THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ITS SELECTION OF FILMS FOR THIS SUMMER’S FILM EXTRAVAGANZA

NYIIFVF proudly announces its return to its hometown Manhattan for an eight day extravaganza of film screenings, world premieres, industry panels and after-parties, taking place July 19-26, 2007. The festival will showcase over 250 international and domestic features, shorts, documentaries and animations.

Featuring the talents of Oscar winner Meryl Streep; Susan Sarandon; Abel Ferrara (King of New York); Oscar nominee and Tony Award-winner Alan Bennett (The History Boys); influential musician Allen Toussaint; Robert Rusler (The Whole Ten Yards);Brittany Daniel (White Chicks); Ted Lange (Loveboat) and Emmy award-winning filmmaker and retired Firefighter James Hanlon (9/11)

The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF) proudly announces its return to its hometown Manhattan for an eight day extravaganza of film screenings, world premieres, industry panels and after-parties, taking place July 19-26, 2007. The festival, known as "the voice of independent film," will showcase over 200 international and domestic features, shorts, documentaries and animations during its new summertime dates. The festivities kick off with a giant opening night welcome party at Pacha. Film screenings take place exclusively at City Cinemas Village East.

NYIIFVF, passionate about exposing films and documentaries of emerging filmmakers from all over the globe, is “the place to have your projects seen and reviewed by the best of the best,” comments Editor Dave Sardella (Micro Cinema Magazine). “This world-renowned festival can be the launching pad to a successful career for aspiring directors and producers.”

In keeping with NYIIFVF’s unique formula of fourteen years, the festival will unveil a very broad and brave array of films made by passionate independent movie-makers from all over the globe. All genres are covered including world cinema, comedy, romance, drama, thriller, horror, action, world cinema, Bollywood cinema, experimental, animation, mockumentaries, docu-dramas as well as a compelling slate of documentaries on Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana's disappearing coastline, AIDS, 9/11, the history of Heavy Metal and the story of the coffee cooperative in Uganda. Over 40 countries are represented including, The Philippines, Indonesia, Argentina, Ukraine, the U.K, Scotland, China, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Canada, Sweden, South Africa, Israel, India, Romania, Malta, Tunisia, Taiwan, France, Portugal, Brazil, Luxembourg, Mexico and all over the U.S.

NYIIFVF’s founder and executive producer, Stuart Alson commented, "We are very excited about our line-up of films and we look forward to hosting our filmmakers and artists. Our festival continues to celebrate independent filmmaking and we represent a new wave of filmmakers and intend to give them a great opportunity to showcase their talent, possibly win awards and meet members of the film industry as well as giving our loyal New York audiences a chance to see interesting and movies at an affordable price and mingle without the pretentiousness.”

Highlights in this year’s Summer line-up include:

Go Go Tales. Directed by indie film guru Abel Ferrara is a screwball comedy centered on a Manhattan go-go dancing club, where a financial struggle between the owner (Willem Dafoe), his accountant (Bob Hoskins) and his silent partner brother (Matthew Modine) threatens the business's future. Also starring Asia Argento, Sylvia Miles, Roy Dotrice, Bianca Balti (Italian Supermodel, Victoria Secret model), Anita Pallenberg and character actor and artist Burt Young (Rocky Balboa).

Hurricane on the Bayou. Narrated by Meryl Streep, this documentary features famous New Orleans musicians Tab Benoit and Allen Toussaint. Viewers on a breathtaking tour of one of the most vibrant places in America, the Louisiana bayou and the city of New Orleans, a place overflowing with life, love, music and heartbreaking natural beauty. Here, in the region’s bountiful coastal wetlands, alligators, humans and other wildlife have lived in harmony for centuries. Tragically, these wetlands are eroding into the sea at the speed of one acre every thirty minutes, leaving the entire region more vulnerable to major hurricanes. Hurricane on the Bayou offers an emotional portrayal of this environmental calamity and the staggering effects of one of the most devastating natural disasters in American history, Hurricane Katrina.

Washing Away: Losing Louisiana. Featuring an introduction by Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon, Losing Louisiana presents the story of Louisiana's disappearing coastline and how this unfolding crisis affects America. Featuring music from various Louisiana artists.

James Ravilious; A World In Photographs. Narrated by playwright and actor Alan Bennett, this film documents about one of the great unknowns of British Photography. James Ravilious (1939-1999), son of the renowned water-colorist and engraver Eric Ravilious, dedicated his art to a small area of North Devon, where over a period of two decades he took more than 80,000 photographs. This collection has become one of the most comprehensive and poignant archives in the country, documenting an English world and way of life most people had thought long gone. The film returns to key characters photographed by Ravilious, unfolding different aspects of the man and offering a nostalgia-free reflection on how their lives have changed since he began taking pictures in the early 1970’s.

