Over 125 Films at upcoming Palm Beach Fest

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
UNVEILS 2006 LINE-UP

Over 125 Films Headline April 20 - 28 Event

The Palm Beach International Film Festival Executive Director Randi Emerman announced today the film line-up for the 11th annual event to be held April 20 – 28. Over a 125 films will screen at this years event, including features, documentaries and shorts. The eight-day Fest will introduce 18 world premieres, 3 U.S. premieres and 59 Florida premieres, including 31 international films.

Opening Night kicks off with the world premiere of the already announced, V.C. Andrews’ “RAIN”. RAIN stars Faye Dunaway, Robert Loggia, Khandi Alexander (CSI Miami), Giancarlo Esposito (Usual Suspects) and introduces Brooklyn Sudano, daughter of Donna Summer and a regular on the series, My Wife and Kids, as RAIN.

This feature film adaptation of RAIN is directed by Craig Di Bona off of a script written by Andrew Neiderman (The Devil's Advocate), the film was produced by Merv Griffin Entertainment in association with Big Headz Entertainment and Lexi Dog Media Group.

Tickets for the opening night party are $25 and include a pre-party at CityPlace.

Closing night features “Keeping Up With The Steins”. Directed by Scott Marshall, The film tells the story of a 13 year-old boy whose Bar Mitzvah becomes the party-to-end-all-parties, a megabash where the bar is more important that the Mitzvah and a Jewish Star means Neil Diamond. Above all, his parents must surpass their rival’s celebration with a circus-size celebration, but when the grandparents roll into town plans are thrown into disarray. The movie stars Daryl Hannah, Garry Marshall, Doris Roberts, Jeremy Piven and Jami Gertz.
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Closing night is Thursday, April 27. The competition awards ceremony and film begins at 7 pm, the wrap party will take place immediately following. Tickets are $25 and include the film and party.

Celebrities and filmmakers attending their respective movies will be announced in the coming weeks as will the gala honorees and additional special events. For updates visit www.pbifilmfest.org. Tickets for opening night and closing night must be purchased in advance by calling 561-362-0003. Tickets for the additional movies can be purchased at the individual theatre box offices. Screenings will be at the Muvico Parisian 20 at CityPlace and at Sunrise Cinemas in Mizner Park.

The 11th annual Palm Beach International Film Festival will be held April 20-28 at various venues throughout Palm Beach County. PBIFF is a not for profit 501(3)(c) charity dedicated to improving educational programs in Palm Beach County high schools, community colleges and universities. Proceeds raised each year go to Palm Beach County schools to provide new technologies for optimal learning in the forms of grants and scholarships. For more information, visit www.pbifilmfest.org or call 561.362.0003.


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PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM LINE-UP

Features:

10th & Wolf: World Premiere, written and directed by Bobby Moresco, also written Allan Steele, 2005. Cast: Giovanni Ribisi, Dennis Hopper, James Marsden, Tommy Lee, Val Kilmer, Piper Perabo. Tommy Santuro (James Marsdan) left a life of crime, a world of mistrust, and the memory of a father who killed people for a living. He joined the Marines looking for something new to believe in. That all ended in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm where he was arrested in Kuwait City, facing both a court marshal and ultimatum.

20 Something: Written and directed by Antonio Jeraci, 2005. Cast: Jeremy Goren, Robert Ruvolo, Matthew Anci. Moving the quintessential aspect of life in our twenties as lived through the eyes of an overwhelmed cheating accountant, a womanizing plumber and an entrepreneurial pot-smoking slob.

A-List: Directed by Shira-Lee Shalit, written by Damon Shalit, 2004. Cast: Daphne Zuniga, Sally Kirkland, Renee Taylor, Steve Hart, Peter Dobson. A-List… if you're not on the list you're nobody.

