Feel Good Festival Highlights

THE FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO EGYPTIAN THEATRE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 THROUGH SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2009 ROCK SLYDE ANNOUNCED AS OPENING NIGHT GALA PRESENTATION FULL FESTIVAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED ED ASNER WILL BE SUBJECT OF TRIBUTE LOS ANGELES, CA July 17, 2009 - The 2009 Feel Good Film Festival (FGFF) announces it will return to the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9. The three-day event once again will feature films aimed at both adult and family audiences that highlight positive themes, happy endings, make audiences laugh, and capture the beauty of our world.

The Opening Night Gala presentation of Chris Dowlings ROCK SLYDE will kick start a program that will feature 60 films, including 16 features, 34 shorts, and 10 student films as well as 2 webisodes. Along with the films offered throughout the festival, additional activities will include the film festivals signature yellow carpet entrances (in honor of FGFFs sunflower logo), live musical performances in the Egyptian Theatre courtyard presented by Audiorents, an original screenplay competition, an original song competition, a panel discussion, and a Closing Night Awards Gala, hosted by Brian Krause (Charmed) highlighted by a Tribute to film and television legend, Ed Asner.

ROCK SLYDE will screen as the Opening Night Gala feature film presentation on Friday, August 7. Written and directed by Chris Dowling, the film stars Patrick Warburton as an eccentric private detective balancing an office building turf war with a religious cult leader played by Andy Dick and a bizarre case involving a mysterious and beautiful woman (Rena Sofer). The film also stars Elaine Hendrix, with a number of cameo appearances including Jason Alexander, Eric Roberts, Lea Thompson and Tom Bergeron. The screening will mark the films Los Angeles Premiere with Warburton, Dick and Alexander all confirmed to attend and participate with the director, Dowling in a Q&A at the conclusion of the screening.

Also screening as part of the Opening Night Gala will be the short films FURTISSIMO, directed by Jacob Cementina, and TRUE BEAUTY THIS NIGHT, written and directed by Peter Besson.

Dowling expressed his happiness that ROCK SLYDE will enjoy its L.A. premiere as the FGFF Opening Night Gala, saying Our cast and crew are thrilled to be having ourWest Coast premiere at the opening night of the Feel Good Film Festival. We feel the FGFF represents an aspect of independent filmmaking that is largely forgotten - having fun and making people laugh. We look forward to screening at the historic Egyptian theatre, walking the yellow carpet and having some fun.

In addition to the Closing Night Tribute honoring Ed Asner, the Gala ceremonies will include the presentation of filmmaker awards. The awards will include prizes with a total value of $7750 ($3000 in goods and services from SLX Rentals and Sales, $3000 in goods and services from Hollywood Rentals, $1500 in film stock from Fuji Film, and a copy of Final Draft Version 8) for the winner of the Best Feel Good Feature Length Film and $3750 ($1500 in goods and services from SLX Rentals and Sales, $1000 in goods and services from Hollywood Rentals, $1000 in film stock from Fuji Film, and a copy of Final Draft Version 8) for the winner of the Best Feel Good Short Film.

In addition, prizes that total $1250 ($1000 in goods and services from Hollywood Rentals and a copy of Final Draft Version 8) will be given to the Audience Award winner for Best Feel Good Feature Film, and $250 (a copy of Final Draft Version 8) will go to the Audience Award for Best Feel Good Short Film.

The Panther Award for Best Cinematography brings with it $3000 in goods and services from SLX Rentals and Sales, the Best Feel Good Screenplay takes a prize worth $1000 (an InkTip online membership, a copy of Final Draft Version 8 and a $500 unrestricted cash prize from the Feel Good Film Festival), Best Original Song receives $500 in unrestricted cash from the Feel Good Film Festival), and the winner of the Feel Good Student Film category will enjoy $800 in goods and services from SLX Rentals and Sales as well as a one week complimentary tuition package at the New York Film Academy.

This year will also mark the addition of an award presented to the brand new Feel Good Webisode category,as well as honors to be announced for Best Art Direction, Best Directing, Best Actress and Best Actor.

Regarding the announcement of FGFFs second year, Festival Founder and Co-Director Kristen Ridgway says, The second year of the film festival promises to build on the success and fun all of us enjoyed as we launched FGFF last year. As much as we (obviously) had hoped to have a successful film festival, we were all blown away by the overwhelming turnout and response by the filmmakers and fans alike to our happy counter-programming. And ROCK SLYDE, with priceless performances by both Patrick Warburton and Andy Dick, could not be a better choice to start the festival with a bang and a lot of laughs.

