Tag: Blue Harbor Entertainment

Harry Belafonte’s Final Legacy: ‘Following Harry’ Documentary Launches Digitally

Harry Belafonte in Following Harry. Photo: Belafonte-Nasso-Zeng Productions, used with permission.

Digital Release Alert: Following Harry

Blue Harbor Entertainment is proud to present Following Harry, the award-winning, festival-favorite documentary. The film is now available nationwide in the US on Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango, and all major VOD platforms, as well as in Canada on Amazon and Apple TV. (EG PR, 2026)

🎬 About the Film

Directed by Susanne Rostock (Sing Your Song), Following Harry joins legendary artist and civil rights leader Harry Belafonte as he embarks on a deeply personal and reflective journey, inspiring the next generation of entertainers and activists to disrupt injustice across the globe and strive for impactful change.

This intimate documentary chronicles the last twelve years of Belafonte’s life, highlighting his enduring commitment to social justice. Fueled by a tremendous sense of urgency, the film provides a rare window into both his public endeavors and private moments—capturing his journey from the aftermath of Trayvon Martin’s death, to his engagements in the Ferguson protests, the creation of the Women’s March (conceived in his office), and the profound conversations held in his home.

“Each generation must be responsible for itself. All I can do is leave behind the crumbs of my experience. I have a trail that you can follow, if you find value in it, pick it up and if you don’t, bring something better.”

— Harry Belafonte

🏆 Accolades & Festival Highlights

  • Official Selection: Tribeca Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival
  • Winner:
    • Sidewalk Film Festival Jury Award
    • The BronzeLens Cinema & Social Justice Award
    • Cleveland International Film Festival FilmSlam Award

👥 Featured Cast & Credits

  • Featuring: Harry Belafonte, Aja Monet, Angela Davis, Aloe Blacc, Carmen Perez, Chuck D, Gina Belafonte, Jamie Foxx, Jesse Williams, Kerry Kennedy, Matt Post, Phillip Agnew, Rod Starz, Rosario Dawson, Sean Pica, & Talib Kweli, among many others.
  • Directed by: Susanne Rostock
  • Produced by: Frankie Nasso, Edward Zeng, Susanne Rostock
  • Executive Produced by: Mimi Polk Gitlin, David Dinerstein, Pamela Belafonte, Jeff Kranzdorf
  • Co-Executive Producers: Irene Mu, Kimberly Olsen
  • Cinematographer: Martina Radwan
  • Music Composed by: Hahn Rowe
  • Production Companies: Produced by NextG, SparkIce, and Belafonte-Nasso-Zeng Productions, in co-production with MML
  • Specifications: 90 Minutes | English | Color/B&W | Feature Documentary, USA

🌟 About Harry Belafonte

Born in Harlem in 1927, Harry Belafonte spent part of his childhood in Jamaica, which became his lifelong cultural reservoir. As a civil rights leader, he developed a deep friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. starting in the early 1950s.

Beyond his activism, Belafonte brought African music to global audiences, winning a GRAMMY Award alongside Miriam Makeba for their 1965 album An Evening with Belafonte and Makeba. He also spearheaded the historic USA for Africa project behind the 1985 charity single “We Are the World.” In November 2022, he received the Early Influence Award at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

📽️ About Blue Harbor Entertainment

Established in 2023 by industry veterans Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina, and Seth Needle, Blue Harbor Entertainment is a boutique distributor of independent films. Blue Harbor empowers filmmakers with full-scale distribution and marketing solutions spanning theatrical releases, home entertainment, VOD, streaming platforms, and television.

Photo: Belafonte-Nasso-Zeng Productions

From Festival Favorite to VOD: The Compatriots Launches Nationwide This September

The heartfelt comedy will be released digitally starting in the US and Canada on September 16. Photo: Blue Harbor Entertainment, used with permission.

The Compatriots Brings Heartfelt Humor and Immigration Stories to VOD This September

Release Date: September 16, 2025 (U.S. & Canada)
Platform: VOD Nationwide (with international releases to follow)

Blue Harbor Entertainment has announced that its award-winning festival favorite The Compatriots will be available on Video on Demand across the U.S. and Canada beginning September 16, 2025. Additional VOD releases in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other territories are coming soon. (EG-PR, 2025)

The film’s release aligns with Citizen Day in the United States (Sept. 17), making its themes of immigration, identity, and belonging especially timely.

A Story of Friendship, Belonging, and Resilience

Marking the narrative feature directorial debut of Spencer Cohen, The Compatriots is a nuanced comedy-drama starring Rafael Silva (Javi) and Denis Shepherd (Hunter), alongside Dakota Lustic, Caroline Portu, Jaison Hunter, and Brandon Grimes.