Backseat: Florida Premiere, directed by Bruce Van Dusen , written by Josh Alexander, 2005. Cast: Josh Alexander, Aubrey Dollar, Rob Bogue, Will Janowitz, Mark Rosenthal Backseat is a "coming of age late" story about prolonged adolescence. Two old friends flee New York City on a three-day road trip to Montreal to escape their problems and meet the great Donald Sutherland. Between running drugs and meeting a man who only communicates through instant messaging, they run head-on into the always lingering problem of real life.

Benji Off The Leash: Written and directed by Joe Camp, 2004. Cast: Nick Whitaker, Chris Kendrick. Benji is out to bust the system because some things are just not right. Three unlikely, unsuspecting souls who come face-to-face with that moment in their lives when they must stand and be counted. A band of unlikely comrades, brought together by the least likely of the bunch, for a courageous purpose.

Cross and the Towers, The: Directed by Jon Erwin, 2005. 9/11 - A day that will never be forgotten. "In the midst of devastation, hope will rise."

David & Layla: Written and directed by Jay Jonroy, 2005. Cast: Shiva Rose, David Moscow, Polly Adams, Callie Thorne,Will Janowitz, Alexander Blaise, Ed Chemaly, Anna George, Peter van Wagner. Star-crossed lovers Romeo & Juliet in New York with a twist-spice comedy & politics. A political comedy about the sparks that fly when a Jew and a Muslim fall in love in New York. A spicy cocktail of politics, comedy and romance.

Dirt Nap: Written and directed by D.B. Sweeney, also written by Brian Currie, 2006. Cast: D.B. Sweeney, Paul Hipp, Ed Harris, Moira Kelly, Mark Moses. Three lifelong friends embark on a road trip seeking to understand how their youthful promise has soured into mediocrity

Garage, The: Written and directed by Carl Thibault, 2006. Cast: Gabriel Marantz, Corby Griesenbeck, Tania Raymonde, Marilyn Dodds Frank, Martin Donovan, Robert Knott, Travis Howard, Rusty Kelley, Xander Berkeley. A man reflects on his childhood and working at his dad's garage during the late seventies. Two best friends plan to leave the small town they grew up in but leaving home isn't always that easy.
Heart of the Beholder: Florida Premiere, written and directed by Ken Tipton, 2005. Cast: Sarah Brown, John Dye, Matt Letscher, Jason Wiles, Greg Germann, Michael Dorn, Anne Ramsay, Priscilla Barnes, Tony Todd. Heart of the Beholder is based on the true story of a St. Louis couple who lost their chain of video stores, their family, and almost their lives, fighting a religious group over the removal of the controversial film, The Last Temptation of Christ.

John Russo's The Awakening: US Premiere, directed and written John A. Russo, 2005. Cast: Kevin Kindlan, Moon Zappa, Tom Savini, John Hall, Michael J. Pollard. With a new born thirst for blood and thrown into a modern world full of crime, the reluctant vampire seeks the scourge of society to quench his thirst.

Johnny Montana: East Coast Premiere, written and directed by John Gavin, 2006. Cast: Stan Carp, Lori Prince. Johnny, in his mid-20s, from Brooklyn tries to grow beyond his provincial background in his quest for self-discovery, but falls into a dark underworld that brings everything he thinks he wants.

Keeping up with the Steins: Florida Premiere, directed by Scott Marshall, written by Mark Zakarin, 2006. Cast: Daryl Hannah, Garry Marshall, Doris Roberts, Daryl Sabara, Jeremy Piven and Jami Gertz. The film tells the story of a 13 year-old boy whose Bar Mitzvah becomes the party-to-end-all-parties, a megabash where the bar is more important that the Mitzvah and a Jewish Star means Neil Diamond. Above all, his parents must surpass their rival’s celebration with a circus-size celebration, but when the grandparents roll into town plans are thrown into disarray.

