The 19th Palm Beach International
Film Festival 2014
This Year’s Festival Will Feature
14 World Premieres, 8 North Amercan Premieres and 8 U.S. Premieres
And You’re Invited To Attend
The Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) announced its highly anticipated film line-up for the 19th edition, April 3 – 10, 2014, featuring 14 World Premieres, 8 North American and 8 U.S. Premieres. PBIFF (www.pbifilmfest.org) will present features, documentaries and short films from the U.S. and around the world, including Brazil, Venezuela, France, England, Israel, Hong Kong, Japan, India, New Zealand, Austria, the Philippines, Croatia, Australia, Canada, Germany and South Korea, to name just a few, and will play host to filmmakers, producers and actors to represent and discuss their films.
“This year’s festival promises an outstanding and diverse program of features, documentaries, shorts and music videos, including many World, US and Florida premieres,” comments Randi Emerman, President and CEO of PBIFF. “The Palm Beach International Film Festival is a true celebration of the art of film with fun events and the opportunity to meet filmmakers from every corner of the world."
Opening Night kicks off with Belle, directed by Amma Asante. The film, which stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emily Watson, Tom Felton, Sam Reid and Tom Wilkinson, is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield and his wife, Belle’s lineage affords her certain privileges, yet the color of her skin prevents her from fully participating in the traditions of her social standing. Left to wonder if she will ever find love, Belle falls for an idealistic young vicar’s son bent on change who, with her help, shapes Lord Mansfield’s role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England. Talent from the film expected to attend. Opening Night festivities will take place Thursday, April 3 at Cinemark Palace 20, followed by a party at Bogart’s Bar & Grille on the Premier Level of Cinemark Palace.
The fest will close with Cas & Dylan, directed by Jason Priestley, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Tatiana Maslany and Jayne Eastwood. A Canadian comedy/drama, Cas & Dylan is about what happens when a dying doctor, who plans to check out on his own terms, takes a reluctant detour when he inadvertently winds up on the lam with an ‘anything-but-normal’ 22-year old girl. Director Jason Priestley will attend. The screening will take place on Thursday, April 10 at Cinemark Palace 20, followed by the “It’s a Wrap” party at Bogart’s Bar & Grille.
Sure to be one of the most anticipated evenings of the festival, PBIFF is proud to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to star of film, television and stage, Emmy and Tony-award winning actor Robert Morse. Morse is a man of the stage, having won two Tony Awards, one for How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and one for American Playhouse: Tru. He also starred in the film version of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, as well as 60s cult favorite The Loved One and A Guide for the Married Man opposite Walter Matthau, among many others. He is most recently know for his role as Bertram Cooper in AMC’s Mad Men.
The festival will also honor director Rick McKay with the Visionary Award, celebrating his on-going achievement of documenting and preserving the history of the Broadway stage with stories told directly from the legends who were there, while illustrating their tales not only with amazing, rare archival performance footage but also through their home movies and photos as well. McKay returns to Palm Beach after premiering his award-winning documentary Broadway: The Golden Age ten years ago with a continuation of his work in his new film Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age, in which fellow honoree Robert Morse also appears, followed by an audience Q&A and Award presentation. The evening, which takes place on Monday April 7 at 7:00 pm at the Cinemark Palace 20 Theatres, will be capped with a Sardi’s-influenced party at Bogart’s on the Premier Level of Cinemark Palace 20.
PBIFF will present some exciting activities this year, including these highlights:
Toast of the Town – A Tribute to Classic Hollywood, on Saturday, April 5, at 9 pm at the Eau Palm Beach. Meet the filmmakers, special celebrity guests and VIPs at this exclusive celebration and main fundraising event, while sipping on the Champagne featured in A Year in Champagne and enjoying special Tito’s Vodka Martinis that will be served at the party. For ticket information, go to www.pbifilmfest.org
The Jewish Experience – a new Jewish/Israeli-centric program presenting the most current and cutting-edge films of this genre. The Jewish Experience hits it out of the park with a line-up of films that include: four World Premieres, three US Premieres, 15 Florida Premieres and five Palm Beach Premieres. Three of the features are OPHIR best film nominees (Israel’s equivalent to the Academy Awards
Spotlight on Canada, presented by the Toronto International Film Festival, featuring some of the 2013 Festival’s most popular Canadian films
Music and Merriment Film Showcase at South Shores Tavern in Lake Worth on Sunday, April 6 from 8 pm to 10 pm. An evening of videos, docs, and shorts that will bring music and merriment to your eyes and ears.
On Wednesday, April 9, at the Dubliner in Mizner Park at 9:15 pm, PBIFF will host a concert featuring rising stars So. California-based alternative rock band ABOVE SECLUSION, whose music is featured in the thriller, Mary Loss of Soul, making its World Premiere at the festival. See website for ticket information .
The ever-popular Weekend of Shorts at the Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theatre (April 4, 5 & 6)
Voices of Local Films & Student Showcase of Films will screen at Downtown at the Gardens Cobb Theatre on Sunday, April 6 at 7pm.
On Saturday, April 5, at 10 and 11 am respectively, PBIFF will present two seminars at the host hotel, Hyatt Place Delray
- Trials and Tribulations of Healthcare and Benefits for the Independent Filmmaker
- Making Movies – How Do They Do It?
Special Screening: The Great Chicken Wing Hunt on Friday, April 4 at 8:00 p.m. at Downtown at the Gardens Cobb Theater. Enjoy a special screening of award-winning documentary, “The Great Chicken Wing Hunt,” a comedy about Buffalo wings and the band of misfits who set out to find the world’s best one. An after-party at Cabo Flats, sponsored by Tito’s Vodka, will allow guests to taste what was revealed in the documentary to be the “best” chicken wings. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the ‘chicken wing’ as we know it.
Screenings of this year’s films will be held at Muvico Parisian 20 and IMAX at CityPlace in West Palm Beach, Cobb Downtown at the Gardens, Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theatre in Lake Worth, and Cinemark Palace 20 in Boca Raton.
Passes and Tickets are on sale now! Platinum passes are available for $450, which include priority admission for 1 for the Opening Night Film and Party, all regular festival screenings, Closing Night, the Toast of the Town – A Tribute to Classic Hollywood party at the Eau Palm Beach and the Special Presentation Spotlight Screening of Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age; Premiere passes are available for $325, which provide admission to the Opening and Closing night film and party, as well as all regular festival screenings and the Special Presentation Spotlight Screening of Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age; Gold passes are available for $225, which provide admission to all films and seminars. Individual tickets for special events are also available. Individual screening tickets, which are $10 general admission and $7 for seniors and students will be available in advance at www.pbifilmfest.org or can be purchased at the respective theaters’ box office during the festival.
The Palm Beach International Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization supporting film programs in local schools and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of future filmmakers by helping them fulfill their dreams to one-day work in the world of film.
For more information, please call (561) 362-0003 or visit the festival web site at www.pbifilmfest.org .
19TH PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
TOP OF THE FILM LINE-UP
NARRATIVE FEATURES:
3 Mile Limit, New Zealand- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Craig Newland
Cast: Matt Whelan, Dan Musgrove, Belinda Crawley, David Aston, Bruce Hopkins, Mia Koning
It’s 1965 and rock music is shaking up the world but not in New Zealand. Richard Davis, a 23-year-old journalist, is determined to break the Government’s monopoly on broadcasting and bring rock n’ roll to a younger generation, and at the same time hold onto the woman he loves. Based on a true story.
Awakened, USA- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Amanda Carlton, Arno Malarone
Cast: Julianne Michelle, Steven Bauer, John Savage, Stelio Savante, Sally Kirkland, Edward Furlong
Samantha Winston (Julianne Michelle), a 22 year old woman, returns to her home town after 14 years in search of answers to her mother's untimely death. She is convinced that her father, Jack Winston (John Savage), murdered her mother. In a quest for vengeance, Samantha uncovers an evil and devastating truth. Samantha tried to escape tragedy much of her life. After her young mother's sudden passing, when Samantha was only 8-yrs old, she went to live with her aunt in MN. Within one year her world was shattered again when her aunt was killed in a car crash. Young Samantha was then sent to live with abusive foster families, and finally she ran off to live on her own at age 16. Returning to her childhood home as a young adult conjures up loving memories of her life as a child. However, harsh reminders of her father's drunken rampages and the sudden death of her 32 year old mother dominate her thoughts. She is convinced that her father, 20 years her mother's senior, a jealous and verbally abusive alcoholic, committed this unthinkable crime. In the exhaustive search for evidence Samantha seeks answers from Lucas Drake (Steven Bauer), a successful funeral director and mortuary owner, and her Uncle Thomas (Edward Furlong), amongst others. As the deep dark secrets of evil plots and schemes in this town unfold, the mystery thickens.
