Icelandic TV requests Back to the Garden

Icelandic National Television has acquired the rights to broadcast "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle"! From the land of Free Willy, Bjork and Sigur Ros...there will be a national broadcast of our film this Spring...we'll announce the date soon.

A little background: RUV-the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service-is an independent (that's why they like us) public service broadcaster, owned by the state of Iceland. Begun in 1930, RUV's income can only be allocated for broadcasting purposes. They operate one TV and two radio stations covering the whole of Iceland. Their main charter: "...honor basic democratic rules, human rights and the freedom of speech and opinion". Yeah baby!

New BTTG Interview/Podcast available

Following our wonderful experience up in Vancouver late this Summer at the Vancouver International Film Festival, we've received several requests to show the film in Canada.

The good folks up in British Columbia and as far east as Ontario are really in step with our films message that living the simple life can be a very fulfilling life. The empowerment one feels building your own home, having a sense of community and knowing that you're eating healthy, home-grown food...is being passed on to an new generation. A generation that honors the sixties activism and ideals but is looking to put their own mark on the future.

Recently I was contacted by a young man, originally from South Carolina,who now lives in B.C. He wanted to interview me about our film that he'd seen at VIFF. We're very happy to spread the word but it's especially fulfilling when someone who's fresh out of college is inspired by the example of our film's characters...Skeeter, OnePine, Maeyowa, Deb Vester, Jerry Bartels and Jeffrey Stonehill...and wants to know more.

He's put together a great blog of ideas and interviews with folks who talk about a wide variety of issues concerning the environment that he calls the ExtraEnvironmentalist.

Here's the podcast/interview conducted in late November 2010.

It's almost an hour long interview/podcast so feel free to download it onto your ipod or other digital device for an interesting hour of discussion. Comments always welcome.

thanks so much Justin and Seth.

Duke City Docfest wraps...nominates BTTG for award.

The first annual Duke City Docfest took place October 10-15th...Back to the Garden had two screenings. Not a hollywood A-list scene to be sure but the organizers hope to make it a big draw in the years to come...I went because our film was shown in the KIMO theater.

The KIMO is the kind of place you want to be married in and buried in...It's a landmark movie palace that the city wisely treasures and has recently renovated to show off its T and A... Treasures and architecture! It's worth a lot more text but just take my word for it, it's like no other movie theater you've ever been to...an amazing movie palace that's one of a kind.

We were nominated for Best Cinematography. Cool!

My Albuquerque hostess with the mostess, Cousin Tama! Who was also 'born in the you es seh'. You Rock Girl! And in no small part thanks to her parrot 'Montel Herman' who only bit me once and likes me just fine now...

A shop on Central ave..I love the way the chain drape turns this scene into a kind of modern pointilist painting...I had huge fun shooting on old Route 66.

Downtown Albuquerque...Central Avenue, the heart of the City...the old Route 66 highway.
Yep, Duke City's turnout was modest...but we had a great Q & A...heck they agreed to pose for a group photo just to commemorate the occasion of Albuquerque's first year Documentary fest!
The facade of the venerable KIMO theater...a mix of art deco architecture combined with an incredible decor of southwest indian art...a true movie palace I'm honored to have shown our film at...thanks so much Jesse and the generous folks at the Duke City Docfest.

Ironweed Films makes "Garden" its September Film of the Month!

We're so stoked that Ironweed Films of Oxnard, CA. has chosen our film as their Film of the Month for September! This is a passionate, progressive, socially-responsible group of film lovers who know that many folks will never see Independent docs outside the film festival circuit. To bridge this gap, they offer a provocative film festival on DVD every month.

Ironweed Films

17th Barcelona Environmental Festival welcomes "Back to the Garden"

We're screening today (Thursday) at 8pm at the Cines Alexandra in the heart of Barcelona right on the historic Ramblas! For more on the Festival click Barcelona. more to come...

Soap Lake works its magic!

Dry Falls...20 mins north of Soap Lake on highway 17.... Not to be missed!

l-R: Judy, Skeeter (Michael Pilarski) and Kevin at Soap Lake's Masquers Theater on May 15th for Opening Night of the Soap Lake film Series, sponsored by Jacol filmworks.

Good crowd, great people...we met organic farmers, permaculture gurus, seasoned filmmakers and simply lots of like-minded folk who came out to support us. Soap lake has healing waters and we wasted no time checking it out...The lake has been a mecca to thousands in its heyday (early 1900's through WWII)...since then it's been largely overlooked.

But thanks to visionaries like Kathy Kiefer, local filmmaker and Soap Lake resident, it's on the comeback trail...We loved it and can't wait to go back and soak up more sunshine and it's amazing healing waters. Soap lake Washington.

It's also becoming a haven for artists and all sorts of alternative folk who love the natural beauty of the area and are creating real community.