5up 2Down. Struggling with drug addiction in modern-day New York City, an artist and his best friend complete a spiritual journey started 140 years earlier on the Underground Railroad. Kirk Acevedo (Oz, Thin Red Line, Invincible, NBC's The Black Donelleys) and Isaach De Bankole (Miami Vice, Casino Royale, Ghost Dog). Supporting roles include Andre Royo (The Wire), Paz De La Huerta (Cider House Rules), Tia Tejada (Third Watch), Mike Doyle (Oz), Rob Bogue, Erik Jensen and actor and New York nightlife personality Wass Stevens (World Trade Center).

Last of the Romantics. When two people connect through music, it can hold them together forever. Looking for answers to his barren existence, Parker Graves wanders into a funeral and discovers his true love. Starring Brittany Daniel (Basketball Diaries, Joe Dirt, White Chicks, Little Man), Ted Lange (Love Boat).

Pop Whore A New American Dream. Documentary directed by Emmy award-winner James Hanlon (9/11) and produced by Darren Capik. A young wife and mother with no money and options running low decides to start a porn website starring herself in search of fame and fortune. She finances the whole endeavor by escorting the rich and famous. The film follows Tatum Reed AKA ‘Popwhore’ on a 12 month journey with her family pursuing the American Dream but at what cost?

Agenda. Starring Robert Rusler (24, NCIS, The Whole Ten Yards, Weird Science) and Eliana Alexander (Bold and the Beautiful). Suspense/Thriller about three lives drawn together in what appears to be a favorable twist of fate. But, when favor turns to a sordid game of lust, greed and revenge, it becomes apparent that EVERYONE has their own personal agenda… some just deadlier than others.

Little Bruno. When Bruno (Ryan Burgess) begins working for his uncle Nick (Larry Laverty), he seems to leave behind a trail of death. Detective Stevens (Timothy Halpin) is hunting him down.

XXX Marriage is an extraordinary look behind the scenes at adult film star veterans, Wendy Divine and Eric Masterson, their lives in the adult industry and their life as a married couple. Marriage is difficult on the best of days… Listen to Eric and Wendy describe the reality of a seven year marriage combined with two XXX film careers. Directed by award-winning filmmaker and human sexuality expert Mark Schoen, PH.D.

Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal tells the story of bands like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax and other bands pioneered a new form of heavy metal in the early 1980's. This new music was called "thrash metal" and many of the bands went from playing friend's parties and small clubs to headlining arenas. Along the way, there were drugs, drinking, fights, deaths, mosh pits, leather jackets, long hair and most of all - groundbreaking new music. Eventually, the scene fell apart but the seeds these bands planted gave rise to the new breed of extreme heavy metal we see and hear today. Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal features interviews with over 30 bands including old schoolers (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer) and new schoolers (Lamb of God, Hatebreed, Shadows Fall).

Confusion Burning Educational documentary. Lakota Sioux young people on their Dakota reservation find themselves torn and tempted by drugs, alcohol, sex and suicide. Parents and educators are troubled by their complex and dangerous lifestyles.

A confirmed program of events as well as information on additional films, red carpet premieres and talent attending as well as panels and nightly afterparties will be forthcoming. For all interview, feature, review requests, please contact Briege McGarrity at 917 783 4042 or via email at BMcGarrityPR@aol.com. Media credentials can be obtained by faxing a request to 702-361-6309 on company letterhead no later than July 1, 2007. A Press Credential form is also available online in the press room section of www.nyfilmvideo.com

Venues and Tickets City Cinemas Village East, 181 2nd Avenue at 12th street is the exclusive theater for this summer’s New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. Single tickets are priced at $12 can be purchased online at www.nyfilmvideo.com beginning June 19th or at the Village East Box Office beginning July 19th. Package tickets and all access passes will also be available. Keep visiting www.nyfilmvideo.com for festival updates.

Official Sponsors for this year's festival include high end electronics company Sony Vaio, Ready two Go, Final Draft and Independent Film Quarterly.

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ABOUT NYIIFVF: The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival was founded in 1993 by entertainment impresario Stuart Alson and is now recognized as the largest competitive independent film event in the world. Passionate about exposing the films and documentaries of emerging filmmakers from all over the globe, NYIIFVF is a unique platform for emerging and established filmmakers to network and screen their work in the hope of getting exposure and a distribution deal. Past festivals have included the work of Calista Flockhart, Cameron Diaz, Eva Herzigova, Guy Pearce, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Rod Steiger, Sean Lennon, Tippi Hedren, Willem Dafoe and Vin Diesel. Indie guru Abel Ferrara famously quoted in MovieMaker, "This festival is the real deal: Everybody else just talks about doing it, these guys just do it!”