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15 May 2003 OUTFEST 2003: LOS ANGELES GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL TURNS 21! "PARTY MONSTER," "MAMBO ITALIANO," "PREY FOR ROCK AND ROLL" TO SERVE AS OPENING, CLOSING, AWARDS NIGHT FILMS DIRECTOR JANE ANDERSON TO RECEIVE FESTIVAL’S HIGHEST HONOR, THE OUTFEST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD OUTFEST 2003 is celebrating its 21st birthday as one of the world’s largest gay and lesbian film festivals and the largest film festival in Southern California. To be held in Los Angeles July 10-21, 2003, films and filmmakers from across the country and around the globe will commemorate the occasion with a joyous, festive fete that celebrates the gay and lesbian community’s vision and artistry. 188 films from 26 countries will be shown in seven venues during the course of the Festival’s 12-day run. In celebration of this historic year, the Opening Night Gala on July 10 will feature "Party Monster," starring Macauley Culkin, Seth Green, Chloe Sevigny, Dylan McDermott, Natasha Lyonne, Wilson Cruz, Wilmer Valderrama, Diana Scarwid and Marilyn Manson. Based on the sensational true story of murderous New York Club Kid Michael Alig and his biographer and best friend James St. James, "Party Monster" captures the adrenaline rush of the Club Kid culture – outrageous costumes, over-the-top drug use and electrifying glam-pop dance music. The film is written and directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the filmmakers behind "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" and "101 Rent Boys." Strand Releasing will distribute this outrageous, high-energy, non-stop ode to fashion, drugs, music, murder, and the fabulous 1980s. The Opening Night Gala will once again occur at the 2000-seat Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Following the screening will be a huge, "Party Monster"-themed after-party, with food from 20 different Los Angeles restaurants, dancing, shenanigans and good-looking Party Monsters of every persuasion. The Closing Night film will be Samuel Goldwyn Films’ "Mambo Italiano," affectionately regarded as My Big Fat Italian Gay Wedding. Adapted from the successful stage play of the same name by its writer, Steve Galluccio, and the film’s director Émile Gaudreault ("Nuit de Noces"), the movie is a coming out farce that hysterically, and yet warmly, explores the subtleties and complexities of a ‘typical’ Italian family – a family straddling the cultures and traditions of the old and new worlds, striving to preserve their heritage in the North America melting pot. Screening July 21st also at the Orpheum, the film stars Luke Kirby, Peter Miller, Ginette Reno, Paul Sorvino, Claudia Ferri and Mary Walsh. This year’s Awards Night film is "Prey For Rock and Roll," starring Gina Gershon, Drea de Matteo, Lori Petty, Shelly Cole and Marc Blucas, screening July 20th. Sexy, loud, audacious and incredibly good fun, it’s the story of an all-girl rock band on the verge of Making It Big or breaking up. The film is directed by Alex Steyermark and written by Cheri Lovedog and Robin Whitehouse. Preceding the screening will be the announcement of the winners of OUTFEST’s ninth annual film competition, hosted by the irrepressible Bruce Vilanch. The awards are in three categories: Grand Jury Awards, Audience Awards and Special Programming Awards. The Festival’s highest honor, the 7th annual OUTFEST Achievement Award, is being given as part of the Opening Night Gala to director Jane Anderson, whose most recent work was the acclaimed HBO film "Normal," starring Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson. Previous recipients include Sir Ian McKellen, Christine Vachon, Gus Van Sant and Strand Releasing’s Marcus Hu and Jon Gerrans. Anderson won an Emmy Award for her teleplay "The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom" and has also written "When Billie Beat Bobby," the ‘1961" segment of "If These Walls Could Talk 2," "The Baby Dance" – all of which she also directed – as well as "How to Make an American Quilt" and "It Could Happen To You." Anderson’s work reflects an unflinching honesty about human nature, a curiosity about iconoclastic women, and a sly wit. A former stand-up comedian, she throws hilarious punch lines into nearly every story she tells. And as for personal honesty, she’s one of the still-rare women in Hollywood who’s unabashedly open about being a lesbian. Indeed, Anderson thinks being gay (she came out when she was 23) has given her an advantage. "Jane Anderson is one of Hollywood’s most accomplished and admired filmmakers. She’s also been an out lesbian her entire career. OUTFEST will bestow the Achievement Award on this celebrated director for a body of films as accomplished as they are groundbreaking and for the personal integrity of the craftsman herself," said Stephen Gutwillig, Executive Director. For more information, log on to www.outfest.org or call 213/480-7065. Festival tickets go on sale on June 2nd to OUTFEST members and on June 14th to the general public. OUTFEST 2003 is presented by Absolut and HBO. Premiere sponsors include Director’s Guild of America (DGA), Volkswagon of America, Inc., AVIS, Motorola, The Advocate and Sundance Channel. Since 1982, OUTEST has presented over 3,500 films and videos for audiences of more than half a million people. The organization serves three constituencies – audiences, filmmakers and the entertainment industry – with six distinct programs: • OUTFEST: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the oldest and largest continuous film festival in Southern California. • OUTFEST Wednesdays, the only gay and lesbian themed weekly screening series in the country. • OUTFEST Screenwriting Lab, nurturing emerging screenwriters and outstanding gay and lesbian-themed screenplays. • Access LA, forging connections between filmmakers and established industry professionals. • OUTFEST San Diego, since 1998, showcasing the best of gay and lesbian film in America’s sixth largest city. • OUTFEST Screen Idol Awards, honoring the best performances in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered roles. *** Press Contacts: Steven Zeller/Susan Steeno GS Entertainment Marketing Group 323/860-0270 stevenzeller@gsemg.com susansteeno@gsemg.com |
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