Ry Levey Directed Song Silenced: Coming Out in Christian Music to premiere at Cleveland International Film Festival And Julien Dubuque international Film Festival
Cleveland OH/Dubuque IA – The powerful new documentary Song Silenced: Coming Out in Christian Music will celebrate its World Premiere in Competition at the 50th Cleveland International Film Festival, taking place April 9–18, 2026, followed by its Iowa Premiere at the 15th Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, running April 18–25, 2026.
Song Silenced: Coming Out in Christian Music uncovers the untold stories of million selling Christian music artists who bravely came out, only to have their careers cancelled or cut short by the industry they helped define. Alongside these silenced icons, the film spotlights a new generation of openly queer musicians reshaping faith based music by bypassing traditional Christian radio and breaking through on platforms like iTunes and Spotify, where they are topping Christian charts and reaching audiences hungry for authenticity.
At the intersection of faith, identity, and artistry, the documentary examines how queer voices are challenging long standing power structures while creating a more inclusive soundtrack for the faithful amid rising hostility toward LGBTQ+ communities.
Now celebrating its 50th edition, the Cleveland International Film Festival is one of the longest running and most respected film festivals in North America. Founded in 1977, the festival has built a reputation for championing bold, socially engaged storytelling and introducing audiences to films that spark conversation, reflection, and cultural impact.
The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, now in its 15th year, has rapidly grown into one of the Midwest’s most respected showcases for independent cinema. Founded in 2012, the festival brings filmmakers from around the world to historic downtown Dubuque for a weeklong celebration of storytelling, screenings, industry panels, and cultural events.
Song Silenced: Coming Out in Christian Music is an RBL Films / Orama Filmworks production. The film is directed by Ry Levey and produced by Ry Levey, James Carson, and Cheryl Staurulakis. It is executive produced by Cheryl Staurulakis for Orama Filmworks, with co executive producers Brett Butler and Jason Butler for Substance Production.
The documentary features Billy Newton-Davis, Marsha Stevens-Pino, Ray Boltz, Semler, Trey Pearson, Flamy Grant, Ricky Braddy, Diedre Gray, Ronté Pierce, Jess Grace Garcia, Azariah Southworth, Jason Warner, DeMarco DeCiccio, Ross Murray, and Derek Webb.
Additional festival screenings, theatrical release plans, and impact initiatives will be announced following the Cleveland premiere.
https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/song-silenced-coming-out-in-christian-music-2026/
Ry Levey-Directed Feature Documentary Boutique: To Preserve and Collect to have World Premiere in London UK at Pigeon Shrine Fright Fest followed by Sitges Film Festival
New documentary explores physical media in film preservation, restoration, and elevation of underrepresented voices in cinema
In a love letter to cinema and the boutique collector label renaissance, award-winning documentary filmmaker Ry Levey (OUT IN THE RING) explores the history of home entertainment and the importance of physical media in protecting cinema in all its forms.
Through interviews with label heads, film writers and academics, cult film stars, and filmmakers whose works have been lovingly restored and preserved, BOUTIQUE: TO PRESERVE AND COLLECT will have its World premiere on Saturday, August 24, as part of Pigeon Shrine Frightfest UK in London. The festival runs from August 21 to 26th.
The premiere will be hosted by director Ry Levey and film subject Tori Potenza.
BOUTIQUE: TO PRESERVE AND COLLECT is directed and produced by Ry Levey, executive produced by Cheryl Staurulakis (Emmy-nominee for TOXIC BEAUTY), and co-executive produced by Brett and Jason Butler (UNFRIENDING, PURGATORY JACK).
RY Levey To Handle U.S. Theatrical Distribution for Emmy Award winner Michele Josue’s Upcoming Documentary Nurse Unseen
Ry Levey Film Distribution and PR service is proud to announce it will be working again with Emmy Award winner Michele Josue (Matt Shepard Is A Friend Of Mine) on the U.S. Theatrical distribution and PR for her award winning doc Nurse Unseen.
Nurse Unseen is a feature-length documentary that explores the little-known history and humanity of the unsung Filipino nurses risking their lives on the frontlines of a pandemic, thousands of miles from home. The film unearths the colonial ties between the Philippines and the United States that have led to Filipino-American nurses becoming the unknown backbone of the United States health industry.
The film is slated for release in October 2024. Visit: https://www.nurseunseen.com/ for more information and screenings.
Critically acclaimed indie UNFRIENDING brings deliciously dark comedy to theatres beginning March 8th, 2023
Launches in the L.A. area at the Laemmle Glendale; Opening weekend Q & A’s hosted by Canadian directing duo, The Butler Brothers
After years of turning the Canadian film scene on its head with their fiercely independent, trend-bucking works, Toronto's dynamic duo, The Butler Brothers (Jason & Brett), are set to break out with their first US theatrical release, UNFRIENDING, set to open in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Glendale on March 8th, 2024. Additional cities slated to follow.