Little Athens: Directed by Tom Zuber, written by Jeff Zuber, 2005. Cast: John Patrick, Jorge Garcia, Shawn Hatosy, Michelle Horn, Tory Kittles, Erica Leerhsen, Rachel Miner, Kenny Morrison, Leonardo Nam, Michael Pena, DJ Qualls, Jill Ritchie, Eric Szmanda.

Love & Suicide: Directed by Lisa France, 84 min, Feature USA, Cuba, 2005. Cast: Kamar los Reyes, Luis Moro, Daisy McCrackin. In a frantic moment before killing himself, Tomas goes to Cuba and discovers the "one thing" between love and suicide; taught by Cuban can driver, Alberto.

Miles from Home: Florida Premiere, directed by Reza Badiyi, written by Michael King, 2005. Cast: Michael H. King, Julie Harris, Ruby Dee. Spencer Krane has returned home 2 years after his grandmother has suffered a stroke. His time spent in this small Florida town with his grandmother and other locals that strikes him at his core and offers up hope for the future.

Naked Ape, The: Written and directed by Daniel Mellitz, 2006. Cast: Josh Wise, Chelse Swain, Sean Shanks, Amanda MacDonald, Tony LaThanh. A dramatic comedy following five teenagers on a road trip through the American Southwest. They learn the deeper truths about friendship and insecurity when they discover one among them doesn't plan on returning home when the trip ends.

Neo Ned: Florida Premiere, directed by Van Fischer, written by Tim Boughn, 2005.
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Gabrielle Union, Sally Kirkland, Ethan Suplee, Cary Elwes. An Aryan brother falls for a black girl he meets in a mental hospital who claims to have the soul of Hitler is trapped inside her.

Rain: World Premiere, directed by Craig DiBona, written by Andrew Neiderman, 2005.
Cast: Faye Dunaway, Robert Loggia, Khandi Alexander (CSI Miami), Giancarlo Esposito (Usual Suspects) and introduces Brooklyn Sudano. RAIN is the story of a musically gifted, loveable young woman, who learns her family secrets under tragic circumstances. They lead her from the vibrant but dangerous inner-city to refuge with wealthy white relatives, who are uneasy with each other and with the child they thought they would never meet. Her struggles and triumphs make Rain an appealing contemporary heroine.

Runaway: Florida Premiere, Directed by Tim McCann, written by Bill True, 2005. Cast: Robin Tunney, Peter Garety, Aaron Stanford, Michael Gaston. Runaway is a dramatic thriller which follows the story of Michael Adler and his younger brother Dylan as they run from a tortured past toward a self-created future.

Self-Medicated, Florida Premiere, written and directed by Monty Lapica, 2005. Cast: Diane Venora, Michael Bowen, Greg Germann. Based on true events. Having recently suffered the death of his father, 17 year-old Andrew Eriksen's inability to cope with the loss catapults him down a path of denial, self-loathing, and emotional entropy. Once a promising young scholar, Andrew finds himself on a drug-addled path to self-destruction.

Third Wish, The: Florida Premiere, directed by Shelley Jensen, written by Jenna Mattison, 2005. Cast: Jenna Mattison, Betty White, Armand Assante, Sean Maquire. Aspiring writer, Maggie Malone, finds a seemingly magical copy of Great Expectations in the book store she works in. The book grants her three wishes, or so Maggie thinks, and leads her through a Cinderella-like transformation that in the end makes her believe in love and the fairytales she writes about.

Turntable: Written and directed by Robert Patton-Spruill, 2005. Russell Jones, Tony Todd, Will Lyman, Lonnie Farmer. Turntable is about DJ Spyder, a lonely, moody DJ hiding out at the local nightclub. What no one knows is that Spyder's brother's are back in town and about to botch a deal their locked up father set up.

Unconscious: World Premiere, directed by Brad Wigor, written by George Williams, 2005. Cast: Adam LeFevre, John Speradakos, Peter Friedman. Six different people all believe an unconscious and unidentified man in a hospital is their missing person.

