Philadelphia highlights

[kurv]

For 14 Days, the Festival Presents 259 Features, Documentaries, Animated Films
and Shorts from 42 Countries, including 31 World or US Premieres

Awards go to Malcolm McDowell and Steve Buscemi;
New Festival Award Named for Archie Perlmutter

2005 Programs Demonstrate Festival’s International Flair and Philadelphia Roots

New Films from Araki, Miike, Ozon, Solondz, Wenders and Van Gogh -- his last film;
46 First-time Directors include Actors David Duchovny, Peter Riegert

(Philadelphia—March 22, 2005) The 2005 Philadelphia Film Festival will mark the fifth anniversary of its transformation into a major international film event under the leadership of Artistic Director Raymond Murray with a richly varied program that features a record number of 31 world, North American or United States premieres. Produced by the non-profit Philadelphia Film Society, the Festival will run for two weeks, from April 7-20, screening 110 feature films, 24 full-length documentaries and 125 short films from 42 countries.

A total of 301 screenings will be held in five different venues across Philadelphia: the Ritz East and Ritz at the Bourse in Old City, the Prince Music Theater (including both the Main Auditorium and the Black Box) in Center City, and International House and the Bridge: cinema de lux in University City.

Founded in 1992 by International House as the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema, the festival came under new management in 2001 with Raymond Murray as Artistic Director and Thom Cardwell as Executive Director. Under their leadership the festival has reinvented itself over the past five years, dramatically expanding the scope of its programming. Film lovers have responded in kind by more than tripling its attendance, from 19,000 in 2000 to 61,000 in 2004. This year they are joined by Patrick Brogan as Managing Director.

Programming: The 2005 Festival programming continues the model Murray and his team first introduced with twelve thematic focuses:

· Centerpiece/Special Screenings – The festival’s headlining events, including Opening and Closing Night, four Centerpiece Screenings and several special programs;
· International Masters – A showcase of the latest works from the top filmmakers in the world, beginning with Francois Ozon’s 5 x 2: FIVE TIMES TWO;
· World Focus – The heart of the festival, a survey of international drama, romance, comedy, mystery and more;
· Spanish and Latin Cinema Now – One of the Festival’s specialties, films from Spain and Latin America, featuring such international stars as Carmen Maura, Victoria Abril and John Leguizamo;
· New Korean Cinema – A recurring focus, presenting Korea’s biggest hits, curated by Travis Crawford;
· Cinema of the Muslim Worlds – Perhaps the Festival’s most provocative and newsworthy section, led this year by the controversial four-hour epic DOOR TO THE SUN;
· American Discoveries – The latest films from America’s truly independent filmmakers (Murray considers this year’s programming to be the strongest in years);