Big Things Happening In 2012!
Happy New Year to all the supporters of 65_RedRoses, friends of Eva, and folks everywhere living with CF! 2011 was a wonderful year of sharing Eva’s story and raising awareness about organ donation, but we’re excited that 2012 will be even bigger. We launched our new site design last week, and we hope you like it.
We’re getting closer to announcing the date of the 65_RedRoses premiere on Oprah Winfrey Network, but we can tell you right now that it will be happening in the Spring! On the Hello Cool World store, Canadian supporters can pre-order the new version of the DVD (with an updated ending, French subtitles, and interviews with the directors), which will be released in February. You can also order other 65_RedRoses merchandise from the store. All proceeds go back into the campaign for the film and Eva’s movement for organ donation.
For American supporters, we know you are eager to see and share Eva’s story. While the DVD is not available for sale in the US yet, you can organize a community screening. Please contact us for details! And be sure to check back here, as well as Facebook and Twitter, because we’ll be sure to let you know as soon as the DVD is available in the US. For the fastest updates, sign up to our mail list! (more…)
T-shirts and pendants featuring Eva’s Heart – now available in the Hello Cool World store!
The photo collaboration between Eva and photographer Cyrus McEachern, featuring Eva’s spontaneous and beautiful heart design, has become an emblem of her spirit and legacy. It also inspired the photos of the Live Life, Pass It On campaign from BC Transplant, which features other recipients of organ donation. (more…)
Painting 65 Red Roses
Hello wonderful people out there!
This post is about the 65_RedRoses painting inspired by Eva, which has found its home in the main lobby of BC Children’s Hospital!!! At the unveiling celebrations Eva’s Dad told me that when Eva was little they had to be at BC Children’s Hospital often, and to pass the time they wandered through the hallways playing Eye Spy. Her mom, who spoke on behalf of the family at the event, said that it warms their hearts to know that the painting will bring joy to the challenging times children and their families might spend at the hospital.
The Day We Met Oprah
After losing his iPhone on an Air Canada flight, Philip arrived at his destination only to discover his bags weren’t there. Jet lagged from getting back to Vancouver from Mumbai five days earlier, Nimisha boarded the cheapest flight she could find to Sundance, which meant long delays and over eight hours of travel (a direct flight to Utah takes only two hours but is double the price!). So after a very crazy day of traveling and major costs we reached our hotel room (only $400/night) and began our incredible Sundance Film Festival experience in Park City, Utah. And man, was it worth it!!!
Phil, Nimisha and OPRAH at the Rocco/OWN party at Sundance Film Festival.
We found out last year that 65_RedRoses was going to have its US television debut on the Oprah Winfrey Network(OWN). Rocco Films, the company that acquisitioned our documentary, threw an intimate party to celebrate the first installment of films to play as part of Oprah’s Documentary Club. While we were excited to be invited to the launch event, it didn’t register just how big of a celebration this would be for the filmmakers and their documentaries, until about an hour into the evening.
Firstly, we chatted with Rosie O’Donnell, who is as friendly and engaging as she is hilarious! She is incredible and totally obsessed with documentaries! When we introduced ourselves, she knew who we were because she had already screened “65_RedRoses”. She has a special connection with the film because her nephew has Cystic Fibrosis. On top of her own show, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” which will be launching on OWN, she’ll also be hosting a post-show special after each documentary. She loved “65_RedRoses” and was really supportive of the film’s message.
Nimisha, ROSIE, and Phil at Sundance.
The night rolled on and familiar faces like Geena Davis and Forest Whitaker strolled about the room. Suddenly an announcement was made for us to gather around the small stage, where a reserved table for “65_RedRoses” was waiting for us. Before we even realized what was happening, “Mama O” entered the room and the party shifted from excitement to full on hysteria! Now we don’t normally get star-struck, but this was one of those moments where we felt like every filmmaker in the room totally let loose! We couldn’t believe that OPRAH (the queen of television) was standing just a few feet away from us. After watching her on TV for over twenty years, OPRAH was telling US how excited she was to have our film on her network. INSANE!!! We both immediately thought of Eva, how she would’ve felt to know that our little Canadian documentary had come this far. As Oprah spoke, behind her a huge big television screen displayed our poster, and the beautiful and determined face of Eva appeared, bright red hair glowing. Eva had always dared to dream big, and now everything we had worked so hard for, was actually becoming a reality. In that moment, as we stood there and celebrated the film’s success, we knew our friend Eva was with us.