FGFF Co-Director America Young agreed and emphasized the addition of the webisodes section as well as a new After Hours: Feel Good Enlightened double feature on Friday night as evidence of the growth of the programming this year saying, Using the concept of feel good films or entertainment as a leaping off point, rather than a constraint has been a central focus in our second year. Were excited by the opportunity to not simply entertain, but to also explore and expand the definition with our audiences.

FGFF will also screen the winning entry of an online competition co-sponsored by the festival on Indieflix.com. That film will be chosen from a lineup including Marc Haveners AND WHAT REMAINS, Marin Rosetes BASKET BRONX, Patrick Taggarts CHARLIE APPLEBEE, Jeremy Provosts DAYS OF BEING WRINKLE FREE, Maurice Moores THE SAVIOR, Matt Sklars STAYING GOLD: LOVE, SEX AND HAPPINESS IN OUR GOLDEN YEARS, and Conor Britains YOU WIN SOME YOU LOSE SOME.

The Feel Good Film Festival lineup will represent nine countries, including the U.S, U.K., Thailand, Australia, Singapore, South Africa, Ireland, Netherlands and Canada.

Festival passes and tickets are available for purchase on fgff.org.

The Feel Good Film Festivals films are as follows:

 

FEATURE LENGTH FILMS (in alphabetical order):

ALWAYS WILL (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Michael Sammaciccia

Cast: Andrew Baglini, Noelle Meixell, Mark Schroeder BITTER/SWEET (Thailand/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Jeff Hare

Cast: Kip Pardue, James Brolin, Laura Sorenson, Napakpapha Nakprasitte THE BROTHERS WARNER (USA/documentary)

Dir: Cass Warner

Subjects: Debbie Reynolds, Denis Hopper, Angie Dickinson DANCE OF THE DRAGON (Singapore/narrative)

Dir: Max Mannix, John Radel

Cast: Hyuk Jang, Fann Wong, Jason Scott Lee FINDING LENNY (South Africa/narrative)

Dir: Neal Sundstrom

Cast: Barry Hilton, Russel Savadier

FRIENDS FOR LIFE (USA/narrative)

Dir: Michael Spence

Cast: Michael Flynn, Jimmy Chunga, Tayva Patch JESUS PEOPLE (USA/narrative)

Dir: Jason Naumann

Cast: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Laura Silverman, Mindy Sterling, Tim Bagley, Jennifer Elise Cox LILY (USA/narrative)

Dir: Hiroshi Nakajima

Cast: Josh Long, Renevva Jensen, John Bolen LOVE SIMPLE (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Mark von Sternberg

Cast: Francisco Solorzano, Patrizia Hernandez PAPER OR PLASTIC (USA/documentary)

Dir: Alex D. da Silva, Justine Jacob

ROCK SLYDE (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Chris Dowling

Cast: Patrick Warburton, Andy Dick, Rena Sofer, Elaine Hendrix, Jamie Alexander, Jason Alexander, Eric Roberts, Tom Bergeron, Lea Thompson SHOOTING BEAUTY (USA/documentary)

Dir: George Kachadorian

SOMETHING UNKNOWN (Netherlands/documentary)

Dir: Renee Scheltema

SUMMERHOOD (Canada/narrative)

Dir: Jacob Madjuck, Tony Dean Smith

Cast: Jacob Medjuck, Raquel Alessi, Joe Fleherty, (narration by) John Cusack UNIVERSAL SIGNS (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Ann Calamia

Cast: Anthony Natale, Sabrina Lloyd, Lupe Ontiveros, Margot Kidder, Robert Picardo

2012 WERE ALREADY IN IT (UK & USA/documentary)

Dir: Patty Greer

SHORT FILMS (in alphabetical order):

A SUMMER RAIN (USA/narrative)

Dir: Ela Thier

BE GOOD (UK/narrative)

Dir: Barney Cokeliss

BILLY (Australia/narrative)

Dir: Matthew Graham

BILLY & THE HURRICANE (USA/narrative)

Dir: Rocky Benoit

CHARLIE THISTLE (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Bragi Schut

CRAVINGS (USA/narrative)

Dir: Jane Sablow

DANDELION DHARMA (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Veronica DiPippo

DANZAK (USA/narrative)

Dir: Gabiel Yepes

DUCK LOVES TESCACOIL (USA/narrative)

Dir: Tyler J. Kupferer

FURTISSIMO (USA/narrative)