Unseen, The: Florida Premiere, written and directed by Lisa France, 2005. Cast: Steve Harris, Gale Harold, Phillip Bloch, Catherine Dent, Sherley Caesar. An African-American man returns home and must confront a secret he shares with his former best friend, a white confederate-raised man.

Valentina's Tango: Written and directed by Rogelio Lobato, 2006. Guillermina Quiroga, Jordi Caballero, George Perez. A Tango dancer, Valentina, is sliding into madness while her family and friends try to save her but become swept up by her madness.

You Did What?: Written and directed by Jeff Morris, 2005. Cast: Ed Kerr, Kathy Wagner, AJ Buckley, Kelly Overton, Jason George. When his brother proposes to a girl after knowing her less that 24 hours, marriage phobic Charlie Porter finds himself stuck between a 2 carat rock and a hard place with his long-term girlfriend.

Wingman: World Premiere, written and directed by Patrick Taggert, 2005. Cast: Patrick John Agovino, Paige Rien, Brenda Logan, Ted Davis, Joan Bickel. Come along for the hilarious ride as easy-going A.J. convinces his high-strung buddy Tyler to be his wingman. Sometimes when you expect the worst, you have no choice but to be surprised. But that isn't necessarily a good thing.


International Cinema:

A Barge Called Hope: East Coast Premiere, written and directed by Maroussia Morgan, Russian, 2005. The time of Perestroika and Gorbachev in Russia. The story of two men with broken lives who might have a chance for a new life, find something to hold on to in a time of historic change.

Ba Boydem (In the Attic): Directed by Abner Benaim, Isreal Hebrew, 2005. Cast: Ziv Mitnick, Eldad Yaron, Or Uzrad, Shira Arad. Mushmush, a six-year-old, think his life sucks and nobody loves him. Depressed Mushmush decides to hide from his family in the apartment's attic. Thinking he has run away his family shares beautiful stories and memories about him. He overhears the stories while he is hiding and is delighted, but afraid that if he comes out now they will all be mad at him.

Balkankan: Directed by Darko Mitrevski, Macedonia, Italy, 2005. Cast: Vlado Jovanovski, Adolfo Margiotta, Branko Djuric, Zvezda Angelovska, Seka Sabljic, Two men in a quest for a dead grandmother rolled in a stolen carpet all over the Balkan criminal underworld. Tears and laugh, in one of the most thrilling adventures on the side of the planet: Balkankan!

Bombhunters: Florida Premiere, written and directed by Skye Fitzgerald, 2006. Most people flee them. Some people seek them. Bombhunters: an unsettling look at people who hunt bombs for a living.

Caught in the Crossfire: Directed by Mark Manning, Iraq, 2005. Caught in the Crossfire details the conditions experienced by the civilians of Falluja, Iraq, as they endured the violent clashes and consequences of the American military operation "Phantom Fury". Shot from November 2004 to April 2005 in Falluja, the movie dispels the myths about the true consequences of war and the nature of the "enemy" and puts a human face to the suffering civilians in Iraq.

Dark Room: Directed by Stacy Fish, Canada, 2005. Cast: Chelah Horsdal, Woody Jeffreys, Shawn Bachynski, Melanie Papalia, Charisse Baker. Dark Room is a love story, wrapped in a murder.

Dead Shift: Florida Premiere, directed by Ana Djordjevic, Australia, 2005. Cast: Daniel Green, Kyle Baxter, Gerard Caesar, Evette Henderson. A naïve gas station clerk receives a visit from a zombie in the dead of night. A Romantic Zombie Comedy!

Elephant Cemetery: World Premiere, directed and written by Mehran Vaziri, Documentary USA/Iran, 2005. Elephant Cemetery is an odyssey of love, hope, tragedy and redemption and is a jubilant celebration of life, and tender and intimate study of aging and death.

