Roadside Attractions has acquired U.S. rights to filmmaker Ondi Timoner’s hot-topic doc COOL IT, which will have its world premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. The only filmmaker to win the Sundance Grand Jury prize twice, Timoner trains her camera on controversial economist/political scientist Bjorn Lomborg, who came to prominence with the book The Skeptical Environmentalist (1998), and went on to challenge the conventional wisdom of Al Gore’s AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH with lectures and the publication of Cool It (2007). The announcement was made by Roadside Attractions co-presidents Eric d’Arbeloff and Howard Cohen, who plan a fall 2010 release. Maple Pictures will distribute in Canada .
“Many docs we see are satisfied to introduce yet another problem to fret about,” said d’Arbeloff, “but COOL IT is so exciting because it’s radically structured toward solutions. In the same way our movie THE COVE demonstrated that a small group of activists can change the world, we think that this brave film could help start real progress on global warming.”
“Cool It blasts through the polarizing logjam of the climate change debate to bring a solid plan for solutions,” echoes Timoner. “Bjorn is fascinating, because in his attempt to make the world a smarter, better, more efficient place, he’s threatened the status quo, and been vilified by both the right and the left simultaneously. His story is riddled with conspiracy, controversy and politics surrounding a subject matter that truly affects us all.”
“Bjorn ‘s message is extremely provocative”, added producer Terry Botwick. “He brings a refreshing perspective on how we think about solving, not just global warming, but also other major problems facing the world. When I first heard him lecture I knew 1019 had to help introduce him to as wide an audience as possible.”
COOL IT was produced by 1019 Entertainment, with 1019 principals Terry Botwick and Ralph Winter as executive producers. Producers are Terry Botwick, Sarah Gibson and Ondi Timoner. Director is Ondi Timoner, who captured the Grand Jury prize in Sundance for DIG! (2004) and WE LIVE IN PUBLIC (2009).
The deal was negotiated by d’Arbeloff and attorney Greg Bernstein on behalf of Roadside Attractions and Botwick and attorney Steve Fayne of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld on behalf of 1019 Entertainment.