing suicide and anti-bullying programs being ignored in schools throughout the country; caught in a choke-hold of  anti-gay marriage rhetoric from Congress, church pulpits, state legislatures and even Presidential candidates, comes WISH ME AWAY, a simple story of courage that can reach even the most closed and judgmental heart.

The response to Wish Me Away has been incredible. Tears, laughter, and standing ovations. People coming up to us to thank us, saying how it has healed a deep wound they have carried around all their lives; telling us they can’t wait to share it with their families, friends, congregations. This is what has inspired us to make our dream of a theatrical release a reality.

But without a 35mm print, that dream will die and thousands of people who need to see this film, who have been waiting to see this film, will not get the chance. Wish Me Away has a mission and you can be part of it. The clock is ticking.

Thanks,
Beverly

Please help get the word out. All contributions go through our fiscal sponsor, the San Francisco Film Society and are tax deductible.

Here is the link:  http://www.indiegogo.com/Wish-Me-Away?a=59373&i=addr

Thanks to all of your support, we were able to complete the film and launch it into the Film Festival circuit, where it continues to win major awards: the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Festival, Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at Frameline 35 in San Francisco.

Now comes our exciting news. We are planning a theatrical release in early 2012. This is a milestone for any documentary, and we are thrilled. But it comes with a price tag. Because we plan to screen Wish Me Away in small towns and hamlets across the country, we need to make a 35mm print. So we have decided to launch a new IndieGoGo campaign to raise the necessary funds.

Please help get the word out. All contributions go through our fiscal sponsor, the San Francisco Film Society and are tax deductible.

Here is the link:  http://www.indiegogo.com/Wish-Me-Away?a=59373&i=addr

Many thanks,

Bobbie Birleffi, Beverly Kopf
Producers/Directors, Wish Me Away

There we were — at the gorgeous historic CASTRO THEATER — where it all began — the house was packed to the rafters, 1400 strong.

They laughed, they cried, they clapped and when it was over, they stomped their feet and stood. A standing ovation for over ten minutes. None of us will ever forget last night. We know that this film is opening hearts left and right and center. Chely spoke movingly about what it is like for her to watch the film. Beverly told the story of how, early on into the project, I had written on a large index card… “The World Will Open Its Heart When They See Our Film.” I gulped, remembering how we would look at it when times were low and we didn’t know if we could ever finish the film. Last night was a night we will never ever forget. Thank you to each and every person who was there and thank you to each and every person who will see this film someday.

Bobbie

2011 Centerpiece Selection
WISH ME AWAY
Sunday, June 26 • 5:00pm

Sponsored by the Kansas City Missouri Human Rights Commission Gay & Lesbian Task Force

“Sometimes living one’s honest life is damn near impossible.” Or so it felt to award-winning country music star Chely Wright for most of her closeted life-first raised in a Christian home in a tiny Bible-Belt town and then as a member of the sexually repressed and homophobic country music industry in Nashville.

Surrounded by a family, community, culture and religion that all believed that being gay is just wrong (and, to many, “of the devil”), Wright prayed regularly for God to rid her of her homosexuality, vowing to give up on love in return. Instead, music became her love, as she scored hits like “Shut Up and Drive” and “Single White Female”. But while her dreams of stardom came true, she remained tormented by her sexuality and paralyzed by the fear of coming out. Would the country music industry tolerate a lesbian in their ranks? Would her fans reject her? She tried dating men (including fellow country star Brad Paisley), poured her energy into philanthropic endeavors, and contemplated suicide before finally acknowledging what she knew she needed to do.

In 2010, she began calculated preparations to release an album and a book (Like Me) that would finally reveal her coming-out story and make country music history.

Through sometimes-tearful interviews and conversations, video diary entries, music videos, and several of her songs, this touching portrait follows Wright up to her full-court media press, from Oprah to People magazine, as she discovers the transformational power of living an authentic life.

Check out “Wish Me Away” on the Kansas City Gay & Lesbian Film + Video Festival website.

Click here to buy your tickets!

We are thrilled to announce that WISH ME AWAY will be the Centerpiece of the FRAMELINE FILM FESTIVAL in San Francisco. Frameline is the oldest and largest LGBT film festival in the country.

The film screens on Wednesday, June 22, at 7:00pm at the historic Castro Theater in San Francisco. Filmmakers Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf will be there, as will Chely Wright for Q&A following the film, and will be attending the Centerpiece After party as well.

Go to Frameline.org and get your tickets!

Come one — come all!

One year ago this month, Chely Wright became the first Country Music Artist to come out. Being the first takes guts. That’s why we salute CNN anchor, Don Lemon, and Phoenix Suns President, Rick Welts, for their courage in not just coming out to friends and family, but to the world. As Chely knows all too well, in this political climate, their decision will have consequences. And it can get ugly. But if you’re a kid who dreams of a career in professional sports, or as a broadcast journalist, you now have two great role models.

Let’s hope there are other firsts to look forward to because we believe with all our hearts that courage is most definitely contagious.

xo Beverly and Bobbie