Butterfly In The Sky

A film by Bradford Thomason & Brett Whitcomb

For 26 seasons, PBS’s Reading Rainbow met young viewers in their living rooms, whisking them away on far-off adventures into the boundless world of books. With the help of celebrity narrators and nine-year-old book reviewers, the show’s iconic host, LeVar Burton, brought real-life lessons and honest conversations to life in a way we had never before seen on screen. Despite ongoing funding hurdles and new public school testing standards, Burton and the show’s creators held tight to their authentic, down-to-earth approach to fuel kids’ lifelong love of reading. Inspiring and nostalgic, BUTTERFLY IN THE SKY tells the tale of a revolutionary reading movement. Reliving the show’s legacy is a refreshing return to the written page. But you don’t have to take our word for it.  – Amy Brown

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Director

Bradford Thomason & Brett Whitcomb

Producer

Bryan Storkel

Runtime

87 minutes

Rights Represented

Educational Rights

Captions Available

English

Language

English

Press

If you’re a reader for life, then you’re a learner for life. No one can hold sway overyou or your mind if you can self-educate.

- LeVar Burton

Butterfly in the Sky truly is a beautifully done documentary full of truth and the kind of direct-to-camera soul soothing that Burton is known for. Make sure to have your tissues ready.

- Blackgirlnerds

This warm-hearted doc looks back at the triumphs and the battles that kept the beloved PBS show on the air for 23 years

- The Wrap

Mostly, you’ll tune in because of the affection you feel for the brand and to see if Burton, and his cross-generational appeal, are adequately respected. And they are.

- Hollywood Reporter
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Festival & Awards

Official Selection – TRIBECA Film Festival

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Film Licensing

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

Letting us know what type of group you are will help us get you set up with the right type of license. If you do not fall squarely into one of these categories, select “individual” or contact us at [email protected].

Unsure what you need?
Here are some basic definitions to help! Please visit our FAQs for further information.

  • 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
  • Virtual screening: A link and code that are available for a single 72 hour period
  • Streaming subscriptions: Ongoing streaming access for an institution provided by our partner, Film Platform.  Please note it takes 3-5 business days to get your streaming access set up.  Questions about your set-up – contact [email protected].
  • DVD for classroom use: This is a DVD with permission to share in a classroom only
  • Custom and secure link and code to provide to event participants during designated screening period.
  • Option to receive registration information.

Includes Standard Setup Plus...

  • Custom screening page with your logo and event description
  • Option to add custom video introduction
  • Ability to add custom resources and ‘Calls to Action’
  • Access to participation and attendance analytics

Don’t worry, you can always change this if needed but if you already have a date in mind, it will help expedite the process. Please note it takes 1 week to get your screening set up.

Your Selection
Butterfly In The Sky

If you’re a reader for life, then you’re a learner for life.

Cost $0.00