'Raising Bertie' in NYC for IFP Independent Film Week

From September 20 - 25, the team behind Raising Bertie (#teambertie) will be in New York City for The Independent Filmmaker Project's (IFP) Project Forum at IFP Independent Film Week to be held at Lincoln Center. Raising Bertie was previously selected for IFP's Documentary Lab held in May. IFP has published the full slate of programming for Independent Film Week. More information can be found in this official press release by IFP.

Fresh Docs to screen 'Raising Bertie' in Durham, N.C.

We're excited to announce a special advanced work in progress screening of Raising Bertie, in Durham on Friday, September 25th! Raising Bertie will kick off the fourth season of Southern Documentary Fund's monthly work in progress series, Fresh Docs. The free screening will be held at the American Tobacco Campus' Full Frame Theater in Downtown Durham, NC. Following the screening, there will be a feedback session with the filmmaker that will be moderated by Southern Documentary Fund (SDF) director Rachel Raney. Fresh Docs is co-presented by Southern Documentary Fund and Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies. Read more.

'Raising Bertie' to present at Cucalorus Film Festival in NC

Raising Bertie is an official selection for this year's work-in-progress program at the Cucalorus Film Festival, which will be held on November 11 - 15 in Downtown Wilmington, N.C. Cucalorus is one of the largest film festivals held in the southern United States and was recently recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as "One of the Coolest Film Festivals in the World, 2014." More information on the festival can be found on the official site.

We've got some exciting new developments in the works at Beti Films. Here's a rundown:

Raising Bertie to Present at Good Pitch Chicago 2015

Raising Bertie has been selected to present at Good Pitch Chicago 2015!

The event is sponsored by Chicago Media Project and will bring documentary filmmakers together with “foundations, NGOs, campaigners, philanthropists, policy makers, brands and media around leading social and environmental issues to forge coalitions and campaigns that are good for all these partners, good for the films and good for society.” Filmmakers will have the opportunity to present a seven minute pitch and then receive feedback from an audience of 300 potential partners and investors. Good Pitch is based on a partnership between BRITDOC and Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program.

Raising Bertie is one of only six documentaries to be selected. There were over 100 international submissions vying for spots in the 2015 round. On deciding upon the six films to be showcased, Reel Chicago reports:

In keeping with Good Pitch’s mission of addressing a topic of social change, “We arrived at projects on a wide range of topics that balance bringing world class filmmakers to town and showcasing Chicago’s own strong documentary scene,” notes Danny Alpert, Planning Committee board member.

Congrats to Director-Producer Margaret Byrne, DP Jon Stuyvesant and Associate Producer Ian Kibbe on this exciting opportunity!

Good Pitch Chicago 2015 will be held on May 5, 2015 Pilsen’s Historic Thalia Hall venue. Click here for the official announcement and for more information on the event

You can read the rest of the Reel Chicago article here.

Official Raising Bertie Instagram Now Live!

You can now follow Raising Bertie (@raisingbertie) on Instagram! Every week we will share photos offering a rare glimpse into everyday life in Bertie County, North Carolina. Delve deeper into the world of Bertie County by viewing more images in their full, HD glory on Tumblr as well as behind-the-scenes production stills on the film's Facebook site.

Coming Soon: Official Raising Bertie Blog and Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with all things Raising Bertie. In the next few weeks, the official Raising Bertie site will launch a blog featuring news on the production, Bertie County, and issues related to rural education and education reform. Also in the works is a monthly e-newsletter so be sure to check out the official site and join our mailing list.

'Raising Bertie' headed to IFP, Fresh Docs, and Cucalourus