Belle, UK
Directed by Amma Asante
Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emily Watson, Tom Felton, Sam Reid, Miranda Richardson, Tom Wilkinson
BELLE is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife (Emily Watson), Belle's lineage affords her certain privileges, yet the color of her skin prevents her from fully participating in the traditions of her social standing. Left to wonder if she will ever find love, Belle falls for an idealistic young vicar's son bent on change who, with her help, shapes Lord Mansfield's role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England.
BFFs, USA
Directed by Andrew Putschoegl
Cast: Andrea Grano, Tara Karsian
Kat and Samantha have been best friends for years. When Samantha convinces a reluctant Kat to take advantage of a couple’s weekend retreat by pretending to be lovers, they’re hoping for some time by the pool and maybe a few good stories. How hard could it be? Instead, they find themselves immersed in an intensive workshop with real couples who are fighting to save their relationships. As the “Closer to Closeness” weekend progresses, Kat and Samantha are made to face their own shortcomings and, by default, begin to believe their own cover story. When the lines of friendship begin to blur, they are faced with asking themselves: could it actually be there is something there or has this weekend just worked a Jedi mind trick on them?
Cas & Dylan, Canada – CLOSING NIGHT
Directed by Jason Priestley
Cast: Tatiana Maslany, Richard Dreyfuss, Jayne Eastwood, Aaron Poole
A dying Doctor, who plans to check out on his own terms, takes a reluctant detour when he inadvertently winds up on the lam with an 'anything-but-normal' 22-year-old girl.
Casablanca Mon Amour, Morocco, USA
Directed by John Slattery
Cast: Abdel Il Adrissi, Hassan Ouazzani
A modern road movie that encapsulates the more complex and fractured nature of living in a world where TV and wars compete for headlines and occupy imaginations. Using movies as a road map between yesterday's Hollywood and today's Morocco, Casablanca Mon Amour offers a Moroccan perspective on the long and entwined relationship between Hollywood and The Arab/Muslim World. Casablanca Mon Amour offers more than a dry critique of the impact of media on culture. Instead, the film takes a human and humorous look at the effects Hollywood films have on people's imaginations and affords Moroccans (our movie set 'extras') an opportunity to talk back - which they do intelligently and in witty and wildly ingenious ways.
Cathedral Canyon, USA- U.S. PREMIERE
Directed by Paul Davis, Lorenzo Lamas
Cast: Winsor Harmon, Lorenzo Lamas, Britt George, Jose Rosete, Noelle Wheeler
A story set in both sprawling modern Phoenix and the fringe, rural polygamist communities of Northern Arizona, this film presents a hidden connection between these two very different worlds that permits the shocking acts of these cults to continue.
Closed Season, Germany, Israel
Directed by Franziska Schlotterer
Cast: Brigitte Hobmeier, Hans-Jochen Wagner, Christian Friedel, Rami Heuberger
Told In flashback and bookended by a German student's search for his biological father In 1970s Israel, the film tells the story of Albert (Christian Friedel) a Jewish boy fleeing Nazi persecution during WWII. Traveling through the mountains of the Black Forest and unable to cross the heavily patrolled Swiss border, Albert is given shelter by a farmer Fritz (Hans-Jochen Wagner) and his wife Emma (Brigitte Hobmeier). Working together on the farm, Albert and Fritz develop a bond and Fritz confesses to him that the couple has been unable to conceive. The frustrated farmer proposes an unusual arrangement - Albert is to father a child with Emma in exchange for continued shelter and protection. Emma is very unhappy about this idea but she relents and soon finds herself falling in love with the young stranger. A cauldron of jealousy and betrayal erupts. Frequent visits by an old family friend and Nazi party functionary (Thomas Lolbl) add layers of suspense, leading to a very unexpected end.
Confessions of a Womanizer, USA
Directed by Miguel Ali
Cast: Andrew Lawrence, Gary Busey, C. Thomas Howell, Jillian Rose Reed, Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Kelly Mantle, Patricia De Leon, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Nosheen Phoenix.
Ritchie is the epitome of everything that is wrong with modern man: a pompous, foul-mouthed idiot, whose only ambition is the latest girl-of-the-week. However, something changes after Ritchie's first real relationship, a relationship that includes Ritchie's two favorite things: frequent condom-less sex and tons of freshly baked cookies. Through Ritchie's 'confessions,' as well as his continual breakups with women who truly adore him, we come to see that his womanizing goes much deeper than just a desire to have sex with women. His womanizing is fueled by a scar that was inflicted from his parents damaged relationship, among other wounds. And who best to help Ritchie work through these psychological issues? None other than his new best friend - a transgendered prostitute named Ginger.
Dom Hemingway, UK
Directed by Richard Shepard
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Demian Bichir
After spending 12 years in prison for keeping his mouth shut, notorious safe-cracker Dom Hemingway is back on the streets of London looking to collect what he's owed.
Fat, dumb and happy, USA- U.S. PREMIERE
Directed by Banks Helfrich
Cast: Janie Michele Simms, Banks Helfrich, Richard Regan Paul, Marty Stonerock, Maria Regan. Verbose writer Walter Quill thinks he's God; his wife thinks he's hopelessly inept; his teenage kids don't want to have anything to do with him; his editor wants another best-selling novel and his dentist thinks he brushes too hard. So, Walter creates another life, one full of everything happiness.
Hunting Elephants, Israel
Directed by Reshef Levi
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Moni Moshonov, Sasson Gabai
3 old men and a kid team up to rob a bank.
It Happened in St. Tropez, France
Directed by Daniele Thompson
Cast: Kad Merad, Monica Bellucci, Eric Elmosnino, Valerie Bonneton, Lou de Laage.
Bad timing! The funeral of Zef's wife right when Roni's daughter is getting married! That unexpected event only makes the existing conflicts between the two brothers worse. Their professions, their life choices and even their wives couldn’t be more different. Religious austerity on one side, intense enjoyment of life’s pleasures on the other. They have nothing in common but their aging father who’s losing his grip and their respective daughters who adore one another. From London to Paris, New York to Saint Tropez, showdowns, misunderstandings and betrayals all serve to blow up the family landscape. But out of the rubble of those arguments and haphazard reconciliations will blossom a beautiful love story -- or two!
La Madre, Italy- NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Directed by Angelo Maresca
Cast: Carmen Maura, Stefano Dionisi, Laura Baldi, Luigi Maria Burrano
Freely adapted from the novel by Grazia Deledda, Nobel Prize for Literature, the film won the Cultural Interest by the Ministry of Culture and tells the story of passion and longing for a couple of lovers who have to challenge the hypocrisy of a century in a conservative society. The life of Maddalena takes place entirely in a village in the Italian province. She works as a chamber maid in a seminar to meet the aspirations of her son Paulo, an aspiring priest. His vocation is soon tested when Agnese, a beautiful girl, falls in love with him and overwhelms him with passion. Maddalena is aware of what could happen, she does everything to protect her son from falling victim to the sin of the flesh.
Ladybug, Turkey- NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Directed by Bora Tekay
Cast: Ugur Bilgin, Leyla Yungul
A Mockumentary on filmmaking. Uğur and Barış run a DVD Shop together. They are funded by Barış’ wealthy uncle, Engin. Uğur is in love with Leyla, Engin’s little sister, also Barış’ cousin. Leyla too, favors Uğur in a special way. Leyla feels entrapped by Engin’s authority and the limitations of their conservative neighborhood. She feels her only way out is by marriage, but Uğur does not have the courage to open up and face Engin. He feels he has to put his life in order first and provide the security Engin and Leyla expect. The solution comes from Barış. They are to shoot a film to prove their worth. However, they realize filmmaking to be much harder than presumed.
