“The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” is heading to the big screen. According to a press release, Greenwich Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Posy Dixon’s documentary about trans singer-songwriter Beverly Glenn-Copeland. “Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” will open this fall, “timed to the release of the ‘Keyboard Fantasies Reimagined’ album and the current Guggenheim exhibition featuring Copeland’s collaboration with artist Wu Tsang.”
“Keyboard Fantasies” screened at Hot Docs earlier this year. A LUCA production, it is directed by Dixon and produced by Liv Proctor.
Glenn-Copeland studied classical music at McGill University in Montreal, where he was one of the few minorities. After releasing two folk and blues albums and building a career writing songs for children’s TV, he began experimenting with electronic music using an Atari personal computer.
“The album ‘Keyboard Fantasies’ was the result,” the source details. “Now considered a classic of New Age electronica, it only sold a handful of copies upon its self-release on cassette in 1986. But its stature slowly grew in audiophile circles before it was championed by an influential Japanese rare-record collector which led to a re-mastering and re-release in 2016 where it won instantaneous acclaim.”
The press release continues, “Dixon connected with the musician, now living in his true identity as Glenn Copeland, back in 2017, and began to document his history and emergence into the independent music scene. ‘Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story’ sees the protagonist commit his life and music to screen for the first time — an intimate coming of age story spinning the pain of prejudice into rhythm, hope, and joy. Half aural-visual history, half DIY tour-video, the film provides a vehicle for the newly appointed musical legend and queer elder to connect with youth across the globe.”
“The music of ‘Keyboard Fantasies’ has already touched record collectors around the world,” Dixon said. “In an era when live touring has become increasingly challenging, I hope that our film can move with grace, bringing Glenn’s wisdom and life-affirming performances to audiences around the world.”
Dixon previously directed “Doctor Who: Earth Conquest – The World Tour.” Her producing credits include “Zona” and “Music Nation.”
