Author: Newsroom
LOS ANGELES, CA – (July 27, 2022) – Utopia is set to release the remastered documentary, ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL alongside Portobello Electric in Theaters this Fall and on Digital later this year. The rerelease is timed to the film’s 13th year anniversary and features remastered picture and sound, as well as a new exclusive epilogue interview with Director Sacha Gervasi (MY DINNER WITH HERVÉ, HITCHCOCK) and Anvil’s Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner moderated by former MTV host Matt Pinfield. The special event premiere and performance will be presented in conjunction with Beyond Fest on September 22, 2022 in Los Angeles at the Saban Theatre, with a live concert by Anvil and appearances from surprise musical guests. This will be followed by a Q&A with Anvil’s Steve “Lips” Kudlow, Robb Reiner, Producer Rebecca Yeldham, and Director Sacha Gervasi, moderated by Steve-O of JACKASS fame. Tickets for the event go on sale today, July 27, at 10 AM PT.
ANVIL! THE STORY Of ANVIL follows Canadian heavy-metal band Anvil as they delivered a highly influential 1982 album Metal on Metal that would inspire the likes of Anthrax and Metallica, and then dropped off the map to begin what would become decades of toiling in obscurity. Director and former Anvil roadie Gervasi follows guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner as they stumble through a harrowing European tour and reflect on failure, friendship, resilience and the will to follow even the most impossible of dreams.
“This film is pure magic” said Utopia CEO Robert Schwartzman, “As well as being a brilliant filmmaker, Sacha was in the right place at the right time and has managed to bring audiences a truly inspiring film which has stood the test of time.”
“If you’d told me all those years ago at Sundance, when we had no buyers, that this movie would be released into theatres for the second time 13 years later I never would have believed you, but here we are. It truly is a miracle.” said Gervasi. “This is all thanks to Robert and his extraordinary team at Utopia. They’re brilliant to work with because they’re filmmakers themselves, and their support and passion are unmatched. All Anvil and I can say is thank you!”
Featuring appearances by an array of heavy metal icons, including Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Guns N’ Roses’ Slash, Motörhead’s Lemmy, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, and Slayer’s Tom Araya, ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL (2009) received widespread critical and public acclaim following its release. The film is tied for 6th place as one of the highest rated documentaries of all time on Rotten Tomatoes with a 98% certified fresh rating, and a 90% audience score with over 5000+ votes. It was named one of 2009’s best documentaries by numerous film critics associations, including Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and Las Vegas, as well as the International Documentary Association, the Online Film Critics Society, and the National Society of Film Critics. It also made the year-end Top 10 lists in publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Village Voice, and many others.
The documentary won several prestigious awards including Best Documentary from the Film Independent Spirit Awards, Best Feature Documentary and Music Film at IDA, and the Emmy for Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming. It was also nominated for Best Documentary Feature from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary from the DGA, Online Film Critics Association, as well as winning the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at Los Angeles Film Festival, The Sydney Film Festival, and multiple festivals around the world.
The film was produced by Rebecca Yeldham, and executive producers include Gervasi, Rick Krim, and Christopher Soos. The deal was negotiated by Danielle DiGiacomo for Utopia, and Jeff Springer on behalf of the Anvil team. Gervasi is represented at CAA, Kaplan / Perrone Entertainment, 42West, and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman & Clark.
To purchase tickets for and learn additional information about the special debut event of ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL please visit: https://www.axs.com/events/442672/anvil-the-story-of-anvil-again-tickets