Five Feelings About Food: Directed by Cornelia Ravenal, and Mikael Soderstein Sweden/USA/France, 2005. Cast: Mimi Oka, Doug Fitch. Food is so essential that we take it for granted. But artists Mimi Oka and Doug Fitch take nothing for granted when it comes to food. Journey into their world as they explore what can be eaten, how it's eaten, and how much eating affects our bodies, senses and minds.

Fool, The: Directed by Billie Mintz, Canada, 2005. Cast: Danny Aiello, Cliff Saunders, Ron Gabriel, Connor Price. An imaginary friend questions his existence when a young boy stops believing in him.

Gold Bracelet, The: Directed, produced and written by Kavi Raz, USA, India, 2005.
Cast: Kavi Raz, Archana Puran Singh, Mehr Hassan, Sonny Mandal, Arsh Singh. Life should be fair, not necessarily favorable… The twin towers of the World Trade Center fall paralleling a dire set of consequences for the Singh family. As the struggle to mend the broken circle of life, hope arises from another circle, The Gold Bracelet. Amidst tragedy... there is always hope.

Great Happiness Space, The: Florida Premiere, directed by Jake Clennell, written by Iris Young, 2006. Osaka's number one host boy takes us on a journey through the complex and heart wrenching world of love for sale in the Japanese underground.

Hombres De Paja: Directed by Joaquin Asencio, Spain, 2005. Written by Antonio Palacios, and Joaquin Asencio. Cast: Agustina Covian, Manolo Solo, Christophe Miraval, Paco Tous, Antonio Dechent. This is the story of a young widow's search for self-redemption and lost love through an investigation of her husband's death.

Iron Island: Written and directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, Iran, 2005. Cast: Ali Nasirian, Hossein Farzi-Zadeh, Neda Pakdaman. The story of a forlorn community living inside an abandoned oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, IRON ISLAND chronicles the lives of a people in transition. When Captain Nemat learns that his ship is beyond repair and slowly sinking, he goes on a mysterious search to sell the vessel and, hopefully, locate a new home for his people.

Kako smo se igrali (The Way We Played): Directed and written by Samir Mehanovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2005. Cast: Almir Mehanovic, Eldar Zubcevic, Jasminko Hodzic. On the eve of the war in Bosnia, two boys go looking for treasure. Oblivious to the encroaching danger, what they discover changes their lives forever.

Karla: Directed by Joel Bender, Canada, 2005. Cast: Laura Prepon, Misha Collins, Tess Harper. Karla is the deeply disturbing true crime story that rocked Canada. A beautiful couple was the perpetrators of unspeakable crimes…and one of them is free now.

Killing Room, The: Directed and written by Alex Kuzelicki, Australia, 2005. Cast: Julian Curtis, Chris Roches, Ric Attard. A Colombian revolutionary must assassinate an idealistic youth for a cause he realizes has been corrupted by everything he is fighting against.

Kosova: Florida Premiere, written and directed by Sunaj Raca. Cast: Sheqerie Buqaj,Rajmonda Bulku, Blerim Destani, Faruk Begolli, Tinka Kurti, Ermela Teli, Bislim Muqa, Meto Jovanovski. Kosova-Desperate Search recounts the after-effects and consequences of the Kosova war on the Albania population. Ethnic cleansing and other examples of barbarism have succeeded in destroying people both mentally and physically.

Ladrones y Mentirosos (Theives and Liars): Directed by Ricardo Mendez Matta, Puerto Rico, 2005. Cast: Steven Bauer, Elpidia Carrillo, Daniel Lugo, Magda Rivera, Lymari Nadal. "Thieves and Liars" is the heartrending story of three Puerto Rican families struggling to stay together in a society overcome by corruption and drugs. Using a parallel structure, the film focuses on the three generations that comprise each family: teenagers, their parents and their grandparents.

Long Distance: Directed by Kazuto Tanaki, Japan. Cast: Akiko Takahashi, Charlie Yutani. Drama between girl of 15 years and man of 58 years. The theme is hoped for.