May 15th... Masquers theater in Historic Soap Lake. 7:30pm Saturday night.

photo: Historian and filmmaker Kathy Keifer at Soap Lake 2005 (above)

photo: circa 1922 postcard from Soap lake: "It will cure you"....

We've had May 15th 2010 on the books for almost a year...Screening at a state of the art Theater (the Masquers theater) at Soap Lake, WA. a tiny dot on the map but....thanks to one kindred spirit, filmmaker kathy Kiefer, it's gaining a reputation for screening inspired independent films...Kathy has produced three docs herself and knows her audiences.

"I'm committed to producing documentaries that enlighten and inspire deeper thought." kathy kiefer

So we're really thrilled to be invited to Soap Lake and experience the healing waters, the local arts-scene and the historic spa-atmosphere which it's famous for...check out Kathy's site for more. www.soaplakewa.com

Where's soap lake? Just North of I-90 near Quincy. Not far from the Gorge Amphitheater.

Come on over for the weekend and meet the locals at our 'Garden Party'...

Sebastopol adds second showing after sold out first show!

We had such a wonderful Sonoma County reception in Sebastopol! And...met lots of new folks, Special thanks to Jason Perdue and Cynthia Stefanoni at the Sebastopol fest for adding on a second show by popular demand.

Too many good people to list here but it went very well with both shows with

warm receptive audiences including a Mom who was a part of The Farm commune from Tennessee...and her daughter Salina, who told us they identified completely with the hippie kids' interviews in our film...William who ran the 'Phinny Farm' who remembered Skeeter and is making his own doc about Grass growers in Humbolt county.

Emiko Omori, first asian-american camera woman at KQED in San Francisco back in the 60's... at SDFF giving a workshop in the 'Art of shooting Docs' with selected scenes from her influences (Pennabaker, the Maysles brothers, Errol Morris among them).

Also met one of the original 'Merry Pranksters' who knew kessey, Brand and many of the Beat Writers of North Beach...He's also an well-known experimental, Avant Garde musician, writer, artist and important memeber of the famed Morningstar commune, Ramon Sender. At 75 he's a dynamo networker who helped us attract several new fans to our Sebastopol screening and has invited us to show "Back to the Garden" in San Francisco in June as a part of his bi-weekly "Odd Mondays" film and Lecture Series.

We're super excited to show in San Francisco...Thanks so much Ramon! Google Ramon Sender...he's one of the last of the major flower power figures still living and working in the city...

photo: L-R: Ramon Sender, Judy Kaplan, Judy levit Sender in their San Francisco neighborhood...

Wild and Scenic: Standing room only...

Photo: Elise and Jesse interview OnePine and Kevin during the Wild and Scenic Environmental film festival in Nevada City, CA. The Live/Webcast interview can be seen on our Facebook fanpage...

Judy reluctantly stayed home to pack for our upcoming move. OnePine met me in Nevada City to represent our film...and I'm so glad she came to California. What a perfect place to show it. Lots of mature flower children now living in Nevada County who've moved there from the San Francisco Bay Area...(ca. 2 hours from Berkeley). "A hotbed of Progressives" Skeeter called it. Also Home to Kerouac Pal and Beat Poet/Icon, Gary Snyder. (Who through a mutual friend has a copy of our film.)

I was initially a little concerned that because of our very early scheduled screening at 9:30 on a Sunday morning, we might have trouble attracting a crowd...But it turned out to be an overflow crowd of over 200 with standing room only! Wow. That was a relief and to hear such genuine enthusiasm and laughter from the audience throughout the screening was a delight.

They really were moved and taken with our story and there was obvious excitement when the lights came up and the crowd saw OnePine. She had a great time at the festival...and was thrilled to have her oldest daughter, Yava and husband in attendance. They were proudly introduced to the crowd who hung on OnePine's every word...

"All the women in the Ladies Room were talking up your film" another filmmaker told me.
That's a good sign, I said. And it is. Women really relate to our film. Men love it too but there's
so much intimacy that's shared during the film that other women so identify with.

It was great to have OnePine to share the excitement and warmth of Wild and Scenic.
She's a terrific spokesperson for our film, enjoys coming out and meeting new audiences, is completely herself and comfortable with people..and they feel that and it comes right back.

Finally, I want to acknowledge our Wild and Scenic hosts for their warmth, generosity, tight organization and execution of the festivals dizzing details and demands...and for making us feel welcome, honored and important while we were there. You guys rock. Right down to the volunteers who drove us an hour each way to and from the Sacramento Airport.

To my wonderful home away from home, Sandra Rockman and her husband Tony for letting me stay with them during the fest...fed me home-made granola and yogurt, got me there on time, told me family stories...Really made me feel like family. It was a pleasure being with you!

