LOS ANGELES, CA (February 20, 2013) – Continuing its quest to rescue the world’s most provocative features, Artsploitation Films presents – for the first time in the U.S. – the original uncut and uncensored, award-winning Dutch film HEMEL. The DVD, which features a beautifully designed reversible DVD cover wrap, will be available at retailers on March 19 with the VOD following on March 26.
Sacha Polak’s debut feature is a frank and explicit look at carnal desire that is told from a distinctly female perspective. She paints an erotically charged portrait of a woman whose casual sexual encounters mask loneliness and a craving for intimacy. HEMEL (Hannah Hoekstra) is a young woman who drifts through a series of anonymous one-night stands and seems only close to her father. When he finds himself a girlfriend, HEMEL’S jealousy puts her on the emotional edge. An emotionally and physically raw study of sexuality that is nothing less than mesmerizing.
This stunning first film won the First Feature prize at last year’s Berlin International Film Festival. At the same festival it also won the International Federation of Film Critics award (FIPRESCI). It also played the Seattle International Film Festival, New York’s New Directors/New Films Festival, The Sydney International Film Festival, The Karlovy International Film Festival, Haifa International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival and The Chicago International Film Festival respectively.
Artsploitation Films release of this stellar erotic film this spring follows a triumphant international run, which has included India’s GANDU, Finland’s LAPLAND ODYSSEY, Japan’s HARD ROMANTICKER, and Russia’s BULLET COLLECTOR.
For additional information regarding HEMEL, please contact Christoph Buerger at or .
About Artsploitation Head Raymond Murray: Murray is the co-founder of TLA Entertainment Group and its president/CEO since its inception in 1981. Over the years, the company has operated art house cinemas and later, award-winning video stores in New York City and Philadelphia. Today, the company runs , one of the country’s largest online DVD/VOD sales sites. Murray also founded and continues to be the Artistic Director of Philadelphia QFest and was Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Film Festival (2001-10). In 2000, Murray and partners launched TLA Releasing, a film distribution company that released films in North America. The company expanded its focus with the launch of the genre-focused Danger After Dark label in 2003. In 2004 it opened an office in London and expanded operations in the UK. Prominent releases include Suicide Club, Latter Days, Death of a Dynasty, Another Gay Movie, The Trip, Adam and Steve and Sleeper Cell.