UNFRIENDING is a dark comedy of manners about a group of friends that host a 'life intervention' for the outcast of the group to convince him to commit suicide and make the world a better place.
The filmmakers will attend opening weekend for Q & A's following select screenings.
For all press inquiries and/or screener requests contact: Ry Levey, Ryan Bruce Levey Film and PR Services at rylevey@gmail.com or 647-781-0818.
Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker Michael Lippert To Attend 2024 Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival With Documentary Feature
SLOANE: A JAZZ SINGER Highlights An Underappreciated Music Icon In Carol Sloane
" 'SLOANE' is a superior musical tour de force and virtual shot in the arm, documenting not only Carol’s career through her emotional story, but also brilliantly encapsulating a history of popular music through changing times and passing fancies. Blessedly, thanks to this important film, Carol Sloane is here to stay." – Michael Feinstein
A contemporary and friend of vocal icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Carmen McCrae, and collaborator with legendary jazz notables including Clark Terry and Phil Woods, the multi-award winning and critically acclaimed documentary on the life of jazz legend Carol Sloane is slated to screen as part of the prestigious Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival, running January 4th to 15th, 2024.
Award-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Lippert will be in attendance for select festival screenings, alongside producer and jazz music expert Stephen Barefoot.
SLOANE: A JAZZ SINGER chronicles the life and career of under-appreciated jazz legend Carol Sloane, who, despite having toured and performed with some of the greatest names in 20th-century American music, is still chasing artistic perfection at the ripe age of 82. Hers is a heart-wrenching, hopeful, and ultimately beautiful story of faithful adherence to one's craft in the face of numerous trials and tragedies that come her way.
Lippert’s documentary feature debut has been the recipient of a dozen international film festival awards and been called “Poignant and moving” by Randy Myers of the San Jose Mercury News and Bradley Gibson of Film Threat says the film “Affectionately documents a life, as well as a specific bygone era of wonderful Jazz music.”
Official Festival screenings are slated for:
1/6/2024 7:00 pm Regal Palm Springs
1/7/2024 2:30 pm Regal Palm Springs
1/13/2024 5:15 pm Regal Palm Springs
Q & A’s will follow screenings on January 6th & 7th, hosted by director Michael Lippert and Producer Stephen Barefoot.
For screener requests or to speak with the filmmakers contact: Ry Levey, Ryan Bruce Levey Film and PR Services at rylevey@gmail.com or 647-781-0818.
Canadian-born Piano Wunderkind and Filmmaker James Carson Returns Home For Series Of National Screenings & Performances With Documentary CABIN MUSIC
Kicks Off In Toronto On October 20th With Canadian Premiere At 2023 Planet In Focus Film Festival
James Carson is an artistic wunderkind. The Canadian-born childhood piano prodigy was composing complete songs by the age of four, going on to have his work performed by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at age 16. This would lead to James attending the prestigious New England Conservatory, studying with icons like the free jazz pianist Cecil Taylor and the poet Robert Creeley.
Carson then walked away from music. He embarked on a global journey, working on farms around the world, aiming to deconstruct himself, with the long-term vision of one day creating a new form of music. On his return to Northern Alberta, the iconoclastic Carson then built a straw bale cabin by hand and put a piano in it—a years-long project known as CABIN MUSIC. “I wanted the whole earth to play the piano,” says Carson, “in the same way that a single breeze can cause the entire forest to dance and tremble in unison.”
Carson began documenting this epic project, ultimately leading to his directorial and editorial debut, the critically-lauded documentary feature CABIN MUSIC, and his acclaimed debut album THE STORY OF BIRDS, an album of “mesmerizing, superb performances” (Fanfare Magazine), representing “a pure channeling of the myriad spiritual traditions and natural forces that meet, merge, and are distilled in the cabin” (Pianist Magazine).
CABIN MUSIC will have its Canadian premiere at Toronto’s Planet In Focus Film Festival on October 20th before heading west for screenings and performances on November 4th & 5th in conjunction with Edmonton’s NorthWest Fest and The Yardbird Suite and in November (Date TBD) at Vancouver’s VanCity Theatre, presented by the Vancouver International Film Festival. Carson will tour alongside the film, hosting Q&As and performing live at or in conjunction with screening events. Additional cities are to be announced.
World premiering at the 2022 DOC NYC Film Festival and winner of the 2023 Salem Film Fest editing prize, CABIN MUSIC has been called “A supremely immersive visual experience” (American Society of Cinematographers) and “A technical-artistic tour de force.” (Criticólogos)
CABIN MUSIC is produced and directed by James Carson and executive produced by Julian Cautherley (THE CRASH REEL, CLEMENCY). International sales are handled by Monoduo Films.
Relevant Links
Cabin Music Press Photos Dropbox
For publicity inquiries and interview requests (French and English) contact Ry Levey of Ryan Bruce Levey Film & PR at 647.781.0818 rylevey@gmail.com.