Cinequest 1997 Continues To Prove Itself A Festival Not To Miss The Seventh Annual Cinequest, San Jose Film Festival occurs January 30 - February 5, 1997 in San Jose, California, heart of Silicon Valley. This year's festival is privileged in hosting 107 international feature and short films from 26 countries. This year, Cinequest honors one of the true mavericks of modern cinema, Jennifer Jason Leigh. Leigh will attend Friday, January 31st to present Ulu Edel's LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN, one of her personal favorite films of her career. Over the following days, Cinequest will present four other films of Leigh's career; GEORGIA, MRS. PARKER AND THE VISCOUS CIRCLE, RUSH and MIAMI BLUES. Cinequest's Opening Night Event will be host to two feature films and one short film; the Northern California Premiere of Maurizio Nichetti's LUNA E L'ALTRA (recently nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film) and the World Premiere of Lynn Roth's CHANGING HABITS starring Moira Kelly, Eileen Brennan, Christopher Lloyd, Dylan Walsh and Shelley Duvall. Actor Moira Kelly, Director Lynn Roth, and Producer Abra Edelman will be in attendance to present CHANGING HABITS. Screening with CHANGING HABITS is Anne DeSalvo's short film WOMEN WITHOUT IMPLANTS, starring Julie Hagerty, Cathy Moriarty, Kathy Najimy and Anne DeSalvo. Other representatives are TBA. Cinequest's Closing Night Event will also be host to two feature films and one short film; the San Jose Premiere of Rolf de Heer's THE QUIET ROOM from Fine Line Features, the West Coast Premiere of William Wellman Jr.'s homage to his father WILD BILL: HOLLYWOOD MAVERICK and the U.S. Premiere of Paul Seydor's THE WILD BUNCH: AN ALBUM IN MONTAGE. As part of the official selection at Cannes in 1996 THE QUIET ROOM has won rave reviews in numerous festivals, including Toronto and Montreal. Paul Seydor will be present to introduce his documentary THE WILD BUNCH: AN ALBUM IN MONTAGE, a breathtaking documentary on the making of Sam Peckinpah's THE WILD BUNCH. Director William Wellman Jr. and producers will be present to introduce WILD BILL: HOLLYWOOD MAVERICK. Apple Computer will present the first live "webcast" of a film festival on the West Coast at Cinequest '97. Internet users will be able to log on to Cinequest's web page and find out about all of the current festival events as they happen. Using Internet multimedia technology, Apple Computer and Cinequest will broadcast the awards event, interviews with visiting filmmakers, special Gala Events, audience reactions and numerous seminars held throughout the festival. Pictures, sound, videos, and chat areas will allow web users to experience and even participate in festival events, as their questions are fielded for festival guests. Cinequest's URL is: http://www.webcom.com/sjfilm. Cinequest introduces its inaugural Competition Section in 1997, consisting of 20 dramatic narratives, 11 documentaries and 38 short films. Two juries will select the winners of five awards; Best Feature, Best First Feature (sponsored by United Airlines), Best Documentary, Best Short Film and Cinequest's Most Maverick Spirit Award (sponsored by Apple Computer). Cinequest's audience will also continue its tradition by voting for the recipient of the special Audience Favorite Award. Cinequest inaugural jury consists of some of the most prolific writers and filmmakers in the world. For the narrative competition, jury members are: Sheila Benson, one of the world's most influential film critics and supporters of independent vision and one of the authors for Microsoft's Cinemania; Gideon Bachmann, renowned international film journalist and linguist; Barbara Turner, producer/screenwriter/actor and winner of numerous awards, including a Writers Guild nomination, an Emmy nomination, and the prestigious Christopher Award; and Stacy Codikow, film producer for UNDER THE HULA MOON. For the documentary and shorts competition, jury members will be; Lissa Gibbs, esteemed writer, educator, and curator and former Exhibitions Director of the Film Arts Foundation; Dorothy Fadiman, producer/director nominated for Academy Awards for her short films WHEN ABORTION WAS LEGAL and FROM DANGER TO DIGNITY; and Glenn Lovell, former film journalist and film scholar. 