Producer – Signe Taylor

In Distribution

Circus Dreams is a heartwarming feature documentary directed by Signe Taylor. It opens with a group of sweet, funny and extremely bendy 12 to 18-year-olds auditioning for Circus Smirkus, the only traveling youth circus in the United States. The film captures the lucky chosen ones moving onto a 3-week rehearsal period in Vermont, where they are coached by performers from Ringling, Big Apple and Cirque Du Soleil. It then follows them all the way through their exhilarating and exhausting 70-performance tour through 14 towns in five states. Circus Dreams immerses viewers into the lives of these talented kids, capturing their intense work ethic, passion for performance, deep friendships and budding loves.

Circus Dreams also offers audiences a wonderful circus story. The film captures how the art form inspires kids to push themselves to their personal limits so they can achieve both their individual dreams and communal artistic success. In addition, it shows how many of these performers, who have trouble socially in more traditional high school environments, find community through circus arts.

Circus Dreams premiered at SPROCKETS Toronto International Film Festival for Children and Youth in April 2011 as the Festival’s closing night film, where it was honored with a Youth Jury award. Circus Dreams also received the Best Films4Families Feature Award at the Seattle International Film Festival, the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Documentary at Woods Hole Film Festival and an Indie Spec Special Recognition Award at the Boston International Film Festival. With its inspiring story and wonderful youth role models, Circus Dreams offers great family entertainment.

We are partnering with Vermont Public Television to submit Circus Dreams for an American Public Television Exchange broadcast on PBS. We are seeking support for our national campaign to encourage PBS affiliates to broadcast Circus Dreams on April 21, 2012, the Third World Circus Day!

Circus Dreams 2010 Trailer from Signe Taylor on Vimeo.

Please visit: www.circusdreams.net