Locke, USA, United Kingdom
Directed by Steven Knight
Cast: Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott, Tom Holland and Bill Milner
Ivan Locke (Hardy) has worked diligently to craft the life he has envisioned, dedicating himself to the job that he loves and the family he adores. On the eve of the biggest challenge of his career, Ivan receives a phone call that sets in motion a series of events that will unravel his family, job, and soul. All taking place over the course of one absolutely riveting car ride, Locke is an exploration of how one decision can lead to the complete collapse of a life, a thrillingly unique cinematic experience of a man fighting to salvage all that is important to him.
Magic Men, Israel- U.S. PREMIERE
Directed by Guy Nattiv, Erez Tadmor
Cast: Makram J. Khoury, Zohar Strauss, Ariane Labed, Vangelis Mourikis
This is the story of a 78-year-old Greek man and his Hasidic rapper son, who have been estranged for many years. They embark together on a road trip from Israel to Greece searching for an old magician who saved the father's life during World War II. The journey leads them to absurd encounters, and ultimately brings them to a final confrontation of father and son.
Menthol, USA
Directed by Micah Van Hove
Cast: Johnny Wactor, Luke Eberl, James Wilson, Jacob King
Four male twenty-somethings spend 24 hours reliving their high school glory days. The drugs, video games, and boozing ends in a moment of terrible violence when they run over and kill a young woman. The four conspire to burn the clothes, ditch the body, and bury their guilt in this bleak and unflinching portrait of 21st Century male nihilism.
Night Has Settled, USA
Directed by Steve Clark
Cast: Spencer List, Pilar López de Ayala, Adriana Barraza
In 1983 New York City, a thirteen-year-old boy well-poised to enter the precocious teenage world of sex, vodka, and the possibilities of love, is traumatized by an encounter with his housekeeper.
Obvious Child, USA
Directed by Gillian Robespierre
Cast: Jenny Slate, Gabby Hoffman, Jake Lacy, Gabe Liedman and David Cross
What happens when Brooklyn comedian Donna Stern (Jenny Slate) gets dumped, fired and pregnant just in time for the worst/best Valentine's Day of her life.
Our Big Time (Blutsbrüder teilen alles), Austria
Directed by Wolfram Paulus
Cast: Lorenz Willkomm, Johannes Nussbaum, Udo Samel
Ferry and Alex, two boys in the middle of World War II discover their ambition for adventure and girls. When both are sent on "Kinderlandverschickung", a Nazi programme to get children out of the bombed cities, their naive and romantic take on war is soon gone. With Alex finding out he has Jewish origins their lives take a serious turn.
Sweet Destiny, USA
Directed by Francine Pellegrino
Cast: Abe Vigoda, Carmen dell'Orefice, Conor Dubin, Susanne Calabrese, Frank Santorelli, Francine Pellegrino, John Fiore
Set in the Italian enclave of Boston's North End 'Sweet Destiny', tells of love at any age. When 17 year old Joey meets Cathy, a wealthy girl, Joey not only gets caught in a wild love affair but a cultural tug-of war. Emmy award winning actor, Abe Vigoda plays Joey's Grandfather. Abe Vigoda has his first romantic role opposite mature Ford model Carmen. Joey's single mother struggles with her own love relationships, played by Soprano actors Frank Santorelli and John Fiore, in nonviolent roles. Music by Tim Janis, original songs sung by Frankie Avalon and Livingston Taylor.
That Burning Feeling, Canada
Directed by Jason James
Cast: Paulo Costanzo, Ingrid Haas, John Cho, Tyler Labine, Emily Hampshire, Jay Brazeau
Adam Murphy had it all: a great job, an endless parade of gorgeous women, and the charm to make it all look well-earned. One night, he went to bed with everything he ever wanted and woke up with something no-one ever wants... That Burning Feeling.
That Thing With The Cat, USA- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Neil Turitz
Cast: Jacob Pitts, Carolyn McCormick, Kerry O'Malley, Byron Jennings, Renée Felice Smith, Rizwan Manji, Benim Foster, Jeff Heller, Eric Zuckerman
Gretchen is a true crime geek who hasn't left her apartment in years. When her neighbor's cat turns up dead, she's compelled to solve the crime. As she takes on her first case, she finds there are many mysteries to be solved right under her nose-- including her own.
The Animal Project, Canada
Directed by Ingrid Veninger
Cast: Hannah Cheesman, Kate Corbett, Noah Davis, Aaron Poole
As a thirty something acting teacher attempts to push a group of eager young performers out of their comfort zones, he struggles with his own ability to live an authentic and fulfilling life with his teenage son.
The Disappeared, Canada
Directed by Shandi Mitchell
Cast: Billy Campbell, Ryan Doucette, Brian Downey
The Disappeared is a story set on the vast panorama of the Atlantic Ocean. The film centers on six men lost at sea in two dories. With no rescue in sight, they make the difficult decision to row for shore—a journey of over two hundred miles. With scant supplies, they are tested beyond human endurance as their captain leads them through the fickle wind, rain, fog and darkness. Dwarfed in this unforgiving realm between sea and sky, they fight to hold on as their strength dwindles and their will shatters. To find their way home, they must first discover the courage and compassion it takes to live and the men they truly are.
The Girl on the Train, USA
Directed by Larry Brand
Cast: Henry Ian Cusick, Nicki Aycox, Stephen Lang, David Margulies, Charles Aitken, Waltrudis Buck, James Biberi, John Fugelsang, Nathalie Lyon
A documentary filmmaker boards a train at Grand Central Terminal, heading to upstate New York to interview the subjects of his latest project. A chance encounter with a mysterious young woman leads him on a journey of a very different sort, and within the blink of an eye, Hart is forced to leave his complacent life behind for a world in which the line between fantasy and reality is blurred. As Hart tells his strange story to a police detective he finds himself being questioned as Martin tries to discover whether Hart is the victim or the suspect in the strange affair.
The Last of Robin Hood, USA
Directed by Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Kevin Kline, Susan Sarandon, Sean Flynn
The Last of Robin Hood is the true story of Beverly Aadland, a teen starlet who became the last girlfriend of legendary swashbuckler Errol Flynn. In 1957, Beverly was working at Warner Brothers studios with a fake birth certificate saying she was 18 -- she was in fact, only 15 -- when she encountered the former matinée idol. After a bumpy start, the two undertook a relationship that was ultimately embraced by Beverly's Hollywood mother Florence, who became a willing third wheel. The affair took them from L.A. to New York to Africa, then to Cuba where Flynn pitched in with the rebels to make a pro-Castro propaganda movie starring Beverly. It all came crashing to an end in Vancouver, however, when Flynn died in Beverly's arms, causing an avalanche of publicity; Florence finally achieved the attention she sought in the form of tabloid notoriety but the chaos drove Beverly to the edge of sanity.
The War I Knew, United Kingdom-WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Ian Vernon
Cast: Paul Harrison, Jimmy Boyland, Guy Wills, Adam Woodward, Richard Dobson, Sophie Skelton
D-Day: A British paratroop squad are dropped off-target and wiped-out. Private Johnny Barrows is the only survivor; inexperienced, scared, lost behind enemy lines. Johnny must grow up and become a man on his perilous journey to safety.
Valley Inn, USA- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Kim Swink, Chris Spencer
Cast: David Lansbury, Colley Bailey, Jordan Scott, Natalie Canerday, Joey Lauren Adams
Valley Inn is a romantic comedy that tells the story of Emily Mason, a New Jersey college student, who finds herself in a dusty dying small southern town, a thousand miles from home, selling Christian books door-to-door for the summer. Through a series of misadventures in 'the Bookfield,' and her growing friendships with the endearing and often comical local residents, Emily begins to discover what is most valuable in life at the Valley Inn. More than a movie, Valley Inn is a love-letter to small town America. A tribute to a quickly vanishing way of life. And above all, as all movies should, it entertains and transports the audience. Just like Emily, audiences will fall in love with the Valley Inn, the small town setting and all its quirky characters
Documentary Features:
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age, USA- SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Directed by Rick McKay
The story of Broadway in the 60's and 70's from 1959-81, Part II of McKay's Broadway Trilogy, starring 100 LEGENDS including Robert Redford, Elizabeth Ashley, Glenn Close, Liza Minnelli, Dick Van Dyke, Vanessa Redgrave, Angela Lansbury, Sydney Poitier, Patti LuPone, John Lithgow, Shirley MacLaine, Stephen Sondheim, Bernadette Peters and the ORIGINAL casts of "A Chorus Line," "Raisin in the Sun," "Follies" - as well as MORE extremely rare, never-before-seen, lost footage from Broadway performances!