20 films make up Cinequest's 1997 narrative competition. Selected from over 500 entries, Cinequest has designed a program which represents not only incredible visions, but also celebrates many varied cultures. Cinequest is proud to present the following films in competition: U.S. PREMIERES: Samuel K. Lee's thriller MUTE (Canada); Romy Goulem's gripping drama THE DRIVE (Canada), by the producers of festival favorite MYTH OF THE MALE ORGASM; Nikolai Volev's tale of retribution and forbidden love THE GOAT HORN (Bulgaria); Thomas Stiller's story of teen angst and violence THE BURNING SNAIL (Germany); John Covert's action-packed WAITING FOR THE MAN (U.S.), touted by Film Threat Magazine as "a superb, hyper-violent crime thriller"; Berit Neisheim's wonderful coming of age comedy THE OTHER SIDE OF SUNDAY, Norway's submission to this year Academy Awards; WEST COAST PREMIERES: David Orr's sibling drama BLOSSOM TIME (U.S.), winner of the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 1996 Florida Film Festival and starring Laurel Holloman of THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO GIRLS IN LOVE; Pierre Boutron's Spanish Civil War drama FIESTA (France), starring Jean-Louis Trintignant of Krysztof Kieslowski's RED; Dorne Pentes' southern comedy THE CLOSEST THING TO HEAVEN (U.S.); Ildiko Szabo's dark comedy BITCHES (Hungary); BAY AREA PREMIERES: Thomas Tanner's adolescent journey BLUE MOUNTAIN (The Netherlands); Rami Na'aman's comedy THE FLYING CAMEL (Israel); Douglas J. Eboch's college comedy PARTY AT SAM'S (U.S.); Phil Comeau's sensual period piece JEROME'S SECRET (Canada); Christine Eymeric's story of childhood discovery BABA'S JOURNEY (Senegal); Chris Hart's urban drama TIMELESS (U.S.); D.W. Harper's black comedy THE DELICATE ART OF THE RIFLE (U.S.); Gerard Lee's quirky comedy, ALL MEN ARE LIARS (Australia) (Gerard Lee, co-wrote, with Jane Campion, the feature film SWEETIE); SAN JOSE PREMIERES: Ari Folman and Ori Sivan's SAINT CLARA, Israel's submission to this year's Academy Awards, which has attained critical acclaim and prestigious awards from numerous festivals; Chris Newby's latest masterpiece MADAGASCAR SKIN, starring John Hannah of FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL. 11 films are represented in Cinequest's documentary competition: U.S. PREMIERE: Larry Locke's PIN GODS, a hip, quirky and definitely different take on the American Dream through the life of pro-bowlers; WEST COAST PREMIERES; William A. Wellman Jr.'s homage to his father WILD BILL: HOLLYWOOD MAVERICK, winner Best Documentary, 1996 National Board of Review, New York; Ellen Spiro's ROAM SWEET HOME; Michael Uys' and Lexy Lovell's RIDING THE RAILS, recounting the days where teenagers, whose lives were shaken by the Great Depression, took to "train-hopping"; Danae Elon's visually compelling NEVER, AGAIN, FOREVER, a testimony of the evolution of the Jewish Defense League; Joshua Seftel's TAKING ON THE KENNEDYS, watching one man's struggle to win Rhode Island's vote over his more popular opponent, Patrick Kennedy ; BAY AREA PREMIERES: Jim Chambers' LOST IN MISSISSIPPI, a powerful and provocative look at African-American death row inmates in the south and the surrounding oppressive culture; Mark Nalley's STAND TALL, about the amazing return of bodybuilder/actor Lou Ferrigno; Paul Alexander Juutilainen's HERBERT'S HIPPOPOTAMUS, exploring the turbulent life of German-born philosopher, Herbert Marcuse; SAN JOSE PREMIERES: Steven Bognar's PERSONAL BELONGINGS (winner of the Audience Award at the 1996 Atlanta Film and Video Festival), Madeleine Ali's BLACK TO THE PROMISED LAND, depicting the culture clash which occurs when Brooklyn teens spend a semester in an Israeli kibbutz. 