Presenting Princess Shaw

In select theaters
May 27^th 2016

80 minutes

English
Hebrew

Israel

The true story of the incredible Princess Shaw and the enigmatic composer Kutiman, who discovers her from the other side of the world. By day, Samantha Montgomery cares for the elderly in one of New Orleans’s toughest neighborhoods. By night, she writes and sings her own songs as Princess Shaw on her confessional YouTube channel. Raw and vulnerable, her voice is a diamond in the rough. Across the globe, Ophir Kutiel creates video mash ups of amateur YouTube performers. Known as Kutiman, he is a composer, a musician, and a pioneering video artist embraced by the world of fine art. Two strangers, almost 7,000 miles apart, begin to build a song. The film unfolds as Kutiman pairs Princess Shaw’s emotional performances in a beautiful expression of generosity and compassion, revealing the bonafide star underneath and her fight to never give up on her dreams.

starring...

Samantha Montgomery

herself (Princess Shaw)

Liran Atzmor

himself (Kuitman)

Director

Ido Haar

Writer

Ido Haar

Cinematographer

Ido Haar

Film Editing

Ido Haar

Produced By

Stephen Apkon, Liran Atzmor

80% on the CINEMETER

90% - Apr 17, 2016

I have been a member of the Cinema Club for 15+ years and have given very few "Excellent" scores. "Presenting Princess Shaw" is simply outstanding in so many ways. A unique, wide-ranging visual and emotional experience.
San Francisco Member

A wonderful movie about the magic of the internet. Kutiman did us all a service to find Princess Shaw. Her happy spirit despite her hard life is inspiring.
San Francisco Member

Heartwarming, gritty, delightful! Wow - so creative, new to me, Touching and engaging, inspiring and sad.
San Francisco Member

Fantastic - it has the added benefit of being true. I love the journey this film took us on.
San Francisco Member

A fascinating look at an area of culture I knew nothing about. Makes you wonder what is next in the digital music scene. I enjoyed Laura Sydell's comments and insights. Thanks!
San Francisco Member

Mandatory viewing for old white guys.
San Francisco Member

I was tearing up all the way through this film. Amazing, non-intrusive documentary filmmaking.
San Francisco Member

Laura Sydell was excellent. She understood the format, was responsive to the audience and added many excellent insights and informative commentary.
San Francisco Member

MIL

90% - Apr 24, 2016

Loved this film!!!!
Milwaukee Member

How in the world did the filmmaker pull this off? Two such different lives coming together. Amazing.
Milwaukee Member

Engaging--interesting how this comes together--you have hope; don't know if she evolves.
Milwaukee Member

It's such a Cinderella story, it's hard not to be sucked in.
Milwaukee Member

Beautifully made story that became more and more compelling as the film went on. It conveyed so much interesting hope.
Milwaukee Member

STL

92% - Apr 24, 2016

This film was a delightful and profound experience. I Felt it was an tinimate experience with a special person—the kind of experience that "reality TV" tries to achieve, but always fails.
St. Louis Member

By turns profoundly poignant and inspirational. Princess Shaw's raw talent shines through as a constant amidst her tumultuous life. Collaboration between Israeli Jewish Kutiman and African-American Princess Shaw evokes Benny Goodman including African Americans in his band to produce the "swing" form of jazz.
St. Louis Member

Wow! What an interesting movie! It remains true to the concept of YouTube, starving artists, musical collaborators everywhere—to share your talents and let the world know who you are. Is it an inspiration to the musical talent around us.
St. Louis Member

"Presenting Princess Shaw" is soul enrichment. Princess Shaw's voice is authentically rich and reminds me of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Amy Winehouse. Through her, I was transported to New Orleans to witness such a joyous triumph! Her career deserves a spectacular launch! I'm totally rooting for her!
St. Louis Member

Such an uplifting story of the human spirit and an amazing story of talent that is both unexpected and hard to fathom.
St. Louis Member

The creative process is amazing, which allows a global contribution. Free Culture Movement--fascinating and new to me.
St. Louis Member

ATL

91% - Apr 24, 2016

Real, moving, heartfelt, authentic generosity. Insanely talented creativity. If only this fair tale ending could be available to all. I cried all the way through.
Atlanta Member

It was a wonderful story of persistence, a story of what new technologies can do for people if used for good purposes; a story of how music is born in some people and SAVES them from sad pasts, loneliness, and tragedy.
Atlanta Member

Loved it...so poignant...and whether it was short-lived or there's more to come, it's really wonderful to see someone's dream come true--especially after so much struggle.
Atlanta Member

Inspiring, uplifting, beautiful in its tenderness, rawness and pain. i can't recall a character with so much lack of guile or manipulation. What you see is what you get. A monument to human kindness and love between strangers.
Atlanta Member

