an inspirational journey with people who refuse to grow old in spirit
A Top 50 box office documentary of all time, the Walker George film Young@Heart, originally broadcast on Channel 4 television in the UK, has since made its mark in the hearts of millions and been broadcast to the four corners of the globe.
Screened in movie theaters around the world, it went on to win two Rose d’Or awards and the LA Film Festival Audience Award. It screened at Sundance and the SXSW Festival before it was released in the U.S. and Canada by Fox Searchlight in 2008.
A crowd favorite, the film was later released in the UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, and Japan, winning the Audience Award at the Sydney Film Festival, the Paris Cinema International Film Festival, Ghent Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Bergen International Film Festival, Warsaw Film Festival, among others.
“Lots of movies make me cry—it’s not that hard to do—but this moment cut so deep, it left me gasping for air.
”
Fred Knittle performs "Fix You" by Coldplay in a scene from the film "Young@Heart" recorded live at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton, Massachusetts.
In 2009, the film aired on PBS' Independent Lens. In the decade since its release, the film has aired on Netflix and been shown to thousands of young and old in senior centers, schools, universities, community and retirement centers around the world.
“The “Fix You” clip was extraordinary, not least because of the grave, graceful performance by Fred Knittle, who has a heart condition and sang with a breathing tube attached to his nose.”
Rhino Records released a soundtrack to the film which contains 16 songs highlighted by Young@Heart's renditions of the Ramone's "I Wanna Be Sedated," Bruce Springsteen's "Dancin' In The Dark," David Bowie's "Golden Years," Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia," James Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and Talking Head's "Road To Nowhere." Many of these songs are also featured on Y@H's 2008 album Mostly Live.
Patsy Linderme sings "Nothing Compares 2 U" in memory and honor of fellow chorus member Joe Benoit shortly after learning about his death.
Film Awards
2006
Time Out New York Best Documentary (USA)
The Radio Times Best Documentary (United Kingdom)
2007
Rose d’Or Festival Best of 2007and Best Arts Documentary (Switzerland)
Los Angeles Film Festival Best International Feature (USA)
2008
Atlanta Film Festival Audience Award (USA)
Bergen International Film Festival Audience Award (Norway)
Warsaw International Film Festival Best Documentary (Poland)
Paris Cinema International Film Festival Jury Prize andAudience Award (France)
Nashville Independent Film Festival Impact of Music Award (USA)
Sydney Film Festival Audience Award for Best Documentary (Australia)
Los Angeles Film Festival Humanitas Award for Best Documentary (USA)
Ghent Film Festival Audience Award (Belgium)
The International Documentary Awards Alan Ett Best Music Award (USA)
The Festival D’Automne Audience Award (France)
Les Rencontres Cinématographiques de Dijon Audience Award (France)
2009
Christopher Awards Christopher Award for Film (USA)
The Keswick Film Festival Audience Award (United Kingdom)
DVD Critics Best Non-Fiction Title (USA)
AG Kino-Gilde German Art House Cinemas Best Documentary (Germany)
“These singers refuse to go gently into that good night. For them music is oxygen.”
Young@Heart perform "Forever Young" at Hampshire County Jail in a scene from the film.
For screenings and licensing of the film at churches, schools, film festivals, etc, you must contact the following for approval:
Criterion Pictures
Carey Haber
chaber@globaleagleent.com
800-890-9494 x227
6300 Oakton Street
Morton Grove IL 60053
“Deeply moving, sometimes hilarious, and always wonderful.”