Mesdames et Messieurs: US Premiere, Directed and written by David Boisclair, Canada, 2005. Cast: Sylvie Moreau. A chic, 1930s cabaret. The atmosphere is cool, but electric. The patrons, dressed to the nines, speak in hushed tones. Champagne corks are ready to pop. Couples meet to the sound of a cappella voices singing of love. The music is sung by adults, but the couples are played by 26 seven-year old children.

Missing Pages: Directed and written by Jerome Oliver, Japan Florida, 2006. Cast: Hatsunori Hasegawa, Shinsuke Kyoh. After developing a time machine, the inventor finds himself enwrapped in a war ignited by his creation.

My Last Confession: Directed and written by David Finley, Canada, 2005. Cast: Maria Del Mar, David Ferry, Graham Kartna. In the late 60s thirteen-year old Danny Riley sits with his mother in a Catholic Church, waiting to go to confession. Danny's flippant manner disguises his apprehension about confessing the most grievous sin of all - impure thoughts and deeds.

Return to Florence: Directed and written by Nick Brandestini, Switzerland, 2005. This documentary takes a humorous look at American and British students during an art education in romantic Florence, Italy.

Rugburn: Directed and written by Trevor Anderson, Canada, 2005. Cast: Andrew Bursey, Farren Timoteo. A young painter works up the courage to contact the collections agency that has been hounding him, and gets embroiled in a more personal confrontation that he bargained for. Rugburn - some things hurt worse than they should. This is the debut short film by Edmunton theatre artist and musician Trevor Anderson.

Sex Slaves: Directed by Ric Esther Bienstock, Documentary, Canada/Ukraine/Turkey, 2005. Sex Slaves is a gripping documentary expose inside the global sex slave trade in women from the former Soviet Bloc. Part cinema verité, part investigation, Sex Slaves puts a human face on this most inhuman of contemporary issues.

Somebody’s Child: The Redemption of Rwanda: Florida Premiere, written and directed by Felicia Middlebrooks, USA/Rwanda, 2005. For those curious about what happened AFTER Hotel Rwanda… this powerful documentary is a must see!

Sita, a Girl from Jambu: Directed written and produced by Kathleen Man, Documentary USA/Nepal, 2005. Cast: Sunita Pakhrin, Sushil Pokharel. Sita, a beautiful young girl who lives in a remote village in Nepal, has fallen in love with Sushil, a rickshaw driver. But when her marriage arrangement falters, she meets a stranger who promises her a new life in the city. Sita is faced with a choice that will change her life forever.

Vagabond Shoes: Directed and written by Jackie Oudney, U.K., 2005. Cast: Iain Glen. A chance occurrence gives Alex, an enigmatic homeless man, the opportunity to enter a high society gathering. There, the layers of his personality and his past are revealed to an unsuspecting audience.

When Silence Sings: Florida Premiere, directed by Irina Goldstein, Documentary, Germany, 2005. Cast: Aljoscha Zimmerman, Sabrina Hausmann, Glora Feidman. When Silence Sings depicts, in a symphony of images, how silent films awaken to new life through music. The film-obsessed composer and pianist, Aljoscha Zimmermann, reveals how his passionate work recreates the cine concert and audiences experience how silent films not only speak, but sing.

Documentaries:

Andrew Jenks, Room 335: Written and directed by Andrew Jenks, 2005. Cast: Andrew Jenks. My name is Andrew Jenks and I am 19 years old. This past summer I moved to Florida and lived in an old age home to learn about the meaning of life. I played bingo, watched Jeopardy, and learned what it's like to lose a friend.

Arthur! A Celebration of Life: Directed by Joseph H. James, Jr., 2005 Cast: Marlene McCoy, Elaine Graham, Terria Joseph, Madison Tyler Ruiz, Joe James
This film takes you through the life of tennis great, humanitarian, activist, the incomparable Arthur Ashe. From his bouts with racism as a child, this fight against apartheid and his battle with AIDS.