I love Princess Shaw's spirit, her boundless creativity and her strength as a sexual abuse survivor. After such an amazing in Israel, my heart broke to see her back in the states with her car still on cinder blocks. i truly hope she wasn't used and will one day benefit from her talent.
Atlanta Member

Princess was such a strong and courageous character. I was moved by her resilience and dignity. [Many like this.]
Atlanta Member

Loved this movie & Princess Shaw. It made me re-evaluate my opinion of YouTube, music, collaboration. [2 like this.]
Atlanta Member

I'm filling out a card for the 1st time because I loved this film so much. I felt I was being allowed into a private world--the setting and characters were 100% real. Lovely, beautiful, hopeful.
Atlanta Member

At first it seemed too random, but the process drew me in. The film was amazing reflecting on the process. (1) Cinderella with red hair. (2) her carriage has returned to a truck on blocks. Would have never seen this after reading a review.
Atlanta Member

Thank you, thank you, thank you for introducing me to Kutiman, to Princess Shaw, and to a new type of musical collaboration. I'll be spending my afternoon on YouTube!
Atlanta Member

Very educational film with multiple levels of story lines. Makes one even more aware that success can so much depend on luck more than talent.
Atlanta Member

85% - Apr 17, 2016

Raw and beautiful
Greater New Haven Member

Astonishing. I'm at a loss.
Greater New Haven Member

Streaming presentation of brilliance, genuine innovation, tragedy, reward, Kindness, sweetness, and tears. Thank you!
Greater New Haven Member

A really beautiful story.
Greater New Haven Member

Another amazing story.
Greater New Haven Member

Thank you, Cinema Club, for presenting this film. It was so uplifting and provided a view into the unbelievable power of social media.
Greater New Haven Member

This is why I belong to the Cinema Club. Great movie that I would never have heard of or seen if I didn't see it hear. Thank you! [I highly recommend it to just about everyone.]
Greater New Haven Member

Another great pick. Without the Cinema Club I would not have gone to this film I would have missed this outstanding selection and broadening perspective. Thank you. Thank you.
Greater New Haven Member

Fascinating presentation of how technology has upended old industries and also a perfectly put together documentary without a wasted moment.
Greater New Haven Member

[Compilation] Great movie. Great story. One of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. Such great filmmaking with so little money and beautifully edited and paced. Unique==The combination of her soulful music and his genius.
Greater New Haven Member

BOS

80% - Apr 17, 2016

The film was very interesting as it introduced me to uses of UTube, music, and a global involvement that I was unaware of.
Boston Member

The power of social media needs the scrutiny of all of us… I loved the collage/montage on screen. The notion of collaborative art being done globally.
Boston Member

Fabulous film—brilliantly done. Really brought forth the unlimited possibilities of what can (or may) be done through the internet.
Boston Member

I could live in this film forever. Kutiman is a composing and producing genius.
Boston Member

Brilliant documentary. Wonderful story. Absolutely loved it.
Boston Member

Eye opening to what new computer tech can accomplish. Open book of Samantha’s background, personal life—precarious, lonely life… great ways to tell a story in achievement of self-esteem.
Boston Member

80% - Apr 17, 2016

A 21st century film that will be included in curricula of film-making studies in the future. Questions of intellectual property, use of of the Internet for creating global art, populism in music.
Washington, DC Member

I never thought I would cheer for YouTube or for people who are addicted to it. But wow! This shows what can be done with new media and how it can literally save someone's life.
Washington, DC Member

Apart from my concerns about the ethics of using/exploiting people's videos and talent, I thought this film was very well executed, brilliantly edited and had me wondering throughout how they pulled off the "secret" while simultaneously shooting the documentary as the "drama" unfolded.
Washington, DC Member

Unique and spellbinding!
Washington, DC Member

Fun and brilliant. Kutiman's discovery of "notes" from which to create new music becomes a metaphor for the discovery of bits of humanity from which to create a new, more harmonious world.
Washington, DC Member

BOCA

33% - Apr 17, 2016

Unique experience in movie watching!
Boca Raton Member

Incredible story that's well-developed and paced. Loved the originality in daring to do this human experience in a film. There are so many unknowns with so much talent that do not have the opportunities in life to show their struggles. Her kindness, her big heart and compassion, despite her hardships are amazing!
Boca Raton Member

A view into worlds that are not part of my life, and yet the human desire for recognition was all too relevant. I
Boca Raton Member

Fascinating...loved the connection between two souls. I cried with her when she realized she was being appreciated and heard.
Boca Raton Member

Very informative about You-tube, its broad reach and impact on people
Boca Raton Member

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