For Immediate Release Contact: Carol O’Sullivan

November 14, 2007 412-681-5449

Pittsburgh Filmmakers Announces

December Programming

(Pittsburgh, PA) – The following descriptions are from Pittsburgh Filmmakers’ Film Exhibition Program for December 2007. The films are screened at the Harris Theater, 809 Liberty Avenue (Downtown), the Melwood Screening Room, 477 Melwood Avenue (in North Oakland) and the Regent Square Theater, 1035 S. Braddock Avenue (in Edgewood). For admission prices and current showtimes call 412-682-4111. All titles and dates are subject to change, due to film availability.

The Harris Theater – 809 Liberty Ave

Nov. 23 – Dec. 6: Finishing the Game

This good-natured spoof satirizes the making of Bruce Lee's final film Game of Death. A martial arts icon and international movie star, Lee died prior to finishing the movie, having only completed 30 minutes of shooting. But studio heads decided to complete the film by launching a search for a look-alike replacement attracting hopefuls from around the world. From the director of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, this comedy also confronts issues of racism and stereotyping of Asian-American actors. (Justin Lin, 2007; USA; 88 min)

Opens Dec 7: Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

As the front man of The Clash from 1977 onwards, Joe Strummer changed people’s lives forever. Four years after his death, his influence continues to reach out around the world. In director Julien Temple’s (The Filth and the Fury) new documentary, Strummer is revealed not just as a legend or a musician, but as a true communicator of our times. Drawing on both a shared punk history and their close personal friendship, Temple’s film is a celebration of Strummer before, during and after The Clash. Includes appearances by Bono, Terry Chimes, John Cusack, Johnny Depp, Topper Headon, Jim Jarmusch, Mick Jones and more. (Julien Temple; Ireland/UK; 2007; 123 min) From Dec. 7 through 9, WYEP members enjoy buy-one-get-one tickets. The 7:30 screening on Dec. 12, sponsored by Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, is followed by a discussion and reception.

Dec. 31: Classic Trailers

Show your First Night badge to get into this free show of favorite movie previews from yesteryear to modern day.

Regent Square Theater – 1035 South Braddock Ave.

Nov. 23 – Dec. 6: My Kid Could Paint That

In the span of only a few months, 4-year-old Marla Olmstead rocketed from total obscurity into international renown – and sold over $300,000 dollars worth of paintings. She was compared to Kandinsky and Pollock, and called “a budding Picasso.” The Today Show and Good Morning America got in a bidding war over an appearance by the bashful toddler. There was talk of corporate sponsorship, with the family fielding calls from The Gap and Crayola. But almost as quickly, skeptics suggested the paintings were really done by an adult. Embattled, the Olmsteads turned to the filmmaker to clear their name. Torn between his own responsibility as a journalist and the family’s desire to see their integrity restored, the director finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into a situation that can’t possibly end well. (Amir Bar-Lev; USA; 2007; 83 min)

Opens Dec. 7- 13: Delirious

“3 1/2 stars” – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This hit from the Three Rivers Film Festival stars Steve Buscemi as a cranky New York paparazzo named Les, who takes a young out-of-work actor (Michael Pitt) under his wing as an unpaid assistant. But it doesn't take long before his young protégé hooks up with a hot starlet named K’Harma and Les is fit to be tied. From the director of Living in Oblivion and The Real Blonde, this is a wonderful meditation on the nature of fame, the people who sell it, those who buy it, and their mutually parasitic dependence on each other. Also stars Alison Lohman, Anne Heche, Callie Thorne, and Gina Gershon. (Tom DiCillo; USA; 2006, 107 min)

Dec. 14 – 16: The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser – new print!

While legendary director Werner Herzog continues his impressive career, his earlier films are worth another viewing. Kaspar Hauser, in particular, seems almost a blood brother to Grizzly Man, and perfectly crystallizes the director’s career-long obsession with nature’s pull. It’s based on a true story about a mysterious man who appears in Nuremberg’s town square (circa 1820) with a note in his hand, unable to communicate in any way. After a stint in a circus sideshow, Hauser is adopted by a local professor and taught to speak, but attempts to integrate him into society do not fare so well. In one of the greatest casting choices in cinema history, Bruno S. (a former mental patient with no acting experience) eerily inhabits the role of Hauser, a wide-eyed man-child experiencing the world for the first time. With subtitles. (Werner Herzog; Germany; 1974; 110 min)

Dec. 17 - 20: It’s A Wonderful Life – FREE EVENT!

Bring your family to see this Christmas classic on the BIG screen! Everyone is familiar with the story of George Bailey, a small town guy with big dreams. George (Jimmy Stewart) has spent most of his life helping others, sometimes at the cost of his own happiness. A guardian angel shows George what life in his hometown would’ve been like if he had never been born. Stewart’s favorite film, it is our present to you. (Frank Capra; USA; 1946; 129 min)

Dec 26 – Jan 1: Children’s Classics Double Feature:

The Red Balloon

This classic has been captivating children and adults since winning an Academy Award and the Palme d’Or in 1956. It tells the story of Pascal as he makes his way to school and befriends a playful and persistent balloon that seems to have a mind of its own. They get inquisitive looks from adults and are the envy of other children, as they wander the streets of Paris enjoying a friendship those around them can only wonder about. (Albert Lamorisse; France; 1956; 34 min)

White Mane

A proud wild stallion named White Mane eludes a group of ranchers determined to capture him and break his spirit. But a determined young boy is able to gain the horse’s trust, and a strong bond develops between the two as they elude their pursuers. Winner of the Prix Jean Vigo in 1953 and the Grand Prix for Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival the same year, White Mane is beloved by generations of children. (Albert Lamorisse; France; 1953; 40 min)

Dec 28 - Jan 3: Eraserhead – new print!

Pulled from circulation years ago by director David Lynch, his feature-film debut is now restored, re-released, and celebrating its 30^th anniversary. This cult favorite is a must-see for anyone who enjoys the director’s highly imaginative, if sometimes disturbing, body of work. Reportedly a reaction to the news that he was about to become a father, Lynch's masterpiece features the trademarks he became known for: haunting visuals, an ethereal score, unsettling sound effects, and most notably, a black sense of humor. Jack Nance plays Henry, a sad sack of a guy who lives in a hopeless industrial landscape, lusting after the beautiful woman who lives across the hall. But when his girlfriend gets pregnant the trouble (and a truly bizarre existence) begins. His only escape comes by way of the radiator. (David Lynch; USA; 1976; 90 min)

Melwood Screening Room – 477 Melwood Ave.

Nov 30 - Dec 6: Lake of Fire

Ever since Roe v. Wade, proponents and opponents have lined up on either side of the issue, launching verbal abuse – and worse – at each other. In recent years the issue has become even more divisive and violent. This controversial documentary presents a range of individuals, from fundamentalist Christians to professors of sociology, philosophy, and bioethics; from hardcore pro-lifers to equally impassioned pro-choice advocates. Director Tony Kaye examines what motivates both sides. It is in the grey areas that we find some of the most interesting commentary, much of which is provided by Noam Chomsky, who intelligently dissects the issue. Shot in black and white, Lake of Fire is somberly beautiful and apt, and hopefully will prompt serious debate. (Tony Kaye; UK; 2006; 152 min)

Dec. 11: Film Kitchen

This is a monthly series of independent film and video from the region. Co-sponsored by City Paper, WYEP-FM, and Pittsburgh Brewing. Reception at 7:00; films at 8:00.

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