The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) announced today that acclaimed writer and director David Cronenberg (THE FLY, VIDEODROME, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE) will receive the Filmmaker on the Edge Award at this year’s 16^th annual festival on Cape Cod. The award will be presented by PIFF’s resident artist John Waters at a special ceremony during the festival’s run June 17-23 in Provincetown, Mass.

“We are thrilled to be honoring David Cronenberg – a compelling and transformative filmmaker who perfectly represents filmmaking on the edge,” said Mitch Levine, the newly-appointed Executive Director of the Provincetown International Film Festival and CEO of the Provincetown Film Society. “We look forward to both celebrating and learning from this great cinema artist at our festival.”

In honor of Cronenberg’s achievements as a filmmaker who pushes the limits, the festival will host a special drive-in double bill of VIDEODROME and THE FLY on Thursday, June 19^th, 2014. In addition to the drive-in screenings, Cronenberg’s NAKED LUNCH will be added to the festival program as a tribute.

Past recipients of the Filmmaker on the Edge Award include Harmony Korine, Darren Aronofsky, Quentin Tarantino, Mary Harron, Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant.

Additionally, to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Beatles’ classic, A HARD DAY’S NIGHT, the festival will present a new restoration of the film. Directed by Richard Lester, A HARD DAY’S NIGHT was originally released in 1964 during the height of Beatlemania. The black-and-white musical comedy was the iconic band’s first feature film and garnered numerous accolades, including two Academy Award® nominations.

“Cinephiles are eagerly awaiting the theatrical re-issue of A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, a beloved and adventurous classic that has been unavailable to view in US cinemas for more than five years,” said Connie White, PIFF’s Artistic Director. "We're thrilled to be one of the festivals selected to offer a preview of the 50^th anniversary restoration before it hits movie theaters July 4^th.”

As previously announced, in honor of PIFF’s 16^th anniversary, the festival is adding two days to its lineup, expanding from a five-day festival to a full week of screenings, events and celebrations. In addition to its core schedule Wednesday through Sunday, the festival is adding a ‘Preview Day’ on Tuesday, June 17^th, and a ‘Celebration Day’ on Monday, June 23^rd, where attendees will have an opportunity to screen award-winning films and other popular titles.

Festival passes will go on sale on April 7^th. Tickets go on sale May 24^th.

PIFF is supported by grants from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, The National Endowment for the Arts, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Provincetown Tourism Fund and the GALE Fund of the Cape Cod Foundation.