The Topp Twins, Untouchable Girls
The story of the world’s only comedic, singing, yodeling lesbian twin sisters, Lynda and Jools Topp, whose political activism and unique brand of entertainment has helped change New Zealand’s social landscape. In the process they have become well-loved cultural icons.
Directed by ex-BBC award-winning documentary filmmaker, Leanne Pooley.
Director of Photography shared by Leon Narbey ('Whale Rider'); one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed cinematographers, and Wayne Vinten.
“A docu that has you falling in love with two of the crazier people you’ve never met, ‘The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls’ could well add Jools and Lynda Topp to a list that includes spring lamb and ‘Lord of the Rings’”
International Theatrical Release
After breaking domestic NZ box office records, screening at over 90 festivals and winning more than 20 international awards, the film sold to Canada (Kinosmith) and had its theatrical release in March 2011.
Its US theatrical premiere was in May 2011 at Cinema Village in New York City, followed by the Lumiere in San Francisco, and selected Landmark Theaters (Argot & Diva).
To date it has screened in 25 plus cinemas across the United States. In February 2012 it was released in the UK.
Information
Feature Documentary
84 minutes
Year of Production: 2009
Financed by
New Zealand Film Commission
NZ On Air
TVNZ
Rialto
More film Awards
Best GLBT Film Nashville Film Festival 2010, USA
Audience Award – Best Documentary River Run Film Festival 2010, USA
Best Feature Documentary Newfest Film Festival 2010, USA
Special Programming Award for Freedom Outfest Film Festival 2010, USA
Best Documentary Inside Out Film Festival 2010, Canada
Best Documentary Feature Reeling 2010: The 29th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, USA
Best Documentary Mendocino Film Festival 2010, USA
Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision Seattle Film Festival 2010, USA
‘Best of the Fest’ Program Palm Springs International Film Festival 2010, USA
Special Jury Award FIFO Documentary Film Festival 2010, Tahiti
Best of Fest Award Women’s Film Festival Brattleboro 2010, USA
Best Documentary Miami Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2010, USA
Audience Award – Best Documentary 21st Hamburg International Queer Film Festival 2010, Germany
Madelyn’s Choice Award Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival 2010, USA
Best Film (Budget under $1 mil) Qantas Film and Television Awards 2009, New Zealand
Best Original Music in a Feature Film Qantas Film and Television Awards 2009, New Zealand
Festival Screening (2009-2011)
Melbourne International Film Festival 2009, Australia
Toronto International Film Festival 2009, Canada
International Documentary Film Festival (IDFA) 2009, Netherlands
Frameline Film Festival, USA
Newfest Film Festival, USA
Nashville Film Festival 2010, USA
Glasgow Film Festival 2010, UK
Portland International Film Festival 2010, USA
Gothenburg International Film Festival 2010, Sweden
FIFO Documentary Film Festival 2010, Tahiti
Palm Springs Film Festival 2010, USA
Hamburg Musik Film Festival 2009, Germany
Stranger than Fiction 2010, Ireland
Wisconsin Film Festival 2010, USA
Florida Film Festival 2010, USA
Tampa International Film Festival, USA
Festival of Lesbian Identities, Hungary
Homer Documentary Film Festival, Alaska, USA
Oslo Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Norway
Port Townsend Film Festival, USA
Birmingham SHOUT Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Alabama, USA
Newburyport Documentary Film Festival, Massachusetts, USA
Festival do Rio, Brazil
Olympia Documentary Film Festival, USA
Austin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2010, USA
Atlanta Docufest Film Festival, USA
GAZE Film Festival, Ireland
Tokyo Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, Japan
Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland
Outfest Film Festival, USA
Kansas City Gay & Lesbian Film & Video Festival, USA
Provincetown Film Festival, USA
Edmonton Pride Festival, Canada
Oslo Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Norway
Waterfront Film Festival, USA
Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival, USA
Connecticut Film Festival, USA
Mendocino Film Festival, USA
Seattle International Film Festival, USA
Seoul Human Rights Film Festival, Korea
Fairy Tales Film Festival, Canada
Inside Out Film Festival, Canada
Doc Aviv, Israel
Flying Broom Film Festival, Turkey
Gothenburg Queer Film Festival, Sweden
Cambodian Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Cambodia
DOXA 2010, Canada
Pink Apple Film Festival, Switzerland
Belfast Film Festival, Ireland
Minneapolis/St Paul Film Festival, USA
Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, USA
Bermuda Documentary Film Festival 2010, Bermuda
River Run Film Festival 2010, USA
International Women’s Film Festival 2010, Korea
Sarasota Film Festival 2010, USA
Q Fest St Louis 2010, USA
Women’s Film Festival Brattleboro 2010, USA
BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2010, UK
Perth International Ars Festival 2010, Australia
Women’s Film Festival Brattleboro, USA
Out! For Reel 2010, USA
Vues d’en Face Film Festival, Grenoble, France
London Lesbian Film Festival, London, Ontario (Canada)
Artichoke Film Festival, Helsinki, Finland
Bagdam Spring Film Festival, Toulouse, France
Athena Film Festival, USA
Sedona International Film Festival, USA
The Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, USA
Reel Pride Richmond, USA
Rocky Montain Women’s Film Festival, USA
South Taiwan Film Festival, Taiwan
Queerstreifen Munster, Germany
Queer Film Festival Esslingen, Germany
Pink Panorama Film festival, Switzerland
OUTrageous Film Festival, USA
Chicago Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, USA
Orlando Film Festival, USA
Gender Bender Festival, Italy
East Lansing Film Festival, USA
Out at the Movies, New York, USA
Hamburg International Queer Film Festival
Copenhagen Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Milwaukee LGBT Film & Video Festival
Cineffable, Lesbian & Feminist Film Festival, Paris
Savannah International LGBT Film Festival, USA
Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, USA
Bremen Queer Film Festival, Germany
Normal LGBT Film Festival, Florida, USA
Women Make Waves Film Festival, Taiwan