Dir: Jacob Cementina

GRANDE DRIP (USA/narrative)

Dir: Angelo Restaino

HIS GOOD WILL (Canada & USA/narrative)

Dir: Cayman Grant

ICE CREAM (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Dawn Asher, Alex Beh

KATE WAKES (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Jasmine Kosovic

LAUGHTER(RX): NO HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS (USA/narrative)

Dir: Chelsey DArrigo, Brandi Kosloy, Nani Dickinson, Charlie Vaughn THE LAUNDRY (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Alex Beh

THE LITTLE CEO (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Sari Karplus

LUCY A PERIOD PIECE (USA/narrative)

Dir: Julie Sagalowsky

MAN WITH A GUITAR (USA/narrative)

Dir: Ryan Falkner

MUGGING (USA/narrative)

Dir: Jason Benesh

RIMSHOT (USA/narrative)

Dir: Kirk Diedrich

THE ROMANTIC FOIBLES (USA/narrative)

Dir: Canyon Prince

SCENIC ROUTE (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Jonathan Fredrick

SILENT TREATMENT (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Jonathan Rothell

SLICE OF PIE (USA/narrative)

Dir: Tim Reischauer

SWEETENER (USA/narrative)

Dir: Paul Preston

TAH DAH (Canada/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Stacey Chomiak

THATS MAGIC! (USA/narrative)

Dir: Brandon McCormick

TRUE BEAUTY THIS NIGHT (USA/narrative)

Dir: Peter Besson

WEATHERED (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Matt Barber, Matt Webb

WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON (Ireland/narrative)

Dir: Declan Cassidy

WHEN I GROW UP (USA/narrative)

Dir: Michelle Meeker

WHOSE DOG IS IT ANYWAY? (USA/narrative)

Dir/Scr: Cindy Chupack

STUDENT FILMS (in alphabetical order):

FOR ALL MANKIND

Dir: Dan Clifton

GRACE

Dir/Scr: Natalie Williams

HAPPY MANS PANTS

Dir: Kunal Savkur

LOVE LESSONS FOR MILES

Dir/Scr: Matthew Morgenthaler

THE MASTERSONS

Dir: Dana Jones

OVER THE FARM

Dir: Zander Hartung

PRETTY UGLY

Dir: Abbey Paccia

STRIKE (Australia)

Dir: Jenna Dunkley

THE WORLD WITHIN UPS AND DOWNS

Dir: Jason Gerber

WOW! WHAT A GREAT QUESTION

Dir/Scr: Wesley Ruby

WEBISODES (in alphabetical order):

CATHERINE AND ANNIE

Dir: America Young

PINK EYE

Dir: Brinton Bryan

SCREENPLAY COMPETITION (in alphabetical order):

CRAYON NETWORK

Writer: Debrah Neal

GODSPEED

Writer: Travis Mann, David White, Michael Toay LA JAPONAISE (CHRISTMAS CAKE)

Writer: Karen Webb

NIGHTINGALE

Writer: Andrew Arneson

9 GREYHOUNDS

Writer: Miguel Rionda

PONYTAIL

Writer: Jason Ginsburg

ORIGINAL SONG COMPETITION (in alphabetical order):

Chris and Steve

Music & Lyrics: Freddy & Francine

Dandelion Dharma

Music & Lyrics: Marc Aramian, James Geralden, Veronica DiPeppo Groupidity Music & Lyrics: Merykid Lucky Loser Music & Lyrics: Stephen Hampar Planetarium Music & Lyrics: Stephanie Batailler, Skyebat Potluck Music & Lyrics: Land of Deborah The Way to Dance Music & Lyrics: Matt Daniels Youre Not Listening Music & Lyrics: Rob Giles Mirror Music & Lyrics: Zoe Myers About The Feel Good Film Festival The Feel Good Film Festival celebrates films and the filmmakers and creative artists that create entertainment with positive themes, happy endings, that make audiences laugh, and that captures the beauty of our world. FGFF will encourage the development, production, and distribution of films that share those characteristics as it offers a yearly touchstone for the viewing and enjoyment of those films.

Sponsors

SLX Rentals and Sales, Panther Dollies & Cranes, Audiorents, Hollywood Rentals, Blue Angel Ultra Premium Vodka, Chakra Indian Cuisine, AudioRents, New York Film Academy, Final Draft Version 8, Fuji Film, IndieFlix.com, Law Offices of John Nelson, InkTip.com, Hollywood Flowers