Next up: The Sebastapol Documentary Film Festival in Sebastapol, CA. (March 5-7th)

Santa Fe Film Festival: Great Buzz, Great time, New Fans and lots of Salsa!!

Santa Fe was cold outside (8 degress!) but warm inside the festival theaters which screened about 150 films over 4 days. Back to the Garden made good press coverage locally:

a mention on the local NPR station's morning show, a short write up on opening day of the festival in the Sante Fe New Mexican Newspaper and a nice plug in the Albuquerque Arts Magazine too! (check it out)

Our film had great visability during the festival and we gave away a bunch of DVD's to filmmakers and fans to share...planting seeds.

We had two packed showings at the De Vargas Cinemas with very warm audience response at both screenings.

Next Stop: The Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival (Nevada City, California) January 15-17th...

Thanks to all of you who generously responded to our email request to visit our Santa Fe film listing and helped give us some major "Buzz" during the festival weekend. It was a huge help with over 250 responses!

We love you!!

"Garden" receives a FIVE STAR review in Portland's Willamette Weekly

photo: Phil Borges 2008

Portland's venerable Willamette Week Newspaper

rates "Back to the Garden" with Five Stars on eve of it's first theatrical run...anywhere.

The Clinton Street Theater, the oldest art house cinema in Portland is screening "Back to the Garden" for a special one-week run...

send your PTD friends over...If it does well, they're willing to extend the run. Cool!

click on the links above to read the entire review...

Santa Fe Film Festival: December 2-6, 2009

Heaven Scent Films announces:

the Southwest Premiere of

the award-winning new documentary

Back to the Garden

Flower Power Comes Full Circle

www.backtothegardenfilm.com

screening at the

Santa Fe Film Festival

www.santafefilmfestival.com

Thursday, December 3, 2009 at DeVargas 2 Theater *

Friday, December 4, 2009 at DeVargas 3 Theater *

A new Feature documentary which asks the Question,

Where have all the 'Flowers' gone?

Take a trip back to the remote wilds of Washington State, meet a community of off-grid, back to the land hippies who dropped-out of the American mainstream in the 1970’s.

In 1988, The filmmaker met and interviewed this thriving tribal community and now, 20 years later, returns to find out what’s become of their lives, their families and their dreams of environmental utopia.

Official Selection in 10 International Film Festivals

World Premier: Seattle International Film Festival

WINNER : Best of Washington film Award 2009

Come join us, tell your friends,

burn some sage….

* Filmmakers Kevin Tomlinson and Judy Kaplan will attend

and will host a question & answer session following the film.

Tel Aviv wraps with sold out screening.

(photo: L-R, Judy, Kevin, Harsita Eshel (Festival Director), Anameika Eshel (co-director) and Israeli filmmaker, Yael who presented a film about the Rainbow movement in Israel.)

photo: courtesy of Yohan Segev, Tel Aviv

We were humbled by the turnout and the overwhelming response to our second screening in Tel Aviv. Many commented about how inspired and moved they were by the film's characters and their life struggles.

There were questions about whether our film has distribution or not (We're currently self-distributing ) and whether it will show on Television (we're working on it after it shows at a few more fests). Many young 20-somethings came up to us and told us how they'd been thinking about the film all day, how hopeful the stories are and that they were considering moving up to the north of Israel to grow their own food and change life directions.

One of the members of our audience was NBC News' Middle East correspondent, Martin Fletcher and his wife (who both LOVED the film). Martin is one of NBC's icons (30 years in Israel) and is a huge plus in getting a possible Israeli documentary channel introduction.

More comments:

"I walked out with my heart smiling"..."If the music soundtrack were available on CD, I'd buy it !"

Tel Aviv Spiritual Film Festival to screen "Back to the Garden" on September 11th and 12th!

We are the guests of the Tel Aviv Spiritual Film Fest. We are so excited to go to Israel...we've never been there.

This is a film fest that particularly honors the spiritual theme which runs throughout "Back to the Garden..." We're especially curious to witness an Israeli audience response to our story of the American dream set in the Back-to-the-land community of rural Washington State.

For more about what kind of International spiritual films we'll be rubbing shoulders with, check this out! Tel Aviv spiritual film fest 2009

We'll keep you posted on our screening direct from the middle east.

SIFFtv interview on the making of "BTTG"

To see the original interview on SIFFtv and 

other interviews from the festival...go here.

Big Weekend screenings in the Okanogan.

*click on news articles to enlarge....

Thanks to everyone who came out last weekend in both Tonasket and Twisp

to support "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle".

We had big friendly audiences in both screenings with lots of laughter and some tears. You made us feel like family! We love you and look forward to coming back again soon...

