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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Shelter Island Will Make Its DVD Debut on May 13th

Jimmy Olinkiewicz is a blue-collar gas station owner, building contractor, online antique seller and father of an autistic child. "Outsider" artist Harald Olson is consumed by art, eschewing modern conveniences and sometimes going 72 hours where he "forgets" to eat. The magic that takes place when these two equally eclectic Shelter Island, NY residents meet is at the center of Shelter Island, an inspiring, festival favorite documentary from filmmaker Michael Canzoniero that makes its DVD debut in May on TDC Entertainment's Shelter Island label.

 "OUTSIDER" ARTIST HARALD OLSON AND HIS EQUALLY ECLECTIC PATRON MAKE BEAUTIFUL ART TOGETHER IN 
AN INSPIRING, FESTIVAL FAVORITE DOC ABOUT HOW FRIENDSHIP AND COMPASSION CAN UNLOCK HIDDEN POTENTIAL IN UNEXPECTED PLACES  
SHELTER ISLAND 
Street Date: May 13, 2014
DVD srp: $24.98


PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Jimmy Olinkiewicz is a blue-collar gas station owner, building contractor, online antique seller and father of an autistic child. "Outsider" artist Harald Olson is consumed by art, eschewing modern conveniences and sometimes going 72 hours where he "forgets" to eat. The magic that takes place when these two equally eclectic Shelter Island, NY residents meet is at the center of SHELTER ISLAND, an inspiring, festival favorite documentary from filmmaker Michael Canzoniero that makes its DVD debut in May on TDC Entertainment's Shelter Island label.

During the summer of 2010, Canzoniero was visiting his in-laws on Shelter Island when his father in-law asked if he might be interested in seeing the art gallery that his friend Jimmy constructed in his gas station, featuring a local "outsider" artist. The idea of an art gallery in a gas station was enough to spark his interest, but once he was introduced to benefactor Olinkiewicz and artist Olson, he knew there was something extraordinary happening, so Canzoniero grabbed his camera and began documenting the poignant relationships and captivating art he saw blossoming before his eyes.

The story goes like this: one day, on his way to work, Jimmy drove past a row of Olson's paintings leaning up against a fence, and was greatly touched by what he saw. He stopped, sought out the artist, and began purchasing the art to decorate his gas station-turned-convenience store. Little by little, as Jimmy began to learn of Harald's complicated background and his current isolation, he couldn't help but compare the situation with the needs of his own son, Alex. Inspired in part by this compelling parallel, and in part by Harald's clearly profound artistic talent, Jimmy created an art space for Olson in the defunct garage portion of his service station. Soon, it becomes evident that Harald's art is deserving of a much larger audience and SHELTER ISLAND follows the amazing and unexpected journey from selling paintings alongside a picket fence to a major showing at a Chelsea art gallery in Manhattan. And it's on the journey towards this goal -- and through the show's success - that it becomes clear that Harald's art is the perfect parallel to Jimmy's kindness: innate, beautiful, and wholly unexpected. Simply put, Shelter Island is an uplifting account of how compassion and human connection can unlock great potential in hidden places.

BONUS FEATURES 
  • "In My Mind", a short film by Alex Olinkiewicz. A unique look at life as an autistic child, it has already garnered millions of views on YouTube and led to a book publishing deal for Alex. (8:04)
  • Montage of Harald Olson's paintings. (2:31) 
FILM FESTIVALS/AWARDS 
  • Audience Award Winner, Hamptons Take 2 Documentary Film Festival
  • Official Selection, Red Rock Film Festival
  • Official Selection, Breckenridge Film Festival
  • Official Selection, Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival
  • Official Selection, Kansas Int'l Film Festival
Order your copy today!

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