38 films are represented in Cinequest's short film competition: Kaz Cooke's GORGEOUS; Anne DeSalvo's WOMEN WITHOUT IMPLANTS; Joshua Porter's THE RIDE; Kathryn Pickford's WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS....THE ELEANOR AFFAIR; Francine McDougall's PIG; Jonathan O'Bierne's BANANAS IN BEDLAM; Didier Fontan's EN GARDE, MONSIEUR; John R. Dilworth's Academy Award-Nominated THE CHICKEN FROM OUTER SPACE; Don M. Gaile's BABYFACE; Michael Clancy's EMILY'S LAST DATE; Rick Hays' MARRIAGE A LA MODE; Peter Burstin's RENDEZ-VOUS; David McLennan's KISMET; Mark Dominicus' 4 TOKENS II; Erik Jambor's GAMALOST; William Azaroff's CHECK-MATING; Roslyn Schwarz' I'M YOUR MAN...; Veit Helmer's award-winning SURPRISE!; Marcus Han's BURNING BRIDGES; Britta Sjogren's A SMALL DOMAIN (Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Subject at 1996 Sundance Film Festival); Mark Ward's CLINIC E; Joelle Ehre's MEETING DARIA; Benjamin Hershleder's PAUL McCALL; Margret Run's LAURA OF ALBANIA; David Munro's FIRST LOVE, SECOND PLANET; Ted Crittenden's BANZAI BOYS; Michael Gibson's SACRAMENT; James Frisa's OUT OF SYNC; Simon Pummell's ROSE RED; Stephen Brown's THE CURIOUS; Tjebbo Penning's THE BITCH IS BACK; Mary Engel's RUTH ORKIN: FRAMES OF LIFE; Frederick Rendina's UTOPIA; Carey Schonegevel's HEARTSPACE; Chris Williams' WALK THIS WAY; Ram Prasad Devinevi's COLOURS OF THE SUN; William Lebeda's THE SHARK'S FIN OR HOW MAN AND WOMAN CAME TO LIVE ON LAND; Bobby Mardis' CIRCLE OF PAIN. Cinequest's Annual World Cinema Celebration is a celebration and centerpiece for the festival's Latino Film Celebration and Asian Film Showcase. Cinequest once again continues its celebrated Latino Film Celebration, and is proud to present 12 outstanding Latino films for this year's festival. Fresh off its selection in the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, Cinequest will present the West Coast Premiere of Daniel Gruener's taut thriller SOBRENATURAL (Mexico), a big hit at the 1996 Toronto International Film Festival. Cinequest is honored to present the Bay Area Premiere of Julio Medem's richly layered Spanish drama, TIERRA, the story of one man's struggle with the two halves of his soul (one half man; one half angel) and the two women he loves. Out of Portugal comes the Bay Area Premiere of Joaquim Leitao's ADAM AND EVE starring Maria de Medeiros (HENRY AND JUNE, PULP FICTION) and Joaquim de Almeida's (GOOD MORNING, BABYLONIA, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER). Further films in the series include: the World Premiere of Daniele LaCourse and Yvan Patry's political documentary DENIAL (El Salvador), Juan Francisco Urrusti's religious pilgrimage in A LONG JOURNEY TO GUADALUPE (Mexico), Patricia Diaz-Romo's HUICHOLES AND PESTICIDES (Mexico), Alex Munoz' family drama POR VIDA (U.S.), Jose Luis Valenzuela's HOW ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW I AM STILL ALIVE? (U.S.), Andrea Seligmann's SAO PAULO SOUTH BORDER (Brazil), Antonio Urrutia's DE TRIPAS, CORAZON (Mexico), Jeffrey Vargas' BRANDENBURG (U.S.), and Belita Moreno's SANGRE (U.S.), the tale of a young boy's attempt to bridge the generation gap between him and his grandfather, starring Holly Hunter and John Lithgow. Cinequest's Asian Film Showcase includes 6 films: the U.S. Premiere of Ho Quang Minh's GONE, GONE, FOREVER GONE (Vietnam), a Buddhist war film and Vietnam's submission to this year's Academy Awards; the West Coast Premiere of Higashi Yoichi's beautifully told story of mischievous twins and their childhood in the VILLAGE OF DREAMS (Japan), winner of the Silver Bear Award at the 1996 Berlin Film Festival; U.S. Premiere of SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME (Hong Kong), Patrick Leung Pak-Kin's action-packed boxing film; U.S. Premiere of Carlos Siguion-Reyna's fourth film, ELENA'S REDEMPTION (Philippines); Bay Area Premiere of Lee Min-Yong's A HOT ROOF (Korea), about a group of women who stand up to male domination (winner of numerous prizes in its native country), Bay Area Premiere of Vijay Singh's moving love story JAYA GANGA (India), based on his own best-selling book. Cinequest's ever-popular After Hours Series continues this year with its screening of 9 films sure to achieve some cult status. First off is the World Premiere of James G. Duddelson's re-telling of Edgar Allen Poe's MORELLA (U.S.), starring Angela Jones of PULP FICTION and the critically-acclaimed CURDLED; World Premiere of Jenni Olson and Bruce Knapper's AFRO PROMO (U.S.), a compilation of Hollywood trailers depicting African-American representation in cinema over the last 50 years; U.S. Premiere of Jorn