Coney Island: Dreams for Sale, USA
Directed by Alessandra Giordano.
Cast: Anthony Raimondi, Lola Star, Dick Zigun.
Coney Island, the once magnificent "Playground of the World" has survived many battles, but now faces its greatest enemy: corporate greed. Center stage in the passionate struggle to protect the amusement park from an unscrupulous developer and a group of misguided politicians is Dianna Carlin, owner of the celebrated Lola Star boutique and newly turned political activist. This modern day David and Goliath tale chronicles the courage and determination of a community to preserve the spirit and authenticity of a legendary American Icon and an entire way of life in the face of “Big Money” and ruthless real estate development.
Faberge: A Life of its Own, United Kingdom- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed By: Patrick Mark
This feature-doc tells the epic story of the Faberge name, from Imperial Russia until the present-day, spanning one hundred and fifty years of turbulent history, romance, artistic development and commercial exploitation. From the bejewel led Easter eggs of the Romanov Tsarinas to the 1970s allure of 'Brut by Faberge' aftershave, and from the Russian revolution to today's high-fashion glitz in New York and London, the film explores a multi-faceted world that began with one man: the prodigiously talented Peter Carl Faberge, Court Jeweler of St Petersburg. Shot at locations across Russia, Europe and USA (including the collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II), the film features interview contributions from the world's foremost Faberge authorities, as well as personal reminiscences from Faberge family members.
Out of the Clear Blue Sky, USA
Directed by Danelle Gardner
Cast: Howard Lutnick, Edith Lutnick, Greg Hoffman.
The riveting, behind-the-scenes saga of Wall Street powerhouse Cantor Fitzgerald -- their tremendous loss of 658 employees in the September 11th attacks, their epic struggle to save their ravaged business and the powerful community formed among survivors. For the first time, moviegoers will have the opportunity to experience an insider's perspective on 9/11, unfolding over months and years, capturing what it feels like to be caught in the crosshairs of history.
Smiling Through the Apocalypse, USA
Directed by Tom Hayes
Cast: Tom Wolfe, Nora Ephron, Gore Vidal, Gay Talese
Documentary traces the editorial journey of legendary Esquire Magazine Editor Harold T. P. Hayes. Twenty three years after his father’s passing, Hayes’ son Tom, interviews Tom Wolfe, Gay Talese, Nora Ephron, Peter Bogdanovich, Gore Vidal and many others, to find out what it was that made his father one of the greatest magazine editors of all time. It is a story of challenge, triumph, and defeat that paints an explicit portrait of an era through a man who gave unprecedented journalistic freedom to an extraordinary group of writers, photographer and artists.
The Great Chicken Wing Hunt, USA, Slovakia
Directed by Matt Reynolds
Cast: Ben Beaveres, Ron Wieszczyk, Al Caster, Lucie Mayerova, Ric Kealoha
American expatriate, international journalist and upstate New Yorker Matt Reynolds forsakes a successful life in Eastern Europe, compelled by a singular obsession: find the world's best Buffalo chicken wing. Joined by his long-suffering Czech girlfriend, a perplexed Slovak film crew, and a ragtag gang of wing-obsessed misfits recruited online, Reynolds embarks on THE GREAT CHICKEN WING HUNT. After 2,627 miles and 284 varieties of wings, the quest ends in the very countryside of Reynolds' childhood, where he discovers that the perfection he has sought so hard to find was right under his nose all along.
The Last Days of Joe Blow, Australia, USA- NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Directed by Richard Wolstencroft
Cast: Michael Tierney
Joe Blow is a male porn 'Ubermensch' and he is here to show it off. His Clark Kent alter ego is mild mannered actor and indie filmmaker, Michael Tierney. How do they both fit together and can he separate them at will? We examine his past as an indie filmmaker and his pre-porn life, including the making of his debut feature, the LA grunge classic Evicted (2000). Tierney shares stories about Uncle Larry, from his playboy days with the top actresses of 50's LA to his crazy antics on the set of Reservoir Dogs and his later years in Hollywood with guest roles on Seinfeld and the blockbuster Armageddon. In the mid-2000s Tierney became a porn star, adopting the moniker Joe Blow. We dive into the belly of the beast of the LA porn scene, on set in 'The Valley', with MT/Joe Blow as we follow a typical day’s work. We hear Joe's various war stories from the front line of porn, and meet many porn identities like industry spokesman Bill Margold, newcomer Missy Woods, industry trouble maker Donny Long and porn legend Ron Jeremy. At the heart of the film though is the personal crisis surrounding MT's decision to get out of 'the life'. Michael/Joe examines the pros and cons of being a porn star and is then implicated in the notorious Porn WikiLeaks scandal that divided the Adult Movie community. But the question arises can he quit such a glamorous, and seemingly appealing world, so easily?
The Only Real Game, India, USA
Directed by Mirra Bank
Cast: Melissa Leo, Jeff Brueggemann, David Palese.
The Only Real Game explores the power of baseball in a remote and troubled place. The once princely state of Manipur, in volatile northeast India, defies gun violence, drug trafficking, and HIV/AIDS through a surprising passion for America's National Pastime. In an affecting leap of faith between cultures, two Major League Baseball Envoy coaches team up with Manipuri men, women and children to Play Ball. With gifted women and girls among the best players, as well as leaders of peace and justice initiatives, this far away story brings us to the heart of the Great American Game - or as Babe Ruth called it, 'the only real game in the world.'
The Sax Man, USA
Directed by Joe Siebert
Cast: Maurice Reedus Jr., Andrea Land, Sharon Reedus-Sanders, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs
The Sax Man tells the story of Cleveland's beloved busker, Maurice Reedus Jr., and how this once rising star fell from the heights of the stage to the humility of the street. As he spends his later years longing for the good old days, Maurice receives a surprise opportunity to reunite with his old band...and to take the stage one more time. With this, the man who Cleveland only knows as 'The Sax Man' gets one final shot to show not just the crowd, but more importantly himself, who Maurice Reedus Jr. really is...
VOICES OF LOCAL FILM
Destroy All Spiders
Directed by Juan Diaz
Cast: Jamie Normand, Martin Hovsepian
A send-up of classic b-movies, as a hitman teams up with a scream queen to battle alien spiders.
They Live, Sweded
Directed by Jason Galotti
Cast: Doug Hansen, Jason Galotti
A spoof on the classic 80s film about alien invasion and wrestling star Roddy Piper.
Spread My Wings
Directed by Nicole Rankin
Cast: Nicole Ranking
A sensitive look at the effects of bullying on a teenager named Faith.
Butter & Cheese, USA- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Tashi Dhondup
Butter & Cheese is a short documentary film about a nomadic family who live in the highlands of Sikkim, India. Shot at an altitude of 14,500 feet above sea level, close to India-Tibet border, the film captures the unique lifestyle of the yak herders against the backdrop of the majestic Himalayan Mountains, and the process of making yak dairy products such as butter and cheese. The nomadic couple, who belong to the Sherpa ethnic group, move with their semi-wild yaks as seasons change. Despite the harshness of terrain and weather, the yak-herders live a simple and contented life untouched by the complexities of the modern world. In summer, they camp at an altitude of about 14,500 feet in shacks made of wood and plastic sheets. As winter approaches, the nomads and their animals move to lower altitude, though not very far down, in search of pasture. They sell the yak dairy products - butter and cheese - in nearby villages and towns located about 50 miles down the treacherous mountains. The hard cheese, which is called 'churpi' in local language, is a popular snack in the local community.
Goodfellas
Directed by Wally Lurz
A Swede from Cheese & Crackers that lampoons the classic “How Am I Funny” scene from Goodfellas.
The Happy Hooligan
Directed by Bruce Feigenbaum
An adaption of a short story by Kurt Vonnegut, in the year 2116, Americans live in a Utopian society. There’s only one catch.
For more information, please call (561) 362-0003 or visit the festival web site at www.pbifilmfest.org .
