Hampton celebrates 15th in style

The 2007 HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL celebrates its 15th anniversary – a decade and a half of premieres, screenings, programs & events, tucked away amongst the changing leaves and quiet beaches of fall in the East End. The Hamptons is where talent, industry and audiences come together exchanging ideas, experiences and cinema in what has now become one of leading international film festivals of the world. This year’s Hamptons fest runs October 17th through 21st, 2007, in East Hampton, New York with additional venues in Southampton, Sag Harbor and Montauk.

The Hamptons International Film Festival was founded to celebrate independent film and to introduce a unique and varied spectrum of international films and filmmakers to our audiences. The festival is committed to exhibiting films that express fresh voices and differing global perspectives, with the hope that these programs will enlighten audiences, provide invaluable exposure for filmmakers and present inspired entertainment for all.

Josh Koury has returned for his fifth year of programming with the Festival, joined by David Nugent, who comes to us as a special consultant from the Newport International Film Festival. “It is a great privilege to be entering my 5th year as part of the Programming Department at The Hamptons International Film Festival,” says Josh Koury. “I am very proud to carry on the tradition of celebrating the best in both American and International films.

Along with their screening committee, Koury and Nugent have opened the festival arena to some of the most innovative films from around the world - maintaining the international perspective of the Hamptons’ while turning an eye to the world of American independent film. This year’s event features 103 films including - 17 World Premieres, 11 US Premieres, 17 East Coast Premieres and 13 New York Premieres.

“I've been an admirer of the festival for years, and am honored to work on the programming of this year's festival,” states David Nugent. “While we have continued to keep the level of quality of our foreign films very high, we feel that we've matched that caliber of talent in the work of our American filmmakers. From the best of international cinema, to fresh new American voices, we're proud to offer our audiences a wide range of choices this year"

Board Chairman, Stuart Match Suna and Festival Director Gianna Chachere have focused this year on the continued growth of the Hamptons International Film Festival, while paying special attention to the names, faces and films that have created and nurtured this international event.

“As we continue to grow and transform the Festival to accommodate the needs of both our audiences and filmmakers, we happily welcome the return of many of our signature programs that underscore the originality and the importance of the Hamptons International Film Festival,” says Stuart Suna.

The heart of the Hamptons International Film Festival has always been its Golden Starfish Award and the films in the competitions for Best Narrative Feature (over $185,000 in goods and in-kind services), Best Documentary Award ($5,000 in cash) and Short Film Award ($5,000 in cash). The Hamptons International Film Festival also awards the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize in Science and Technology ($25,000 in cash); the Kodak Award for Cinematography ($6,000 of goods and in-kind services); the Brizzolara Family Award for Films of Conflict and Resolution ($5,000 in cash); the Zicherman Family Foundation Award for Screenwriting ($5,000 in cash); Best Undergraduate and Graduate Student Films (eight $1,000 cash awards); and new this year, the Lifetime Movie Network Award for Best Female Student Filmmaker ($5,000 in cash), the woozyfly.com Best Music Award and the ¡Sorpresa! Youth Film Competition (a one-week scholarship to the New York Film Academy).

“We are delighted to be able to present such a wide ranging and high quality program of films and events to the Hamptons community,” says Gianna Chachere. “And in commemorating our 15th year, it is our sincere wish that every screening and event will be a true celebration of what we all love and are here to share: film.”

On Wednesday, October 17th, the Hamptons International Film Festival is proud to open its 15th Anniversary season with the World Premiere of Bob Balaban’s Bernard and Doris (US), written by Hugh Costello and starring Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes, which focuses on the twilight years of tobacco billionairess Doris Duke and her relationship with her gay butler, to whom she left her fortune.

And to close this momentous year, on Sunday the 21st we are honored to screen the music-driven drama August Rush (US), starring Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard and Robin Williams. Written by Nick Castle and James V. Hart, directed by Kirsten Sheridan, the film follows a guitarist (Meyers) and cellist (Russell) who fall in love and have a child, yet circumstances tear them apart before their son is born. Years later, the child (Highmore) uses his musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth. August Rush opens nationally November 21.

Film festivals wouldn’t exist without filmmakers and film people. Among the highlights of the Hamptons experience each year is the amazing amount of talent that participates – as filmmakers, jurors, mentors, educators and honorees – in our programs and special events.