Between the Bridges: Florida Premiere, written and directed by Adam Ross, 2006. Change On the Waterfront D.U.M.B.O. (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) Brooklyn, New York. The newest hip NY artists' community struggles against development and gentrification on the Brooklyn waterfront: a microcosm of our post 9/11 world. Emotional, passionate, NY vistas, timeless architecture, and plenty of characters.

Blindsided: Directed by Talia Osteen , 2005. Blindsided' is a feature length documentary about a family torn apart by a lurking hereditary disease that left one son blind and a family struggling to stay together. The film was shot in high definition and naturally exposes the emotional and inspiring true story of how a young boy and his family were able to find their way out of the darkness.

Boys of Summer: Florida Premiere, written and directed by Robert Cochrane, 2005 Cast: Robert Cochrane and Dan Cochrane. A father, with Parkinson Disease, and his son road trip 20,000 miles in two months to see a game at each of the 30 Major League Ballparks. The trip was completely funded through grassroots donations. 100% of the proceeds go to the National Parkinson Foundation.

Class Act: Written and directed by Sara Sackner, also written by Heather Winter and Joe Morley, 2005. Cast: Andy Garcia, Brett Ratner, Jose Behar, Desmond Child, Debra Zane. Known as the teacher to the stars, Jay W. Jensen stars alongside his famous students in this humorous yet revealing look at why the arts are suffering in American schools.

Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon: Florida Premiere, directed by Peter Richardson, 2005. In the rural Oregon logging town of Philomath, every high school graduate has their college tuition paid thanks to the generosity of local lumber baron Rex Clemens. But when a new schools superintendent arrives from Chicago, the administrators of the scholarship become concerned over the increasingly 'liberal' direction of the schools and a conflict begins between the old-time loggers and the 'urban immigrants'.

Cowboys of Florida: Directed by Victor Milt, 2006. Cowboys from Florida? You bet. This movie shows it all; from ranching to rodeos to the threat of rapid development threatening this century old way of life.

Crossover: Florida Premiere, directed by Kern Konwiser, written by Kern Konwiser, Kip Konwiser, Steve Connell, Cast: NBA legends, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, LeBron James, David Robinson, Karl Malone. Since the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, basketball has delivered American music, fashion, lifestyle and all things cool around the world. The film blends spoken poetry, world music and stunning imagery to reveal a unique perspective on how sports can unify humankind. Narrated by hip-hop pioneer Chuck D, executive producers are Magic Johnson and Penny Marshall in association with Nike.

Elwood Carlisle Superstar: Directed by Christian Ackerman, 2005. Cast: Elwood Carlisle, Alan Bryant, Brian Duclos. Elwood is a man that knows what he wants, to become a world famous actor. It only took him 74 years to find that out! Elwood Carlisle Superstar is the journey one man takes in finding it's never too late to find a new beginning!

Fatboy, The Movie: Directed by Michael Landsberg, 2005. One man's mission to lose weight uncovers a feast of facts about the diet industry and America's insatiable appetite for more "drop pounds fast" schemes.

From Philadelphia to the Front: Directed by Marianne Bernstein, 2005. Cast: Dr. Sidney Zubrow, David Altman, Bill Hirsch, Joe Pepper, Milton Dank, Boris Drucker. Six Jewish men from the streets of Philadelphia reminisce about serving their country in World War II, surprisingly not with the same kid of reverence we've grown used to, but with an unstudied perspective on bigotry, fear and honor.

Home: Florida Premiere, directed by Dawn Scibili, written by Alan Cooke, 2005. Cast: Alan Cooke, Woody Allen, Susan Sarandon, Alfred Molina, Rosie Perez, Colin Quinn, Pete Hamill, Fran Lebowitz, Frank McCourt, Malachy McCourt, NYS Attorney General Elliott Spitzer, Elaine Kaufman, Drew Nieporent, David Amram. The feature length film "Home" is a visual poem that juxtaposes the epic of New York City and the singular man.
Journey to Justice: Written and directed by Steve Palackdharry, 2005. Journey to Justice tells the story of Howard Triest, a German Jew who fled Nazi Germany in 1939 when he was 16 years old, returned as an American soldier and then served as an interpreter during the Nuremberg Trial, where he came face-to-face with Nazi leaders. Howard's parents were killed at Auschwitz.