This Year’s Festival Will Feature
14 World Premieres, 8 North Amercan Premieres and 8 U.S. Premieres
And You’re Invited To Attend
The Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) announced its highly anticipated film line-up for the 19th edition, April 3 – 10, 2014, featuring 14 World Premieres, 8 North American and 8 U.S. Premieres. PBIFF (www.pbifilmfest.org) will present features, documentaries and short films from the U.S. and around the world, including Brazil, Venezuela, France, England, Israel, Hong Kong, Japan, India, New Zealand, Austria, the Philippines, Croatia, Australia, Canada, Germany and South Korea, to name just a few, and will play host to filmmakers, producers and actors to represent and discuss their films.
“This year’s festival promises an outstanding and diverse program of features, documentaries, shorts and music videos, including many World, US and Florida premieres,” comments Randi Emerman, President and CEO of PBIFF. “The Palm Beach International Film Festival is a true celebration of the art of film with fun events and the opportunity to meet filmmakers from every corner of the world."
Opening Night kicks off with Belle, directed by Amma Asante. The film, which stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emily Watson, Tom Felton, Sam Reid and Tom Wilkinson, is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield and his wife, Belle’s lineage affords her certain privileges, yet the color of her skin prevents her from fully participating in the traditions of her social standing. Left to wonder if she will ever find love, Belle falls for an idealistic young vicar’s son bent on change who, with her help, shapes Lord Mansfield’s role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England. Talent from the film expected to attend. Opening Night festivities will take place Thursday, April 3 at Cinemark Palace 20, followed by a party at Bogart’s Bar & Grille on the Premier Level of Cinemark Palace.
The fest will close with Cas & Dylan, directed by Jason Priestley, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Tatiana Maslany and Jayne Eastwood. A Canadian comedy/drama, Cas & Dylan is about what happens when a dying doctor, who plans to check out on his own terms, takes a reluctant detour when he inadvertently winds up on the lam with an ‘anything-but-normal’ 22-year old girl. Director Jason Priestley will attend. The screening will take place on Thursday, April 10 at Cinemark Palace 20, followed by the “It’s a Wrap” party at Bogart’s Bar & Grille.
Sure to be one of the most anticipated evenings of the festival, PBIFF is proud to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to star of film, television and stage, Emmy and Tony-award winning actor Robert Morse. Morse is a man of the stage, having won two Tony Awards, one for How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and one for American Playhouse: Tru. He also starred in the film version of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, as well as 60s cult favorite The Loved One and A Guide for the Married Man opposite Walter Matthau, among many others. He is most recently know for his role as Bertram Cooper in AMC’s Mad Men.
The festival will also honor director Rick McKay with the Visionary Award, celebrating his on-going achievement of documenting and preserving the history of the Broadway stage with stories told directly from the legends who were there, while illustrating their tales not only with amazing, rare archival performance footage but also through their home movies and photos as well. McKay returns to Palm Beach after premiering his award-winning documentary Broadway: The Golden Age ten years ago with a continuation of his work in his new film Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age, in which fellow honoree Robert Morse also appears, followed by an audience Q&A and Award presentation. The evening, which takes place on Monday April 7 at 7:00 pm at the Cinemark Palace 20 Theatres, will be capped with a Sardi’s-influenced party at Bogart’s on the Premier Level of Cinemark Palace 20.
PBIFF will present some exciting activities this year, including these highlights:
Toast of the Town – A Tribute to Classic Hollywood, on Saturday, April 5, at 9 pm at the Eau Palm Beach. Meet the filmmakers, special celebrity guests and VIPs at this exclusive celebration and main fundraising event, while sipping on the Champagne featured in A Year in Champagne and enjoying special Tito’s Vodka Martinis that will be served at the party. For ticket information, go to www.pbifilmfest.org
The Jewish Experience – a new Jewish/Israeli-centric program presenting the most current and cutting-edge films of this genre. The Jewish Experience hits it out of the park with a line-up of films that include: four World Premieres, three US Premieres, 15 Florida Premieres and five Palm Beach Premieres. Three of the features are OPHIR best film nominees (Israel’s equivalent to the Academy Awards
Spotlight on Canada, presented by the Toronto International Film Festival, featuring some of the 2013 Festival’s most popular Canadian films
Music and Merriment Film Showcase at South Shores Tavern in Lake Worth on Sunday, April 6 from 8 pm to 10 pm. An evening of videos, docs, and shorts that will bring music and merriment to your eyes and ears.
On Wednesday, April 9, at the Dubliner in Mizner Park at 9:15 pm, PBIFF will host a concert featuring rising stars So. California-based alternative rock band ABOVE SECLUSION, whose music is featured in the thriller, Mary Loss of Soul, making its World Premiere at the festival. See website for ticket information .
The ever-popular Weekend of Shorts at the Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theatre (April 4, 5 & 6)
Voices of Local Films & Student Showcase of Films will screen at Downtown at the Gardens Cobb Theatre on Sunday, April 6 at 7pm.
On Saturday, April 5, at 10 and 11 am respectively, PBIFF will present two seminars at the host hotel, Hyatt Place Delray
- Trials and Tribulations of Healthcare and Benefits for the Independent Filmmaker
- Making Movies – How Do They Do It?
Special Screening: The Great Chicken Wing Hunt on Friday, April 4 at 8:00 p.m. at Downtown at the Gardens Cobb Theater. Enjoy a special screening of award-winning documentary, “The Great Chicken Wing Hunt,” a comedy about Buffalo wings and the band of misfits who set out to find the world’s best one. An after-party at Cabo Flats, sponsored by Tito’s Vodka, will allow guests to taste what was revealed in the documentary to be the “best” chicken wings. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the ‘chicken wing’ as we know it.
Screenings of this year’s films will be held at Muvico Parisian 20 and IMAX at CityPlace in West Palm Beach, Cobb Downtown at the Gardens, Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theatre in Lake Worth, and Cinemark Palace 20 in Boca Raton.
Passes and Tickets are on sale now! Platinum passes are available for $450, which include priority admission for 1 for the Opening Night Film and Party, all regular festival screenings, Closing Night, the Toast of the Town – A Tribute to Classic Hollywood party at the Eau Palm Beach and the Special Presentation Spotlight Screening of Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age; Premiere passes are available for $325, which provide admission to the Opening and Closing night film and party, as well as all regular festival screenings and the Special Presentation Spotlight Screening of Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age; Gold passes are available for $225, which provide admission to all films and seminars. Individual tickets for special events are also available. Individual screening tickets, which are $10 general admission and $7 for seniors and students will be available in advance at www.pbifilmfest.org or can be purchased at the respective theaters’ box office during the festival.
The Palm Beach International Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization supporting film programs in local schools and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of future filmmakers by helping them fulfill their dreams to one-day work in the world of film.
For more information, please call (561) 362-0003 or visit the festival web site at www.pbifilmfest.org .
19TH PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
TOP OF THE FILM LINE-UP
NARRATIVE FEATURES:
3 Mile Limit, New Zealand- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Craig Newland
Cast: Matt Whelan, Dan Musgrove, Belinda Crawley, David Aston, Bruce Hopkins, Mia Koning
It’s 1965 and rock music is shaking up the world but not in New Zealand. Richard Davis, a 23-year-old journalist, is determined to break the Government’s monopoly on broadcasting and bring rock n’ roll to a younger generation, and at the same time hold onto the woman he loves. Based on a true story.
Awakened, USA- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Amanda Carlton, Arno Malarone
Cast: Julianne Michelle, Steven Bauer, John Savage, Stelio Savante, Sally Kirkland, Edward Furlong
Samantha Winston (Julianne Michelle), a 22 year old woman, returns to her home town after 14 years in search of answers to her mother's untimely death. She is convinced that her father, Jack Winston (John Savage), murdered her mother. In a quest for vengeance, Samantha uncovers an evil and devastating truth. Samantha tried to escape tragedy much of her life. After her young mother's sudden passing, when Samantha was only 8-yrs old, she went to live with her aunt in MN. Within one year her world was shattered again when her aunt was killed in a car crash. Young Samantha was then sent to live with abusive foster families, and finally she ran off to live on her own at age 16. Returning to her childhood home as a young adult conjures up loving memories of her life as a child. However, harsh reminders of her father's drunken rampages and the sudden death of her 32 year old mother dominate her thoughts. She is convinced that her father, 20 years her mother's senior, a jealous and verbally abusive alcoholic, committed this unthinkable crime. In the exhaustive search for evidence Samantha seeks answers from Lucas Drake (Steven Bauer), a successful funeral director and mortuary owner, and her Uncle Thomas (Edward Furlong), amongst others. As the deep dark secrets of evil plots and schemes in this town unfold, the mystery thickens.
