The Linguists

For those of you who are interested in language conservation and endangered languages, you’ll be happy to know that the documentary film The Linguists can be watched online at Babelgum.com.

Below is a press release sent to me by Linda Lee.

‘THE LINGUISTS’ TO PREMIERE ONLINE APRIL 20th ON BABELGUM.COM

Acclaimed film about two scientists on a race against time
to document the world’s vanishing languages

TRAILER: http://www.babelgum.com/browser.php#play|SEARCH,queryString:linguists,order:MOST_RELEVANT|0,3014780

Independent Web TV service Babelgum announced today that it has acquired the exclusive worldwide Internet and mobile rights to the feature documentary The Linguists. The film, which screened in the Documentary Spotlight Program at the Sundance Film Festival, will premiere on Babelgum’s platforms on April 20th, 2009. The deal was negotiated by Karol Martesko-Fenster General Manager & Publisher – Film Division on behalf of Babelgum, along with Ironbound Films CEO Jeremy Newberger on behalf of the filmmakers.

The Linguists, directed by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newberger, is a hilarious and poignant chronicle of two scientist-adventurers racing to document languages on the verge of extinction. Dubbed “a fascinating journey” (Kenneth Turan, LA Times), “funny, enlightening and ultimately uplifting” (Aaron Barnhart, Kansas City Star), and “a hoot” (Sam Allis, The Boston Globe), The Linguists was a breakout hit at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and has screened at more than 40 film festivals worldwide and recently aired on PBS.

Speaking from Ironbound Films’ headquarters in Garrison, NY, CEO Jeremy Newberger says: “It is very fitting that The Linguists, a documentary celebrating language diversity, has its online premiere on Babelgum, a company named for the digital ‘gum’ with which it connects diverse communities globally. We hope to inspire as many viewers as possible with the message of The Linguists, and Babelgum, with its global brand recognition and unrivaled accessibility both online and via mobile devices, is the ideal platform. We anticipate an overwhelming response.”

Karol Martesko-Fenster, stated: “We are thrilled about our partnership with Ironbound Films. The filmmakers have crafted a compelling story that weaves travelogue together with the urgent sustainability issue of the world’s disappearing languages. The resulting documentary appeals to film fans and the growing group of linguists worldwide. Babelgum’s exclusive premiere of The Linguists reaffirms our mission to be the leading online and mobile destination for multi-lingual diverse forms of creative expression and cutting-edge independent film.”

About Babelgum

A free-to-use integrated mobile and Internet TV service, Babelgum combines the full-screen video quality of traditional television with the interactive capabilities of the Internet, and offers innovative professionally produced programming on-demand to a global audience. Babelgum recently launched an original mobile
application in the United States, UK and Italy, that brings regionally tailored programming to smart phones – at present iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, Nokia (N96, N95 and 6210) and G-Phones (1 and 2) – via 3G and WiFi.

Babelgum’s editorial focus is on music, comedy, film, urban culture, nature and the environment. The company has set up two online contests to nurture independent film and music talent: the Babelgum Online Film Festival, chaired by Spike Lee (now in its second year) and the Babelgum Music Video Awards, judged by acclaimed director Michel Gondry. Babelgum also launched a Digital Studio initiative producing new, exclusive and original content. Two productions have already been completed: Downstream, focusing on the controversy over the development of the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, and Extinction Sucks, a wildlife series on the subject of conservation and protection, with the active involvement of WWF.

Babelgum’s content partners include, amongst others, EMI, Sony BMG, the Associated Press, PBS, BBC, VBS, Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Shine Limited, Cinetic Rights Management, Content Republic, IndieFlix, Gong Anime, The Workbook Project, Cinelan, IMG and Off the Fence, as well as the Seattle, Encounters, Rushes, From Here To Awesome and Renderyard Film festivals. Babelgum is an independent and privately held company with offices in the United States, UK, Ireland, France and Italy.

www.babelgum.com

About Ironbound Films

Ironbound Films is an award-winning documentary and new media production company. Ironbound’s latest feature The Linguists premiered to rave reviews at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and on PBS on February 26, 2009. Ironbound founders Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newberger have twice been nominated for Emmy Awards for Outstanding Historical Programming. They are currently in production on two documentaries: The New Recruits, about aspiring social entrepreneurs; and Évocateur, about ’80s talk-show icon Morton Downey, Jr. Recent work includes Moment in Time, a short documentary that premiered as the centrepiece to ESPN’s Olympic coverage.

www.ironboundfilms.com
www.thelinguists.com