Faurschou's BODY SWITCH (Denmark), a dramatic twist on the Frankenstein story where a scientist's scheme to trade his dying body for that of a younger proves to be his undoing; West Coast Premiere of Rainer Matsutani's zany OVER MY DEAD BODY (Germany), starring Katja Riemann (TALK OF THE TOWN) and a talking turkey; the San Jose Premiere of Ng Min Kan's DEADLY MELODY (China), a sort of Marx Brothers meets John Woo action-packed spoof of Hong-Kong Martial Arts films starring three-time Chinese Academy Award-Winning actress Ling Ching Hsia; Bay Area Premiere of WORLD'S BEST COMMERCIALS (International), voted by 23 judges at the Cannes Film Festival; SHORT FILMS: Walter Feistle's THE HUMAN BOMB (Germany), a big hit at the 1996 Montreal World Film Festival; Marc Cavello's I'M A CAT MAN (U.S.); and Scott Felixson's HELIUM HEAD (U.S.), some clowns, some balloons, some kids and American icon Dick Cavett (That's right! THE Dick Cavett!) addicted to helium. Cinequest '97 presents its Second Annual Local Spotlight film series. This year's series includes 9 features and shorts from around the Bay Area: World Premiere of Karen Watson's revealing look at artist/educator Mary Holmes, MARY PARADOX AND GRACE; World Premiere of Mackinlay Polhemus' romantic comedy A SCOTTISH TALE; Northern California Premiere of Julian Stone's incredible comedy FOLLOW THE BITCH (Winner Audience Award at the 1996 Palm Springs International Film Festival), which Julian Stone and producers will be present to attend; SHORT FILMS: Daniel Mellitz' LA FEMME PICKLE (Winner of the San Jose Visual Arts Film and Video Festival); Gail Huddleson's CAT CALLS, WOLF WHISTLES AND OTHER ORDINARY DANGERS; Charlotte Lagarde's SWELL; Jan Krawitz' IN HARM'S WAY; Reginald A. Hudson's KINETIC LIFE; Fabienne Rousso-Lenoir's ZAHOR. Filmmakers and actors scheduled to attend include: Jennifer Jason Leigh (TRIBUTE); Moira Kelly, Lynn Roth, Abra Edelman (CHANGING HABITS); Paul Seydor (THE WILD BUNCH: AN ALBUM IN MONTAGE); William Wellman, Jr. Todd Robinson, Ken Carlson (WILD BILL: HOLLYWOOD MAVERICK); Berit Nesheim (THE OTHER SIDE OF SUNDAY); Larry Locke (PIN GODS); Julian Stone (FOLLOW THE BITCH); Madeleine Ali (BLACK TO THE PROMISED LAND); Vijay Singh (JAYA GANGA); Ho Quang Minh (GONE, GONE, FOREVER GONE); John Covert (WAITING FOR THE MAN); David Booth (STAND TALL); John Harriman, Daniel Gately, (WAITING FOR THE MAN); Phil Comeau (JEROME'S SECRET); Romy Goulem (THE DRIVE); Jenni Olson, Bruce Knapper (AFRO PROMO). Cinequest, San Jose Film Festival also announces its first annual HIGH TECHNOLOGY IN FILM AWARDS. Cinequest continues its ongoing efforts to explore the relationship between filmmaking and high technology; to bring together cinema and high technology visionaries, to acknowledge the fundamental role high technology is playing in filmmaking, to recognize key contributors in the world of high technology and film, and to inform and educate our audience. Inaugural members of this new High-Tech Board include such notables as Apple Computer Vice President Carlos Montalvo; BE Inc. CEO and former Apple Computer executive Jean Louis Gassee; Richard Chuang of Pacific Data Images (computer effects wizards for film and television); Barry Weinman of the venture capital firm AVI; and Mark Bunzel of Price Waterhouse. The High-Tech Board will develop ways to recognize technological achievement in independent maverick filmmaking and engineering. Additionally, during Cinequest, San Jose Film Festival VII, Apple Computer will produce, for the first time on the West Coast, live broadcast events via an Internet "webcast". Using Internet multimedia technology, Apple Computer and Cinequest will broadcast the awards event, interviews with visiting filmmakers, and numerous seminars held throughout the festival. This allows World Wide Web users to see, hear, and experience events as they happen. Pictures, sound, videos, and chat areas will allow web users to experience and even participate in festival events. For further questions, Cinequest, San Jose Film Festival can be reached at Tel: (408)995-5033 / Fax: (408)995-5713 / E-Mail: [log in to unmask] / WWW URL: http://www.webcom.com/sjfilm. ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]