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FIRST RUN FEATURES presents
HOT TO TROT
Opening September 14 in Los Angeles at Laemmle's Music Hall
Opening Weekend Filmmaker Q&As and Special Performance by Cast!
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Gail Freedman's Documentary Goes Inside the World of
Same-Sex Ballroom Dance
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Interviews available upon request
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First Run Features is proud to announce the Los Angeles theatrical premiere of Hot to Trot, a new documentary directed by Gail Freedman, opening September 14, 2018 at Laemmle’s Music Hall, with filmmaker and cast present opening weekend. The film premiered in New York on August 24; runs in select cities nationwide will follow the L.A. opening.
An immersive character study – and an idiosyncratic attack on bigotry – Hot
to Trot gets up on the stage and goes behind the scenes to discover the captivating but little known world of same-sex competitive ballroom dance, a world where expressions of personal passion become a political statement, and where one false step can crush aspirations.
Away from their graceful turns on the dance floor, the characters’ backstories frame their struggles and conflicts in life. The film follows charismatic Ernesto Palma, a former meth addict from Costa Rica, who strives for success and love; gritty, determined Emily Coles, a diabetic who wears an
insulin pump 24/7...even while performing; handsome Nikolai Shpakov, a dazzling dance champion, who came out only a few years ago and still longs for the full acceptance of his Russian family; and introspective Kieren Jameson, whose identity was forged in the strict, conservative environment of a New Zealand military household. Hot to Trot follows the dancers over a four-year period, as it watches their relationships with family, dance partners, life partners – and themselves – develop and deepen.
For these individuals, dance is a form of personal power and political engagement that simultaneously shapes their identities and helps them overcome uniquely personal challenges. They are not mere emblems of LGBTQ politics – they are living them.
Filmmaker Bio
Gail Freedman (Director & Producer): A one-time aspiring concert pianist, Gail Freedman abandoned the stage for the screen many years ago, with brief stops in academia, government and health care along the way.
It hasn’t exactly been a planned migration, but in 20-plus years as an award-winning filmmaker, she has produced, directed and written dozens of documentaries on a
wide range of subjects, through her company, Parrot Productions. She has also taught at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Among her films is Making the 9/11 Memorial, a primetime special for The History Channel, which aired on the 10th anniversary of September 11th, when the Memorial opened.
Other notable films, among many, have included Breaking the Silence Barrier, Where’s The Cure?, Generation Rx, Lessons for the Future, Giving While Living, and A Forever Family. Her creative output encompasses independent projects, as well as extensive work for PBS, network television, cable, syndication and the Internet, along with educational and non-profit films.
She was also Executive Producer of the 13-part PBS series, World@Large with David Gergen, as well as producer of the indie feature (and the world’s first hyper-linked movie), The Onyx Project, starring David Strathairn. Early in her career, Gail worked at both CBS 60 Minutes and ABC 20/20.
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"As you might suspect — is just as much about life and gender politics
as it is about dance.” -The New York Times
“The dancing in the film is beautiful, but the real focus is the struggles and triumphs experienced by members of the LGBTQ community.” -VICE
“Dancers share the joy they feel of being in a dance space for same-sex pairs, which centers them and their desire, rather than marginalizing it.” -Advocate
"A lovely, graceful documentary...captures the beauty and energy of the dancers.
This fine doc is such a crowd-pleaser!" -Gay City News
"This tremendously entertaining documentary highlights the culture and art of dance
as it profiles the compelling stories of four international dancers." -Out Magazine
"A beautiful portrait of the same-sex dance scene." -Dancing Times Magazine
Credits
Hot To Trot Productions presents a film directed and produced by Gail Freedman
Directors of Photography Joel Shapiro Diana Wilmar John Cummings Vanessa Carr
Edited by Dina Potocki Original Music by Allyson Newman
Executive Producers Elizabeth Watson Caroleen Feeney Lauran & Myrna Bromley Gail Freedman
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Run Time – 88 minutes
Language – English
Format – Digital
Year – 2017
Genre – Documentary
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