After winning multiple awards in 2015, including 2 awards at the London International Film Festival 2016, Maria Soccor’s “Lords of BSV” made its digital television debut on July 31, 2016 on Red Bull TV, and is now available on VOD (Video On Demand).
“Lords of BSV” is the latest addition to the online media platform from the Austrian Red Bull company.
The documentary feature tells the story of the Brukup dancers in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of New York City.
Synopsis: Bed Stuy, Brooklyn is a hotbed for emerging dance talent, and it’s from this cauldron that a new form of dance emerged to upend the dance world. Shepherded and developed by local groups, Brukup dance is the one thing that brings them all together.
As the film is viewed across the world on Red Bull TV, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has chosen the celebrated documentary to be showcased at a special celebration in September 2016 at the Newark CityPlex Theatre owned by NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.
Soccor is especially honored to be recognized in her hometown: Newark, New Jersey.
Earlier this year, “Lords of BSV” continued its international winning streak by taking home two awards at the London International Film Festival 2016 (London IFF 2016) on February 26, 2016. The film was honored with the Jury Award for Best Documentary, and Best Cinematography In A Documentary Feature. In 2015, the film was named Best Feature Documentary at the Milan International Film Festival 2015, plus Soccor won Best Director of a Feature Documentary, and “Lords of BSV” was recognized for Best Music in a Feature Film at the Madrid International Film Festival 2015. The film added to its list of honors by winning Best Documentary at the I Filmmaker International Film Festival in Marbella, Spain on December 8, 2015.
The founder of the Documentary Channel, Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominated director/producer Tom Neff, calls “Lords of BSV,” “an example of the finest in documentary filmmaking today… It is a perfect marriage of in-depth content with a unique approach to form… Maria Soccor followed her heart to create a unique vision of a unique art form while simultaneously developing a strong underlying theme of dance and art as a way out for inner city youth. Soccor’s documentary is a definitive refutation to the stereotype of the inner city youth as violent and uncaring; these young artists are focused, involved, and determined to make a difference… Lords of BSV is extremely visual and engaging, impeccably researched and presented, and inspiring to the audience.”
“As a first time director, I am humbled that Lords of BSV has received national and international recognition,” says Soccor, who produced the short film, “Play House,” which was screened at the 2013 South by Southwest Festival (SXSW). Soccor’s short comedy “Cinecoma,” which she produced, has been picked up for distribution by Just the Story TV. Also, her new comic series “SPEAR,” illustrated by artist Rolo Ledesma, launched at the 2015 New York Comic Con in Manhattan.
As an actress, Soccor has appeared in over 20 movies, including “Playmakers of New Orleans” starring Zoe Saldana, in which she portrayed Tracey Austin, Saldana’s sister. Her television credits include “NCIS New Orleans” on CBS, “Another World” on NBC, and “K-Ville” on Fox starring Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser.
Soccor’s goal in creating “Lords of BSV” was to erase the negative stigma and stereotypes about urban dancers.
“Dance gives them dignity, a sense of identity, and keeps them from lives of crime,” she states. “There is tragedy throughout the entire film, yet the dance lifts them above the negativity surrounding them. Through dance, they find love for each other, and survive.”
She adds that the art form has tremendous positive social significance. “Brukup is not just a dance, it is a culture… Through the art, the dancers overcome poverty and homelessness, becoming better people. BSV serves the community by keeping kids off the streets and showing them how to turn anger into the art of dance. Their dancing saves lives… I want to show the world what they do, teaching students without classrooms, without schools… My dream is that one day they will have a school to truly nurture and spread their gift.”
Watch a trailer for the film below, and then watch the full feature film here: http://win.gs/2aYYl8A
