(Toronto Film Scene)

 *Winner of Special Jury Award (Canadian Feature) and Top Ten Audience Award at Hot Docs 2010 (May 2010).

* Invited to screen at Best of Hot Docs 2010 in Ottawa (June 2010).

* Globe and [...]]]>

“An emotional roller coaster of fabulous proportions!”

(NOW – Toronto)

“Incredibly touching, uplifting, heartbreaking and hilarious.”

(Toronto Film Scene)

 *Winner of Special Jury Award (Canadian Feature) and Top Ten Audience Award at Hot Docs 2010 (May 2010).

* Invited to screen at Best of Hot Docs 2010 in Ottawa (June 2010).

* Globe and Mail (Canada’s National Newspaper) list of Top Ten ‘must-see’ at VIFF (out of 340 films shown at this year’s festival).

* Carla Zilbersmith, the hero of LEAVE THEM LAUGHING, was nominated for the Artistic Merit Award by the Vancouver chapter of  Women in Film and TV for her wonderful performance in the film and garnered a Jury Special Mention.

* Winner of the National Film Board Audience Award as the most popular Canadian documentary at Vancouver International Film Festival 2010. 

* Winner of 2010 Mill Valley Film Festival Audience Favorite Documentary Award (out of 27 documentaries shown at this year’s festival).

* Invited to screen at Bergen International Film  Festival in Norway (Nov. 2010).

* Invited to screen at Detroit International Film Festival (Nov. 2010)

* Winner of the 2010 Canadian/ American Grand Prix Peoples’ Choice Award (Windsor International Film Festival/Detroit Film Institute annual film competition).

* Winner of Best of Festival Award and Best Documentary over 30 minutes (as selected by special jury) at Picture This…International Disability Film Festival 2011 (out of 89 films).

* Invited to screen at Whistler Film Festival (Dec. 2010).

* Invited to screen at Gabriola Island Film Festival (Jan. 2011).

* Invited to screen at Documentary Edge Film Festival in New Zealand (Feb. 2011).

* Invited to screen at the Sedona International Film Festival (Feb. 2011).

* Invited to screen at Vancouver Women in Film Festival (Feb. 2011).

* Invited to screen at the Sonoma International Film Festival (Mar.  2011).

http://efilmcritic.com/feature.php?feature=3129

http://www.ptff.org/ptff_main/2011-festival.html

It was great! I guess there were about 50 people in the audience, but the film was screened in one of the smaller theatres, so it felt quite crowded. Most people there were young, looked like students… and then a few mature women like me… and some couples. So I was a little worried that [...]]]>

It was great! I guess there were about 50 people in the audience, but the film was screened in one of the smaller theatres, so it felt quite crowded. Most people there were young, looked like students… and then a few mature women like me… and some couples. So I was a little worried that the young people would not relate to and appreciate Carla – this wild, outgoing, middle-aged, provocative, proud and sexy woman – who also had ALS… And she was so “American”, too – which is not always well received among young academic Europeans. 

-But they loved her, and they loved the film – as I did. People were laughing and crying. The film was not texted, and especially Carla uses an advanced English, lots of slang and ironi – and humor. She also uses references to recents events and probably things that are going on in America which is not commonly known here. But people were still laughing… (I must admit there were some expressions and references I did not get -perhaps too many years since I lived in California – or perhaps my thinking and imagination is not dirty and daring enough:)…)

When the film ended, the audience clapped – which is not very common in Norway after a film screening. We are normally not that spontanious.

It’s a wonderful film – you guys have done a great job! It comes so close – both emontionally and visually, and makes it impossible not to be touched. I loved how you were able to capture the relationship with her son. Almost too good to be real in the beginning, and then so hard to see how tough it became when she got sicker. This film will stay with me for a while

http://www.leavethemlaughingcalgary.com

The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, has selected Leave Them Laughing as one of 10 films its readers should see at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Considering there are about 375 films screening at the festival, it’s quite an honour to be in the top 10.