Elvira Lind’s “Bobbi Jene” has found a home. Oscilloscope Laboratories snagged the U.S. rights to the the award-winning documentary about American dancer Bobbi Jene Smith, a press release has announced.
The doc follows Smith at a turning point in her life. She’s become the star of a famous Israeli dance company but decides to return to the U.S. after 10 years working and living abroad.
A theatrical release is being planned for later this year.
“When I met Bobbi five years ago I instantly knew that here was a film I’d like to pursue,” Lind told us. “I wanted to make a film about a woman around my own age who was facing the consequences of her choices as an artist — the loneliness, the struggle, and the doubt that comes with the lifestyle, but also the satisfaction you experience when you follow your instincts and find your path.” She explained, “Bobbi was strong and inspiring. She was unchained by taboos. She was honest and she was about to change her life dramatically. When we met it was like we had known each other for years. It was an easy choice to pick up my camera and begin shooting.”
Lind emphasized that she hopes the film will “help challenge the criteria of success. We are so focused today — obsessed, really — on making it big and loud rather than being brave and making it honest,” she explained. “The size of the stage we are on should not define how successful we are.”
“Bobbi Jene” made its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival, where it was named Best Documentary Feature. Lind also took home the honor for Best Cinematography.
“Since ‘Bobbi Jene’ was funded solely by European film funds and public broadcasters, we knew that a good start at Tribeca Film Festival could help catch the eye of U.S. distributors,” commented Lind. “However, finding the right partner for the film was the main priority. We were lucky that we were able to choose from a few distributors with great track records, but are confident we found the perfect partner in Oscilloscope and are beyond excited to start this journey with them.”
O-Scope’s Dan Berger added, “Elvira has crafted a film that is so much more than the logline would lead you to believe. The closeness and intimacy she achieves easily transcends Bobbi Jene’s personal story beyond that of just a dancer. It’s a human story with universal relatability that I have no doubt will move anyone who sees it.”
Lind previously directed “Songs for Alexis,” a 2014 doc about a transgender teen musician and his relationship with his girlfriend.