Junior! The Wendy's Guy: Directed by Stephen Stephanian, 2005. Junior is a fast-food cashier who places your #1 combo order like Michelangeleo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He has worked at Wendy's at the University of Texas Student Union since September 4, 1998. Junior! is a collaborative project by students from the College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.

Last Greeks on Broome Street: Directed by Ed Askinazi, 2005. A personal exploration of the filmmaker's heritage doubles as a fascinating glimpse into the little known community of Greek Jews, also known as Romaniotes, with 2,000 years of history and their own language. The Kehila Kedosha Janina on Broome Street is the only remaining Ramaniote synagogue in the Americas.

Last Stop For Paul: Written and directed by Neil Mandt, 2005. Cast: Neil Mandt, Marc Carter, Greg Poppen, Eric Wing, Heather Petrone. Two guys travel around the world in search of answers only to discover the world is full of wacky people and experiences.

Lasting Impressions: Florida Premiere, directed by Lewis Pincus , written by Drew Levinson, Melinda Weinstein, 2005. A powerful documentary about two members of a Jewish community nestled in a small town within the heart of the Christian Bible Belt of the south. Their story tells of how the Jews contributed to these communities, how they fit in, and how they stood out.

Life after Tomorrow: Directed by Julie Stevens, 2005. Life After Tomorrow, a new tomorrow for "Annie" adored by millions… orphaned by Broadway. A story about overcoming the hard knocks of early childhood success on Broadway.

Millions: World Premiere, directed by Paul La Blanc, 2005. Millions is a documentary focusing on how winning the lottery has changed the lives of several different people.

Music is My Life, Politics My Mistress: Florida Premiere, written and directed by Donnie L. Betts, 2005. Cast: Nichelle Nichols, Jean Pace, Studs Terkel, Amiri Baraka, Al Jarreau, Abbey Lincoln. A documentary on the life of Oscar Brown, Jr., an American icon, whose many accomplishments as a musician, writer, playwright, and civil and social activist have the power to change a generation. This film on Mr. Brown will document his tremendous, yet largely recognized contributions to not only the black community, but to our society at large.

Next Stage, The: Written and directed by Leighton Leib, 2005. Cast: Levi Kaplan, Jami Beasely, Carl Campagna, Brad Minus. The Next Stage is the story of The Acorn Theatre Company, a band of misfit dreamers determined to make waves in a sunny sports town.

Olympic Doll, The: World Premiere, written and directed by Giora Gerzon, 2004.Cast: Inge Auerbacher. The Olympic Doll is based on the 1986 international best-selling "I am a Star! Child of the Holocaust", by Inge Auerbacher, who at age 7 survived 4 years in the Nazi concentration camp, Theresienstadt, with her doll Marlene.

Out of Faith: Directed by Lisa Leeman, 2005. A woman's loyalty to her faith and to the memories of her family murdered in the Holocaust threatens to tear her family apart in this intimate examination of the complexities surrounding assimilation and interfaith marriage.

Out of Status: US Premiere, written and directed by Sanjna Singh, also written by Pia Sawhney, 2005. Post 9/11 America, civil liberties are curtailed in the name of national security, and immigrants are separated from their families when laws change quickly, and are enforced selectively. Our project follows four Muslim families affected by the changes.

Pact, The: East Coast Premiere, directed by Andrea Kalin , 2005. The Pact is a powerful, feature-length documentary on the lives of three African-American men from inner-city Newark, New Jersey, who vowed to become doctors and against all odds succeeded. The movie chronicles the three doct