Belle, UK
Directed by Amma Asante
Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emily Watson, Tom Felton, Sam Reid, Miranda Richardson, Tom Wilkinson
BELLE is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife (Emily Watson), Belle's lineage affords her certain privileges, yet the color of her skin prevents her from fully participating in the traditions of her social standing. Left to wonder if she will ever find love, Belle falls for an idealistic young vicar's son bent on change who, with her help, shapes Lord Mansfield's role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England.
BFFs, USA
Directed by Andrew Putschoegl
Cast: Andrea Grano, Tara Karsian
Kat and Samantha have been best friends for years. When Samantha convinces a reluctant Kat to take advantage of a couple’s weekend retreat by pretending to be lovers, they’re hoping for some time by the pool and maybe a few good stories. How hard could it be? Instead, they find themselves immersed in an intensive workshop with real couples who are fighting to save their relationships. As the “Closer to Closeness” weekend progresses, Kat and Samantha are made to face their own shortcomings and, by default, begin to believe their own cover story. When the lines of friendship begin to blur, they are faced with asking themselves: could it actually be there is something there or has this weekend just worked a Jedi mind trick on them?
Cas & Dylan, Canada – CLOSING NIGHT
Directed by Jason Priestley
Cast: Tatiana Maslany, Richard Dreyfuss, Jayne Eastwood, Aaron Poole
A dying Doctor, who plans to check out on his own terms, takes a reluctant detour when he inadvertently winds up on the lam with an 'anything-but-normal' 22-year-old girl.
Casablanca Mon Amour, Morocco, USA
Directed by John Slattery
Cast: Abdel Il Adrissi, Hassan Ouazzani
A modern road movie that encapsulates the more complex and fractured nature of living in a world where TV and wars compete for headlines and occupy imaginations. Using movies as a road map between yesterday's Hollywood and today's Morocco, Casablanca Mon Amour offers a Moroccan perspective on the long and entwined relationship between Hollywood and The Arab/Muslim World. Casablanca Mon Amour offers more than a dry critique of the impact of media on culture. Instead, the film takes a human and humorous look at the effects Hollywood films have on people's imaginations and affords Moroccans (our movie set 'extras') an opportunity to talk back - which they do intelligently and in witty and wildly ingenious ways.
Cathedral Canyon, USA- U.S. PREMIERE
Directed by Paul Davis, Lorenzo Lamas
Cast: Winsor Harmon, Lorenzo Lamas, Britt George, Jose Rosete, Noelle Wheeler
A story set in both sprawling modern Phoenix and the fringe, rural polygamist communities of Northern Arizona, this film presents a hidden connection between these two very different worlds that permits the shocking acts of these cults to continue.
Closed Season, Germany, Israel
Directed by Franziska Schlotterer
Cast: Brigitte Hobmeier, Hans-Jochen Wagner, Christian Friedel, Rami Heuberger
Told In flashback and bookended by a German student's search for his biological father In 1970s Israel, the film tells the story of Albert (Christian Friedel) a Jewish boy fleeing Nazi persecution during WWII. Traveling through the mountains of the Black Forest and unable to cross the heavily patrolled Swiss border, Albert is given shelter by a farmer Fritz (Hans-Jochen Wagner) and his wife Emma (Brigitte Hobmeier). Working together on the farm, Albert and Fritz develop a bond and Fritz confesses to him that the couple has been unable to conceive. The frustrated farmer proposes an unusual arrangement - Albert is to father a child with Emma in exchange for continued shelter and protection. Emma is very unhappy about this idea but she relents and soon finds herself falling in love with the young stranger. A cauldron of jealousy and betrayal erupts. Frequent visits by an old family friend and Nazi party functionary (Thomas Lolbl) add layers of suspense, leading to a very unexpected end.
Confessions of a Womanizer, USA
Directed by Miguel Ali
Cast: Andrew Lawrence, Gary Busey, C. Thomas Howell, Jillian Rose Reed, Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Kelly Mantle, Patricia De Leon, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Nosheen Phoenix.
Ritchie is the epitome of everything that is wrong with modern man: a pompous, foul-mouthed idiot, whose only ambition is the latest girl-of-the-week. However, something changes after Ritchie's first real relationship, a relationship that includes Ritchie's two favorite things: frequent condom-less sex and tons of freshly baked cookies. Through Ritchie's 'confessions,' as well as his continual breakups with women who truly adore him, we come to see that his womanizing goes much deeper than just a desire to have sex with women. His womanizing is fueled by a scar that was inflicted from his parents damaged relationship, among other wounds. And who best to help Ritchie work through these psychological issues? None other than his new best friend - a transgendered prostitute named Ginger.
Dom Hemingway, UK
Directed by Richard Shepard
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Demian Bichir
After spending 12 years in prison for keeping his mouth shut, notorious safe-cracker Dom Hemingway is back on the streets of London looking to collect what he's owed.
Fat, dumb and happy, USA- U.S. PREMIERE
Directed by Banks Helfrich
Cast: Janie Michele Simms, Banks Helfrich, Richard Regan Paul, Marty Stonerock, Maria Regan. Verbose writer Walter Quill thinks he's God; his wife thinks he's hopelessly inept; his teenage kids don't want to have anything to do with him; his editor wants another best-selling novel and his dentist thinks he brushes too hard. So, Walter creates another life, one full of everything happiness.
Hunting Elephants, Israel
Directed by Reshef Levi
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Moni Moshonov, Sasson Gabai
3 old men and a kid team up to rob a bank.
It Happened in St. Tropez, France
Directed by Daniele Thompson
Cast: Kad Merad, Monica Bellucci, Eric Elmosnino, Valerie Bonneton, Lou de Laage.
Bad timing! The funeral of Zef's wife right when Roni's daughter is getting married! That unexpected event only makes the existing conflicts between the two brothers worse. Their professions, their life choices and even their wives couldn’t be more different. Religious austerity on one side, intense enjoyment of life’s pleasures on the other. They have nothing in common but their aging father who’s losing his grip and their respective daughters who adore one another. From London to Paris, New York to Saint Tropez, showdowns, misunderstandings and betrayals all serve to blow up the family landscape. But out of the rubble of those arguments and haphazard reconciliations will blossom a beautiful love story -- or two!
La Madre, Italy- NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Directed by Angelo Maresca
Cast: Carmen Maura, Stefano Dionisi, Laura Baldi, Luigi Maria Burrano
Freely adapted from the novel by Grazia Deledda, Nobel Prize for Literature, the film won the Cultural Interest by the Ministry of Culture and tells the story of passion and longing for a couple of lovers who have to challenge the hypocrisy of a century in a conservative society. The life of Maddalena takes place entirely in a village in the Italian province. She works as a chamber maid in a seminar to meet the aspirations of her son Paulo, an aspiring priest. His vocation is soon tested when Agnese, a beautiful girl, falls in love with him and overwhelms him with passion. Maddalena is aware of what could happen, she does everything to protect her son from falling victim to the sin of the flesh.
Ladybug, Turkey- NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Directed by Bora Tekay
Cast: Ugur Bilgin, Leyla Yungul
A Mockumentary on filmmaking. Uğur and Barış run a DVD Shop together. They are funded by Barış’ wealthy uncle, Engin. Uğur is in love with Leyla, Engin’s little sister, also Barış’ cousin. Leyla too, favors Uğur in a special way. Leyla feels entrapped by Engin’s authority and the limitations of their conservative neighborhood. She feels her only way out is by marriage, but Uğur does not have the courage to open up and face Engin. He feels he has to put his life in order first and provide the security Engin and Leyla expect. The solution comes from Barış. They are to shoot a film to prove their worth. However, they realize filmmaking to be much harder than presumed.
