HULU ADDS OFFICIAL SUNDANCE SELECTION ASK DR. RUTH TO CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SLATE
New Documentary to Premiere on Hulu and in Theaters in 2019 with Magnolia Pictures Attached as Theatrical Distribution Partner
Hulu announced that it has acquired 2019 Official Sundance SelectionAsk Dr. Ruth to join its growing slate of award-winning documentary films, which includes 2018 Sundance Film Festival selections and critically acclaimed titles Minding the Gap and Crime + Punishment. The film will premiere at Sundance Film Festival, on Hulu and in theaters in 2019, and will receive the widest theatrical release for a Hulu Documentary to date.
Directed by Ryan White (The Keepers, The Case Against 8), Ask Dr. Ruth chronicles the incredible life of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a Holocaust survivor who became America's most famous sex therapist. With her diminutive frame, thick German accent, and uninhibited approach to sex therapy and education, Dr. Ruth transformed the conversation around sexuality. As she approaches her 90th birthday and shows no signs of slowing down, Ask Dr. Ruth follows Dr. Ruth as she revisits her painful past and unlikely path to a career at the forefront of the sexual revolution.
“I’ve never really stopped to examine my life, so when I first saw Ask Dr. Ruth even I was amazed by what had transpired during my ninety years,” said Dr. Ruth Westheimer. “I am delighted that audiences will be able to share that experience both on Hulu and in movie theaters around the U.S.”
“The remarkable journey that led Dr. Ruth Westheimer to become the cultural icon she is today is a story that demands to be told,” said Hulu’s SVP of Originals, Craig Erwich. “Ask Dr. Ruth tells the untold story of strength, perseverance and the constant quest for knowledge against all odds, and we can’t wait to share this incredible film with audiences.”
“I’ve been filming Dr. Ruth for the past two years and I can barely keep up with her,” said Director Ryan White. “At 90, she's still a force to be reckoned with. It's an honor to collaborate on her incredible life story.”
Hulu’s award-winning documentary slate has expanded over the past year to include lauded tentpole documentariesMinding the Gap (winner of this year’s New York Film Critics Circle Best Documentary Award), Crime + Punishment, Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie and Emmy Award-winning March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step. The premium streaming service is also home to a full slate of original documentaries that examine untold stories in pop culture such as the Grammy and Emmy Award-winning film The Beatles: 8 Days A Week – The Touring Years, Too Funny To Fail, Obey Giant, Becoming Bond, Dumb and Batman and Bill.
Ask Dr. Ruth is a Hulu Documentary produced by Delirio Films. White serves as director and producer alongside Rafael Marmor, Christopher Leggett and Jessica Hargrave and executive produced by Peggy Drexler.
About Hulu
Hulu is the leading premium streaming service that offers instant access to live and on demand channels, original series and films, and a premium library of TV and movies to more than 20 million subscribers in the U.S. Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has consistently been at the forefront of entertainment and technology. Hulu is the only streaming service that offers both ad-supported and commercial-free current season shows from the largest U.S. broadcast networks; libraries of hit TV series and films; and acclaimed Hulu Originals including Emmy® and Golden Globe Award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale, Emmy Award-nominated The Looming Tower, Future Man, Marvel’s Runaways, The Path, Castle Rock,and the Emmy nominated I Love You, America from Sarah Silverman, as well as upcoming series Catch-22 and Little Fires Everywhere. In 2017, Hulu added live news, entertainment and sports from 21st Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, CBS Corporation, The CW, Turner Networks, A+E Networks and Scripps Networks Interactive to its offerings – making it the only TV service that brings together live, on-demand, originals, and library content all in one place, across living room and mobile devices.
About Delirio Films
Delirio Films is a boutique production company with a focus on prestige documentary, both features and series. Over 10 years, it has built a library of films striving for a unique combination of artistic integrity and commercial viability. Delirio's titles include Alma Har’el’s LOVETRUE and BOMBAY BEACH, Magnolia Films’ NO PLACE ON EARTH, Netflix’s first original film, THE SHORT GAME, and Sundance Audience Award winner THE GREEN PRINCE. Recently, the company produced SXSW Audience Award Winner BECOMING BOND and TOO FUNNY TO FAIL, which marked Hulu’s launch into original documentaries. In 2018, it premiered the six-part docuseries HUNTING ISIS on the History Channel and Viceland, following American volunteers who smuggled their way into Syria and Iraq to fight against ISIS. Delirio will premiere three new films at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival; alongside ASK DR. RUTH, it will present MIKE WALLACE IS HERE, a documentary portrait of 60 Minutes' fearsome reporter, and Alma Har'el's highly anticipated first narrative feature film, HONEY BOY, written by and starring Shia LaBeouf.
About Magnolia Pictures
Boasting a library of over 500 titles, Magnolia Pictures is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Companies, a vertically-integrated group of media properties co-owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban that also includes the Landmark Theatres chain and AXS TV. Recent releases include Raoul Peck and James Baldwin’s Oscar-nominated I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO; 2017 Cannes Palme d'Or winner and Oscar-nominated THE SQUARE, Ruben Östlund’s darkly humorous drama set against the backdrop of the international art world; Best Foreign Language Film Golden Globe winner IN THE FADE, Fatih Akin’s riveting revenge drama starring Cannes Best Actress Award winner Diane Kruger; Box office sensation RBG, award-winning filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen’s documentary about the consequential life and legal legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; SUPPORT THE GIRLS, Andrew Bujalski’s critically lauded film starring Regina Hall; Danish crime thriller THE GUILTY; and 2018 Cannes Palme d'Or winner SHOPLIFTERS, from renowned Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-Eda. Upcoming releases include Sebastian Silva’s suspense drama TYREL, starring Jason Mitchell; DIVIDE AND CONQUER: THE STORY OF ROGER AILES, Alexis Bloom’s no-holds-barred documentary on the controversial former chairman and CEO of Fox News; Matteo Garrone’s Cannes prize-winning revenge dramaDOGMAN; and Cannes Critics’ Week SACD prize winner WOMAN AT WAR, Benedikt Erlingsson’s modern day fable about an Icelandic activist taking on big industry.