When it actually came time to meet Oprah, it was a complete blur to us. We thanked her for inviting us to be involved in this exciting milestone for doc programming.
So there it is! Our photo with Oprah! We did it Eva…we did it.
We also met an amazing young man named Joey Borgogna, who works with the Creative Visions Foundation and has a project with OWN. Joey was a living donor for a girl named Brandy who had Cystic Fibrosis, and donated a lung to her.
Meeting Joey was a reminder to us of why we made this film in the first place. The film is dedicated to all the all the incredible donors out there who have given the gift of life, and the many people who are still waiting on the transplant list for a chance to live out their dreams.
Love, love, love,
Phil and Nimisha
65_RedRoses Benefit Concert & Sundance Festival
It’s been almost one year since our beloved Eva lost her lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis. To mark the anniversary, the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Vancouver Chapter) and the Massey Theatre are hosting a benefit concert on February 11th. (Facebook Event)
Local musicians include headliner Dan Mangan, who provided the closing credits song to Markvoort’s award winning film, as well as The Zolas, Hannah Georgas and Corrina Corrina – all of whom are performing for free! Tickets to the event are $34 (purchase here) and all proceeds will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Eva’s name.
You can also read up on how to win tickets from #hummingbird604 here.
Many will gather to celebrate her love and legacy at this event and we hope you can all make it.
Related press: Shore 104.3 fm, New Westminster News Leader, hummingbird604, Vancouver is Awesome, Georgia Straight
In other news, Nimisha and Phil are on their way to Sundance for a week of PR for the Oprah Winfrey Network – 65_RedRoses has been chosen for Oprah’s Documentary Club and will broadcast on OWN in the spring. Stay tuned for more news and thanks again for your love and support!
Happy Holidays!
Eva loved Christmas! She loved searching for the perfect tree, making hand made cards and gifts, and singing Christmas carols. Even though she was struggling with chronic rejection at this time last year, she still gathered all her family and friends around her bed at home, and hosted an online fundraising event for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. See the video here!
Her approach to life was that if you’re ever feeling sad or down the best solution is to do something nice for someone else. A simple, but powerful lesson that stays with us even now.
So in the spirit of celebrating life, love and friendship, we want to thank you all for your continued support of Eva’s movement for organ donation and CF awareness. If you’re searching for a new year’s resolution we hope you will consider registering to become an organ donor, or encourage others to do so. If you’re looking for a worthy charity please donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Canada or America. They have a number of events going on throughout the year, and in Eva’s hometown there is going to be an amazing benefit concert on February 11th featuring Dan Mangan (For Tickets and Information Click Here!)
Eva made every breath count, and we’re going to make every screening, every dvd sale and every broadcast of 65_RedRoses count. 2011 is going to be an amazing year, as Eva reaches American audiences for the first time on the Oprah Winfrey Network and shares her message of hope.
We wish you all a wonderful holiday season, and look forward to sharing more updates with you in the new year! Thanks for all the love.
Nimisha and Phil
Directors of 65_RedRoses
65_RedRoses picked up by Oprah Winfrey’s Documentary Club!!!
IT’S FINALLY HAPPENED!!! 65_RedRoses is going to have it’s American broadcast premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network!!!
Phil and I are so proud of our entire team, especially Eva, whose unconditional love and support is what made all of this possible. From the very beginning she recognized the importance of reaching a global community and in our final conversations together she spoke about how much she wanted the film to reach her American friends and supporters. And now, for the first time, they will be able to see a new, updated version on OWN!!!
Read Article: OWN SMELLS ROSES WITH DOC PICK UPS
Meg and Kina – can you believe it? You’re finally going to be able to see the film on American TV!!!
We will keep everyone updated on air dates and American press as we get closer to the premiere. A special thanks goes out to the wonderful Chuck Braverman, who immediately extended his help to us when we approached him about taking 65_RedRoses to the US. We thank Force Four Entertainment, our producers, crew, friends and family for always believing in this project.
To Bill, Janet, Annie and Hunter, we thank you for all the love.
EVA!!! YOU ALWAYS TOLD US TO THINK BIG!!! WE DID IT!!! American broadcast coming up in 2011 girl!!!
Love,
Nimisha