Locke, USA, United Kingdom
Directed by Steven Knight
Cast: Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott, Tom Holland and Bill Milner
Ivan Locke (Hardy) has worked diligently to craft the life he has envisioned, dedicating himself to the job that he loves and the family he adores. On the eve of the biggest challenge of his career, Ivan receives a phone call that sets in motion a series of events that will unravel his family, job, and soul. All taking place over the course of one absolutely riveting car ride, Locke is an exploration of how one decision can lead to the complete collapse of a life, a thrillingly unique cinematic experience of a man fighting to salvage all that is important to him.
Magic Men, Israel- U.S. PREMIERE
Directed by Guy Nattiv, Erez Tadmor
Cast: Makram J. Khoury, Zohar Strauss, Ariane Labed, Vangelis Mourikis
This is the story of a 78-year-old Greek man and his Hasidic rapper son, who have been estranged for many years. They embark together on a road trip from Israel to Greece searching for an old magician who saved the father's life during World War II. The journey leads them to absurd encounters, and ultimately brings them to a final confrontation of father and son.
Menthol, USA
Directed by Micah Van Hove
Cast: Johnny Wactor, Luke Eberl, James Wilson, Jacob King
Four male twenty-somethings spend 24 hours reliving their high school glory days. The drugs, video games, and boozing ends in a moment of terrible violence when they run over and kill a young woman. The four conspire to burn the clothes, ditch the body, and bury their guilt in this bleak and unflinching portrait of 21st Century male nihilism.
Night Has Settled, USA
Directed by Steve Clark
Cast: Spencer List, Pilar López de Ayala, Adriana Barraza
In 1983 New York City, a thirteen-year-old boy well-poised to enter the precocious teenage world of sex, vodka, and the possibilities of love, is traumatized by an encounter with his housekeeper.
Obvious Child, USA
Directed by Gillian Robespierre
Cast: Jenny Slate, Gabby Hoffman, Jake Lacy, Gabe Liedman and David Cross
What happens when Brooklyn comedian Donna Stern (Jenny Slate) gets dumped, fired and pregnant just in time for the worst/best Valentine's Day of her life.
Our Big Time (Blutsbrüder teilen alles), Austria
Directed by Wolfram Paulus
Cast: Lorenz Willkomm, Johannes Nussbaum, Udo Samel
Ferry and Alex, two boys in the middle of World War II discover their ambition for adventure and girls. When both are sent on "Kinderlandverschickung", a Nazi programme to get children out of the bombed cities, their naive and romantic take on war is soon gone. With Alex finding out he has Jewish origins their lives take a serious turn.
Sweet Destiny, USA
Directed by Francine Pellegrino
Cast: Abe Vigoda, Carmen dell'Orefice, Conor Dubin, Susanne Calabrese, Frank Santorelli, Francine Pellegrino, John Fiore
Set in the Italian enclave of Boston's North End 'Sweet Destiny', tells of love at any age. When 17 year old Joey meets Cathy, a wealthy girl, Joey not only gets caught in a wild love affair but a cultural tug-of war. Emmy award winning actor, Abe Vigoda plays Joey's Grandfather. Abe Vigoda has his first romantic role opposite mature Ford model Carmen. Joey's single mother struggles with her own love relationships, played by Soprano actors Frank Santorelli and John Fiore, in nonviolent roles. Music by Tim Janis, original songs sung by Frankie Avalon and Livingston Taylor.
That Burning Feeling, Canada
Directed by Jason James
Cast: Paulo Costanzo, Ingrid Haas, John Cho, Tyler Labine, Emily Hampshire, Jay Brazeau
Adam Murphy had it all: a great job, an endless parade of gorgeous women, and the charm to make it all look well-earned. One night, he went to bed with everything he ever wanted and woke up with something no-one ever wants... That Burning Feeling.
That Thing With The Cat, USA- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Neil Turitz
Cast: Jacob Pitts, Carolyn McCormick, Kerry O'Malley, Byron Jennings, Renée Felice Smith, Rizwan Manji, Benim Foster, Jeff Heller, Eric Zuckerman
Gretchen is a true crime geek who hasn't left her apartment in years. When her neighbor's cat turns up dead, she's compelled to solve the crime. As she takes on her first case, she finds there are many mysteries to be solved right under her nose-- including her own.
The Animal Project, Canada
Directed by Ingrid Veninger
Cast: Hannah Cheesman, Kate Corbett, Noah Davis, Aaron Poole
As a thirty something acting teacher attempts to push a group of eager young performers out of their comfort zones, he struggles with his own ability to live an authentic and fulfilling life with his teenage son.
The Disappeared, Canada
Directed by Shandi Mitchell
Cast: Billy Campbell, Ryan Doucette, Brian Downey
The Disappeared is a story set on the vast panorama of the Atlantic Ocean. The film centers on six men lost at sea in two dories. With no rescue in sight, they make the difficult decision to row for shore—a journey of over two hundred miles. With scant supplies, they are tested beyond human endurance as their captain leads them through the fickle wind, rain, fog and darkness. Dwarfed in this unforgiving realm between sea and sky, they fight to hold on as their strength dwindles and their will shatters. To find their way home, they must first discover the courage and compassion it takes to live and the men they truly are.
The Girl on the Train, USA
Directed by Larry Brand
Cast: Henry Ian Cusick, Nicki Aycox, Stephen Lang, David Margulies, Charles Aitken, Waltrudis Buck, James Biberi, John Fugelsang, Nathalie Lyon
A documentary filmmaker boards a train at Grand Central Terminal, heading to upstate New York to interview the subjects of his latest project. A chance encounter with a mysterious young woman leads him on a journey of a very different sort, and within the blink of an eye, Hart is forced to leave his complacent life behind for a world in which the line between fantasy and reality is blurred. As Hart tells his strange story to a police detective he finds himself being questioned as Martin tries to discover whether Hart is the victim or the suspect in the strange affair.
The Last of Robin Hood, USA
Directed by Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Kevin Kline, Susan Sarandon, Sean Flynn
The Last of Robin Hood is the true story of Beverly Aadland, a teen starlet who became the last girlfriend of legendary swashbuckler Errol Flynn. In 1957, Beverly was working at Warner Brothers studios with a fake birth certificate saying she was 18 -- she was in fact, only 15 -- when she encountered the former matinée idol. After a bumpy start, the two undertook a relationship that was ultimately embraced by Beverly's Hollywood mother Florence, who became a willing third wheel. The affair took them from L.A. to New York to Africa, then to Cuba where Flynn pitched in with the rebels to make a pro-Castro propaganda movie starring Beverly. It all came crashing to an end in Vancouver, however, when Flynn died in Beverly's arms, causing an avalanche of publicity; Florence finally achieved the attention she sought in the form of tabloid notoriety but the chaos drove Beverly to the edge of sanity.
The War I Knew, United Kingdom-WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Ian Vernon
Cast: Paul Harrison, Jimmy Boyland, Guy Wills, Adam Woodward, Richard Dobson, Sophie Skelton
D-Day: A British paratroop squad are dropped off-target and wiped-out. Private Johnny Barrows is the only survivor; inexperienced, scared, lost behind enemy lines. Johnny must grow up and become a man on his perilous journey to safety.
Valley Inn, USA- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Kim Swink, Chris Spencer
Cast: David Lansbury, Colley Bailey, Jordan Scott, Natalie Canerday, Joey Lauren Adams
Valley Inn is a romantic comedy that tells the story of Emily Mason, a New Jersey college student, who finds herself in a dusty dying small southern town, a thousand miles from home, selling Christian books door-to-door for the summer. Through a series of misadventures in 'the Bookfield,' and her growing friendships with the endearing and often comical local residents, Emily begins to discover what is most valuable in life at the Valley Inn. More than a movie, Valley Inn is a love-letter to small town America. A tribute to a quickly vanishing way of life. And above all, as all movies should, it entertains and transports the audience. Just like Emily, audiences will fall in love with the Valley Inn, the small town setting and all its quirky characters
Documentary Features:
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age, USA- SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Directed by Rick McKay
The story of Broadway in the 60's and 70's from 1959-81, Part II of McKay's Broadway Trilogy, starring 100 LEGENDS including Robert Redford, Elizabeth Ashley, Glenn Close, Liza Minnelli, Dick Van Dyke, Vanessa Redgrave, Angela Lansbury, Sydney Poitier, Patti LuPone, John Lithgow, Shirley MacLaine, Stephen Sondheim, Bernadette Peters and the ORIGINAL casts of "A Chorus Line," "Raisin in the Sun," "Follies" - as well as MORE extremely rare, never-before-seen, lost footage from Broadway performances!