The story follows Javi, an undocumented immigrant facing deportation, who unexpectedly reconnects with his estranged best friend Hunter, a charming bachelor yearning for deeper connections. Together, they embark on a heartfelt mission to keep Javi in the only country he has ever known.

Inspired by Cohen’s childhood best friend Alberto Sayan, a Dreamer from Peru, the film offers an intimate look at the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants—especially those brought to the U.S. as children and now facing deportation to countries they barely remember.

Festival Accolades

Since its premiere, The Compatriots has made an impressive run on the festival circuit, earning:

  • Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature – Woods Hole Film Festival
  • Emerging New England Filmmaker Award – Woods Hole Film Festival
  • Best LGBTQ Feature – Poppy Jasper Film Festival
  • Best Narrative Feature – San Antonio Film Festival

It has also been featured at the Maui, Ojai, Chelsea, and Fort Lauderdale Film Festivals.

Director’s Statement

“Dreamers are not an abstract concept; they are our neighbors, nurses, teachers—and in my case, my best friend Alberto,” says director Spencer Cohen. “They are integral parts of our communities, and they deserve to feel safe in the country they call home. I hope audiences will see Javi as their best friend and fight for policies that give permanent protection to millions like him.”

About Blue Harbor Entertainment

Founded in 2023 by Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina, and Seth Needle, Blue Harbor Entertainment is a boutique distributor dedicated to empowering independent filmmakers. With decades of combined industry experience, the company offers full-scale distribution and marketing solutions for theatrical, digital, and television releases—providing a flexible, filmmaker-first approach in today’s evolving entertainment landscape.

Release Date Reminder: The Compatriots premieres on VOD September 16, 2025, in the U.S. and Canada.

Photo: Blue Harbor Entertainment, used with permission.

‘The Sound’ Echoes with Terror: A Climbing Thriller That Goes Beyond the Edge

Brendan Devane’s ‘The Sound’ opens theatrically and on Video On Demand nationwide on June 27. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

🎬 THE SOUND – A High-Stakes Horror Thriller Set Against a Vertical Nightmare

Release Date: In Theaters and On Demand – June 27 (US)
Genre: Thriller / Horror / Action
Rating: R
Running Time: 104 minutes

🔥 Synopsis

In the gripping new horror thriller The Sound, a team of elite climbers is given rare access to the Forbidden Wall—a towering, remote rock face that has remained closed off for decades. Among them is Sean (Marc Hills), a seasoned climber haunted by the memory of his grandfather’s doomed attempt on the same wall 63 years prior.

But what begins as a high-adrenaline expedition soon devolves into a terrifying fight for survival. As the team ascends, they encounter a chilling and malevolent force lurking within the rock, one that will push them far beyond their physical and psychological limits—hundreds of feet above solid ground.

The Sound courtesy clip, used with permission.

🎥 Key Cast

  • Marc Hills (Elephant Department)
  • Rachel Finninger (American Horror Story)
  • Nicholas Baroudi (The Hating Game)
  • Jocelyn Hudon (The Strain)
  • William Fichtner (Crash, Armageddon)
  • Christina Kirkman, Jolene Kay, David Clennon, and elite climbers Hazel Findlay, Brette Harrington, Adrian Ballinger, and Alex Honnold (Free Solo) add realism and intensity to the climbing sequences.

🎬 Creative Team

  • Written, Directed & Produced by: Brendan Devane (The Canyonlands)
  • Executive Producer: James Devane (Sadieland Productions)
  • Cinematography: Ryan Galvan
  • Editor: Alex Russek (Reel Rock)
  • Original Score: James Iha (The Smashing Pumpkins)
  • Distributor: Blue Harbor Entertainment

🎟️ Where to Watch

In Theaters – Limited release in key cities:

  • Los Angeles: Lumiere Music Hall
  • New York Metro / New Jersey: Cineplex 12 Newark
  • Dallas: Angelika Dallas
  • Denver: Bow Tie Movieland 7, Carbondale
  • Chicago: Roxy Cinema, Ottawa
  • Boston Area: Scene One Gilford Cinemas
  • Minneapolis: St. Michael Cinema
  • Detroit: Bel Air Cinema
  • Orlando: GQT Merritt Square
  • Atlanta: Fieldstone 6, Hiawassee
  • Saratoga Springs: Scene One Milton Mall
  • …and more cities nationwide

On VOD – Available on all major platforms including:

  • Apple TV
  • Amazon Prime Video
  • Fandango At Home
  • And more

🧗‍♂️ Final Thoughts

The Sound promises an intense blend of claustrophobic fear, psychological horror, and heart-pounding action—all set on a precarious vertical battlefield. With real-life climbing legends in the cast and a chilling supernatural twist, this is one summer thriller that will leave audiences hanging… literally.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.