June 11, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE:
Contact: Jeff Hill / International House of Publicity
Phone: 212-265-4373

PROVINCETOWN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – JUNE 17th-21st

– Writer/Director Guy Maddin, Actor Alessandro Nivola and Strand Releasing to be honored on June 20th –
– Opening Night film: Woody Allen’s WHATEVER WORKS (New England Premiere) on June 17th –
– Closing Night film: Jay DiPietro’s PETER AND VANDY (East Coast Premiere) on June 21st -

Thursday, June 11, 2009 – (PROVINCETOWN, MA) – The Provincetown International Film Festival will take place in Provincetown, Massachusetts from June 17th through June 21st. The Opening Night Film will be Woody Allen’s WHATEVER WORKS (New England Premiere) starring Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley, Jr. The festival will close with Jay DiPietro’s PETER AND VANDY (East Coast Premiere), starring Jason Ritter, Jess Weixler and Zak Orth.

As previously announced by Executive Director Gabby Hanna, Artistic Director Connie White and Director of Programming Andrew Peterson, the 2009 Filmmaker on the Edge Award will be awarded to writer/director Guy Maddin (“My Winnipeg,” “The Saddest Music in the World,” “Careful”), actor Alessandro Nivola (“Junebug,” “Laurel Canyon,” and the upcoming 2009 films “Coco Before Chanel” and “Howl”) will receive the Excellence in Acting award and Strand Releasing will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 20 at 6:00p.m.

Other highlights of the week include:

YOUTH & DIVERSITY PROGRAM (sponsored by the Gale Fund and Bank of America)—This panel will take place on Friday, 6/19 at 2:00p.m. Films in this year’s program include 3 shorts from SCENARIOS USA, a program that asks teens to write about the issues that shape their lives for the annual “What’s the Real Deal?” writing contest. The winning writers then partner with top filmmakers to transform their stories into award-winning short films – “Bitter Memories”, directed by Joshua Marston, “MANChild” directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, and “Misunderstood” directed by Clark Johnson; OFF AND RUNNING, directed by Nicole Opper, and PROM NIGHT IN MISSISSIPPI directed by Paul Saltzman.

THE PORTUGUESE PROGRAM – films premiering in this section that honor the heritage/cultural influence of the Portuguese who settled in Provincetown are GOOD NIGHT IRENE, FADOS, and OUR BELOVED MONTH OF AUGUST.

WAR DOGS OF THE PACIFIC (Saturday 6/20 at 11:30a.m.)—East Coast Premiere telling the extraordinary story of the Marine Dog Platoons of World War II. A benefit screening for the Provincetown Dog Park and the Carrie Ann Seamen Animal Shelter.

For a complete schedule of screenings, panel and events – please refer to the Festival’s website at:

http://www.ptownfilmfest.org

First produced in 1999 (the same year Provincetown celebrated its 100th anniversary as America’s oldest art colony) the PIFF is on the edge – artistically and geographically. Provincetown takes pride in embracing creativity and diversity in a thriving and increasingly year round tourist, business and art economy. For decades, Provincetown has attracted legendary artists, writers and filmmakers to this furthest tip of Cape Cod. Eugene O’Neill, Norman Mailer, Lily Tomlin, John Waters, Connie Francis, Helen Hayes, Billie Holiday, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Richard Gere, and Eartha Kitt have all worked and performed here to the delight the town’s cosmopolitan visitors and residents.

Presenting Sponsors of the film festival are Art House, Bacardi Dragonberry, Crown & Anchor and HBO. PIFF is also supported by grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Provincetown Tourism Fund.

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