Coney Island: Dreams for Sale, USA
Directed by Alessandra Giordano.
Cast: Anthony Raimondi, Lola Star, Dick Zigun.
Coney Island, the once magnificent "Playground of the World" has survived many battles, but now faces its greatest enemy: corporate greed. Center stage in the passionate struggle to protect the amusement park from an unscrupulous developer and a group of misguided politicians is Dianna Carlin, owner of the celebrated Lola Star boutique and newly turned political activist. This modern day David and Goliath tale chronicles the courage and determination of a community to preserve the spirit and authenticity of a legendary American Icon and an entire way of life in the face of “Big Money” and ruthless real estate development.
Faberge: A Life of its Own, United Kingdom- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed By: Patrick Mark
This feature-doc tells the epic story of the Faberge name, from Imperial Russia until the present-day, spanning one hundred and fifty years of turbulent history, romance, artistic development and commercial exploitation. From the bejewel led Easter eggs of the Romanov Tsarinas to the 1970s allure of 'Brut by Faberge' aftershave, and from the Russian revolution to today's high-fashion glitz in New York and London, the film explores a multi-faceted world that began with one man: the prodigiously talented Peter Carl Faberge, Court Jeweler of St Petersburg. Shot at locations across Russia, Europe and USA (including the collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II), the film features interview contributions from the world's foremost Faberge authorities, as well as personal reminiscences from Faberge family members.
Out of the Clear Blue Sky, USA
Directed by Danelle Gardner
Cast: Howard Lutnick, Edith Lutnick, Greg Hoffman.
The riveting, behind-the-scenes saga of Wall Street powerhouse Cantor Fitzgerald -- their tremendous loss of 658 employees in the September 11th attacks, their epic struggle to save their ravaged business and the powerful community formed among survivors. For the first time, moviegoers will have the opportunity to experience an insider's perspective on 9/11, unfolding over months and years, capturing what it feels like to be caught in the crosshairs of history.
Smiling Through the Apocalypse, USA
Directed by Tom Hayes
Cast: Tom Wolfe, Nora Ephron, Gore Vidal, Gay Talese
Documentary traces the editorial journey of legendary Esquire Magazine Editor Harold T. P. Hayes. Twenty three years after his father’s passing, Hayes’ son Tom, interviews Tom Wolfe, Gay Talese, Nora Ephron, Peter Bogdanovich, Gore Vidal and many others, to find out what it was that made his father one of the greatest magazine editors of all time. It is a story of challenge, triumph, and defeat that paints an explicit portrait of an era through a man who gave unprecedented journalistic freedom to an extraordinary group of writers, photographer and artists.
The Great Chicken Wing Hunt, USA, Slovakia
Directed by Matt Reynolds
Cast: Ben Beaveres, Ron Wieszczyk, Al Caster, Lucie Mayerova, Ric Kealoha
American expatriate, international journalist and upstate New Yorker Matt Reynolds forsakes a successful life in Eastern Europe, compelled by a singular obsession: find the world's best Buffalo chicken wing. Joined by his long-suffering Czech girlfriend, a perplexed Slovak film crew, and a ragtag gang of wing-obsessed misfits recruited online, Reynolds embarks on THE GREAT CHICKEN WING HUNT. After 2,627 miles and 284 varieties of wings, the quest ends in the very countryside of Reynolds' childhood, where he discovers that the perfection he has sought so hard to find was right under his nose all along.
The Last Days of Joe Blow, Australia, USA- NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Directed by Richard Wolstencroft
Cast: Michael Tierney
Joe Blow is a male porn 'Ubermensch' and he is here to show it off. His Clark Kent alter ego is mild mannered actor and indie filmmaker, Michael Tierney. How do they both fit together and can he separate them at will? We examine his past as an indie filmmaker and his pre-porn life, including the making of his debut feature, the LA grunge classic Evicted (2000). Tierney shares stories about Uncle Larry, from his playboy days with the top actresses of 50's LA to his crazy antics on the set of Reservoir Dogs and his later years in Hollywood with guest roles on Seinfeld and the blockbuster Armageddon. In the mid-2000s Tierney became a porn star, adopting the moniker Joe Blow. We dive into the belly of the beast of the LA porn scene, on set in 'The Valley', with MT/Joe Blow as we follow a typical day’s work. We hear Joe's various war stories from the front line of porn, and meet many porn identities like industry spokesman Bill Margold, newcomer Missy Woods, industry trouble maker Donny Long and porn legend Ron Jeremy. At the heart of the film though is the personal crisis surrounding MT's decision to get out of 'the life'. Michael/Joe examines the pros and cons of being a porn star and is then implicated in the notorious Porn WikiLeaks scandal that divided the Adult Movie community. But the question arises can he quit such a glamorous, and seemingly appealing world, so easily?
The Only Real Game, India, USA
Directed by Mirra Bank
Cast: Melissa Leo, Jeff Brueggemann, David Palese.
The Only Real Game explores the power of baseball in a remote and troubled place. The once princely state of Manipur, in volatile northeast India, defies gun violence, drug trafficking, and HIV/AIDS through a surprising passion for America's National Pastime. In an affecting leap of faith between cultures, two Major League Baseball Envoy coaches team up with Manipuri men, women and children to Play Ball. With gifted women and girls among the best players, as well as leaders of peace and justice initiatives, this far away story brings us to the heart of the Great American Game - or as Babe Ruth called it, 'the only real game in the world.'
The Sax Man, USA
Directed by Joe Siebert
Cast: Maurice Reedus Jr., Andrea Land, Sharon Reedus-Sanders, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs
The Sax Man tells the story of Cleveland's beloved busker, Maurice Reedus Jr., and how this once rising star fell from the heights of the stage to the humility of the street. As he spends his later years longing for the good old days, Maurice receives a surprise opportunity to reunite with his old band...and to take the stage one more time. With this, the man who Cleveland only knows as 'The Sax Man' gets one final shot to show not just the crowd, but more importantly himself, who Maurice Reedus Jr. really is...
VOICES OF LOCAL FILM
Destroy All Spiders
Directed by Juan Diaz
Cast: Jamie Normand, Martin Hovsepian
A send-up of classic b-movies, as a hitman teams up with a scream queen to battle alien spiders.
They Live, Sweded
Directed by Jason Galotti
Cast: Doug Hansen, Jason Galotti
A spoof on the classic 80s film about alien invasion and wrestling star Roddy Piper.
Spread My Wings
Directed by Nicole Rankin
Cast: Nicole Ranking
A sensitive look at the effects of bullying on a teenager named Faith.
Butter & Cheese, USA- WORLD PREMIERE
Directed by Tashi Dhondup
Butter & Cheese is a short documentary film about a nomadic family who live in the highlands of Sikkim, India. Shot at an altitude of 14,500 feet above sea level, close to India-Tibet border, the film captures the unique lifestyle of the yak herders against the backdrop of the majestic Himalayan Mountains, and the process of making yak dairy products such as butter and cheese. The nomadic couple, who belong to the Sherpa ethnic group, move with their semi-wild yaks as seasons change. Despite the harshness of terrain and weather, the yak-herders live a simple and contented life untouched by the complexities of the modern world. In summer, they camp at an altitude of about 14,500 feet in shacks made of wood and plastic sheets. As winter approaches, the nomads and their animals move to lower altitude, though not very far down, in search of pasture. They sell the yak dairy products - butter and cheese - in nearby villages and towns located about 50 miles down the treacherous mountains. The hard cheese, which is called 'churpi' in local language, is a popular snack in the local community.
Goodfellas
Directed by Wally Lurz
A Swede from Cheese & Crackers that lampoons the classic “How Am I Funny” scene from Goodfellas.
The Happy Hooligan
Directed by Bruce Feigenbaum
An adaption of a short story by Kurt Vonnegut, in the year 2116, Americans live in a Utopian society. There’s only one catch.
For more information, please call (561) 362-0003 or visit the festival web site at www.pbifilmfest.org .
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