Wish Me Away

Wish Me Away is a 2011 documentary film directed by Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf. Winner of 12 film festival awards, it is about the coming out of the country music singer and gay rights activist Chely Wright. In May 2010, she had become the first major country music performer to publicly come out as gay.

The feature-length documentary is being screened at various venues and festivals between May and July 2012. The film opens in New York on June 1, 2012, in Los Angeles and other big American cities on June 15. The documentary is a personal and intimate look at Wright, who after a lifetime of hiding, shatters cultural and religious stereotypes within Nashville, her conservative heartland family, and most importantly, herself. It was filmed over a period of 3 years, portraying her struggle, private video diaries, plans to come out publicly. Using interviews with Chely, her family, key players in Nashville and her management team, the film goes deep into Chely's story, her relationship with Brad Paisley and their break-up. It also chronicles her coming out and the aftermath of her decision to come out on Nashville, her small hometown and the LGBT community.

The film opened in New York City at the Quad Cinema in June 2012 where it played for two weeks. Wish Me Away made its national television premiere on Nov. 15, 2012 on Showtime. The film reached as high as #2 on iTunes Movie Rental Chart and has been one of the top rented films played on Netflix in 2012.

Besides Chely Wright, characters appearing in documentary include Stan Wright, Jennifer Wright, Russell Carter, Rodney Crowell, Victoria Wilson, Rev.C. Welton Gaddy, Don Cusic, Howard Bragman, Richard Sterban, Charlene Daniels, Chuck D. Walter, Rosie O'Donnell, Meredith Vieira, Natalie Morales.

The theme song from the film is "Shine a Light", recorded by Chely Wright for the film, produced by Linda Perry. All music in the film, was recorded by Chely Wright.

Original Score by Jay Howlett and Rolfe Wyer.

Music Supervised by Lisa Palattella

Awards

 * Los Angeles Film Festival
 * WINNER Grand Jury Prize, Best Documentary Feature


 * Frameline 35
 * WINNER San Francisco International LGBT Festival, Outstanding Documentary Feature


 * Nashville Film Festival
 * WINNER Audience Award, Best Documentary


 * Palm Springs International Film Festival
 * WINNER Audience Award, Best Documentary


 * Melbourne Australia LGBT Festival
 * WINNER Audience Award, Best Documentary


 * Seattle LGBT Festival
 * WINNER Audience Award, Favorite Documentary Film


 * Salem Film Festival
 * WINNER Alliance of Women Film Journalists “EDA AWARD”: Best Female Directed Film.


 * Philadelphia Q Fest
 * WINNER Jury Award, Best Documentary


 * Tallgrass Film Festival, Kansas
 * WINNER Golden Strand Award, Best Documentary


 * Pittsburgh LGBT Festival
 * WINNER Best Documentary


 * Fresno Real Pride Film Festival
 * WINNER Audience Award, Best Documentary


 * Atlanta Out on Film Festival
 * WINNER Jury Award, Best Documentary


 * Newfest Film Festival, New York City
 * CENTERPIECE