Special thanks to Don at KTRT 97.5 fm in the beautiful Methow valley, Joyce Campbell and Sue Misao at the Methow Valley News, Aaron Studen at the Twisp River Pub for all their help in getting folks to come see what turned out to be a very special screening. It was packed!!!

Thanks also go to Emily Hanson at the Okanogan Gazette and Sheila Corson of the Omak Chronicle for writing fab stories that helped spark local interest in of our 2o year film project.

In Tonasket, thanks to River Jones, Peter James, Julie Greenwood, Alice and all the great folks at the Tonasket Community Cultural Center and the Tonasket Co-op, where it all began!

"After 25 yrs.of living off-the-grid, I was getting messages that it’s time to reintegrate into mainstream society and give back a little bit."

1988

                                                                 2008

In his fifties, Jerry Bartels decided he wanted to fulfill a dream...go back and finish college.  

When he completed his Masters degree, he left behind 25 years of living an off-grid, 'hippie' lifestyle and took on a School counseling job in the town of Moses Lake, Washington.  Prior to this, Jerry's longest job anywhere had lasted just two years. He loved working with elementary school kids but after 6 years he felt anxious for a change...and a more unplanned life.

" I see the school system as a conveyer belt for people.  They go to school and they come off on a belt prepared to have a job in society.  I just don't quite fit, and never have quite fit in with that scenario..."

To find out about Jerry's latest life changing decision, look for the opening of "Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle".

due to be released in the Spring of 2009.

911 Media Arts is official Fiscal Sponsor

Misha Neininger, Director of Seattle's 911 Media Arts "is thrilled "
to be sponsoring our feature length documentary film,
"Back to the Garden", produced and directed by Kevin Tomlinson
of Heaven Scent Films. www.heavenscentfilms.com

911 media arts is hosting a fund-raiser for itself on August 3rd from 4-7pm at its
Seattle Studio and will be showcasing a sneek peek trailer screening of
Back to the Garden.

We are equally thrilled to have an association with 911 who has
always championed and supported local filmmakers including
the Academy Award Nominated, "Iraq in Fragments" and Toronto
film fest selection, "Heart of the Game".

If you're in Seattle and can make it, please join us in supporting
911 as Seattle's enduring and ambitious friend to Northwest filmmakers.

You can also get a sneak peak of our 'hippie dippie doc demo' by going to
www.backtothegardenfilm.com

we welcome your comments!

thanks everyone.
kevin

Back to the Garden documentary

Dear friends,

After years of working on other people’s films, I’m taking a huge personal step—and I need your support more than ever to do it. I’m passionately at work editing my first feature-length documentary, “Back to the Garden“. This is not something I’ve embarked on lightly. The story has been literally more than 20 years in the making...and I’ve never felt so strongly about a project in my life.

It began in 1988 when I took a road trip that led me on a strange and wonderful journey.
By chance, I noticed a handmade poster advertising a Hippie Healing gathering in a remote valley in rural Washington State... I decided to go.

What I experienced there felt like time travel, finding myself among ‘magic buses’ and tepees in a meadow filled with flower children communing with nature. I shot hours of dancing, drumming, singing and celebration—and recorded extensive interviews with some of the most sincere, iconoclastic characters I have ever met.

At the time, I had no plan for the material. So I shelved it…and it sat in my basement…for 18 years! But I couldn’t let it go. Then finally it hit me. Where have all the ‘flowers’ gone?
Had their dreams of environmental sustainability survived, had anyone changed course and gone mainstream? How did their children feel about their own ‘Hippie Kid’ childhoods?

Nearly 20 years later I set out on another journey—to find out what had become of their youthful dreams of self-reliance.

What I found speaks so directly and profoundly to the most pressing problems facing America—and our world today. This personal time-lapse creates an emotionally moving story… not only because of those who rejected mainstream society—but also because of the enduring personal sacrifices and consequences of those choices…and because this is also our story as well… as the 60’s affected everyone.

Today, the world has whole-heartedly embraced these ‘radical’ yet simple ideas, ideas once considered “fringe’ or “out of touch” and now being adopted by a ‘green movement’ looking to protect the Earth for future generations.

With your faith and tax-deductible financial help I’m entering the film in the International Documentary Festival (IDFA) in Amsterdam where new documentaries are discovered by distributors and networks for general release. It’s the best way for indeed filmmakers like me to get a real shot at reaching a larger audience. To date our production team has raised $40,000. Our goal is $150,000. to be raised by October 30th, 2008.

I'd love to discuss your participation in making this project a success. I’m sure once you see a sample of this film, you’ll share my excitement about bringing Back to the Garden to a wider audience.

I’ll be in touch...and please, leave a message here if you'd like to know more...Thanks so much for considering helping me make this lifelong dream a reality—and bringing a great story to life.

Kevin Tomlinson
ktvc2001@aol.com

Heaven Scent Films

http://www.heavenscentfilms.com