Alive Inside

A life-affirming look into music therapy for Alzheimer’s patients

2014 | Running Time: 78 minutes | Rating: NR

ALIVE INSIDE is a joyous cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. Chronicling the astonishing experiences of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music, the film reveals the uniquely human connection we find in music and how its healing power can triumph where prescription medication falls short. One of the film’s principal subjects is social worker Dan Cohen, founder of the nonprofit organization Music & Memory, fighting against a broken healthcare system to demonstrate music’s ability to combat memory loss. ALIVE INSIDE premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Audience Award for US Documentary. Director/Producer/Writer: Michael Rossato-Bennett; Producer: Alexandra McDougald; Producer/Executive Producer: Regina K. Scully; Executive Producer: Dan Cogan, Geralyn Dreyfous, Daniel E. Catullo III, Eric J. Bertrand, Limore Shur, Ben Spivak

Michael Rossato-Bennett, Director, Producer, Writer

Michael Rossato-Bennett studied film at Temple University and directed two features before founding a photo studio in Cincinnati in 1989. He spent the next decades shooting travel photography for clients like National Geographic and Travel + Leisure. ALIVE INSIDE (2014) marks his return to filmmaking. Rossato-Bennett also founded the nonprofit Alive Inside Coalition.

Sundance Film Festival 2014: Audience Award – Documentary, Grand Jury Prize – Documentary (nomination)
Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival 2014: IDFA Audience Award (nomination)
Milano International Film Festival 2014: Best Documentary, Best Editing/Best Music (nomination)
Woodstock Film Festival 2017: Best Editing of a Documentary Feature
Seattle International Film Festival 2014: Golden Space Needle Award – Best Documentary (nomination)
Nashville Film Festival 2014: Special Jury Prize – Art and Activism
Berkshire International Film Festival 2014: Documentary Feature
Boston Film Festival 2014: Special Award
Calgary Underground Film Festival 2014: Best Documentary Feature
Fort Myers Beach Film Festival 2014: Best Documentary
Maine International Film Festival 2014: Audience Favorite Award (nomination)
Master of Art Film Festival 2016: Best Documentary in Music and Dance
Milwaukee Film Festival 2014: Feature Film
Provincetown International Film Festival 2014: Best Documentary
Sedona International Film Festival 2014: Best Documentary

“One of the most important documentaries of the year.”

IndieWire