Beyond Utopia

A film by Madeline Gavin

SOME PLACES ONLY COURAGE CAN TAKE YOU

 

A suspenseful, riveting portrait of the lengths people will go to gain freedom, Beyond Utopia follows various individuals as they attempt to flee North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on Earth, a land they grew up believing was a paradise. At the film’s core is a courageous pastor, a man of God on a mission to help a mother reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind, and a family of five — including small children and an elderly grandmother — embarking on a treacherous journey into the hostile mountains of China and through southeast Asia. Leaving their homeland is fraught with unimaginable danger — yet these individuals are driven to take the risk. Gripping, thrilling, and never more timely, Madeleine Gavin’s award-winning film embeds the viewer with the subjects as they attempt their perilous escape, palpably conveying life-or-death stakes. The result is a singular, heart-pounding, and unforgettable experience.

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Director

Madeline Gavin

Producer

Jana Edelbaum, Rachel Cohen, & Sue Mi Terry

Runtime

115 minutes

Rights Represented

Educational

Captions Available

English

Language

English, Korean

Press

“‘Beyond Utopia’ is a bracing and frequently jaw-dropping look at, first and foremost, the discontented people of North Korea who attempt defections doggedly.”

- RogerEbert.com

“The engrossing documentary plays like a thriller, except the horrors are real”

- Washington Post

“…an outstanding documentary.”

- The Guardian
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Festival & Awards

WINNER – Sundance Film Festival 2023, Audience Award

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Film Licensing

We distribute films globally but we only hold the rights in particular territories in some cases.

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  • In-person screening: This license includes the public performance rights required to host a screening for your group and a DVD copy of the film
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Your Selection
Beyond Utopia

A suspenseful look at the lengths people will go to gain freedom, BEYOND UTOPIA embeds with a courageous pastor as he works tirelessly to guide various individuals attempting to flee one of the most oppressive places on Earth: North Korea.

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