For Immediate Release Contact: Carol O’Sullivan

October 6, 2009 412-681-5449

Pittsburgh Filmmakers Announces Special Events for 2009 Three Rivers Film Festival

(Pittsburgh, PA) – The 2009 Three Rivers Film Festival, presented by Pittsburgh Filmmakers and Dollar Bank, runs November 6 - 21. Now in its 28^th year, the festival is one of the most eagerly awaited events in Pittsburgh, featuring independent American cinema, the hottest new documentaries and critically acclaimed international films. There are visiting filmmakers, informal discussions, a symposium, live music, parties and more. The venues are the Harris Theater, the Melwood Screening Room, and the Regent Square Theater.

On Opening Night, November 6, three films will premiere at three separate locations, with a party to follow at Pittsburgh Filmmakers’ Oakland location. At The Harris Theater is Precious, already earning awards and Oscar buzz. Based on the best-selling novel, Push, it’s a vibrant, raw and resoundingly hopeful film about the human capacity to grow and overcome adversity.

The Regent Square Theater offers a sneak of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, an adventure tale of good vs. evil with spectacular special effects from director Terry Gilliam. It features Heath Ledger’s last, unfinished role, as well as an all-star cast. Set in present day London, this morality tale tells the story of a sideshow magician who pulls audience members onstage then sends them through a magic mirror into another world.

The Melwood Screening Room hosts the premiere of a Pittsburgh-made comedy, If It Ain’t Broke Break It, directed by Dr. Ravi Godse. It features several local actors, including Adrienne Wehr, Patrick Jordan and Dave Petti, as well as celebrities from stage, screen, and TV: Steve Guttenburg, Rondell Sheridan, Richard Kind, Bill Nunn, and Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan. It’s the 3^rd indie feature (I’m a Schizophrenic and So Am I, Dr. Ravi and Mr. Hyde) from this physician/filmmaker. The premise of the farce-with-a-message is that when Ravi (who always plays himself) is told he has six months to live, he decides to improve the lives of six friends. But of course, plans go awry. 

The Opening Night Party will be held again this year at 477 Melwood Ave, beginning at 9:00 pm. Filmmakers Galleries will open with zoo of (in)animate by international installation artist, Makiko Miyamoto. Opening Night tickets are $15 and include choice of opening night film, the party with food and drinks, the local band Donora, and late-night dancing with DJ Edgar Um.

On Friday, November 13, the second annual Three Rivers Film Symposium takes place at Filmmakers’ Oakland location. “Is Film Dead?” is this year’s topic and will focus on the changing ways moving pictures are made and displayed. Film’s demise has been predicted for decades, with video advancing in picture quality, sound, portability, and affordability. Will high-definition (HD) finally eclipse film? Those attending will gain an appreciation for the tools used in making motion picture art. Anyone who has been to a movie theater, watched TV, or viewed video on the Web has something to contribute to these open discussions. For more information contact Will at: 412-681-5449, ext. 219, or zavala@pghfilmmakers.org

The Steeltown Entertainment Project will launch the Steeltown Film Factory on November 7th in conjunction with the Three Rivers Film Festival. The Film Factory invites students and aspiring artists (16- years-old and older) to compete in a one-year long filmmaking competition. During the competition, the most promising screenplays will be nurtured and developed through open-to-the-public writing workshops, staged readings, panel discussions, and networking events. In May 2010, the Film Factory will announce the competition’s finalists, help produce their screenplay, and premiere their film at the 2010 Three Rivers Film Festival. Steeltown also hosts a brunch in the galleries at 477 Melwood Avenue on Saturday, Nov. 7, 10:30 am -12:30 pm. For details call Kahmeela at: 412-681-5449 x210; or visit www.steeltownfilmfactory.org

The Film Festival concludes on Saturday, November 21. Boston’s Alloy Orchestra is back in town with a restored print of the landmark 1929 film, Man With a Movie Camera. This powerful Soviet experimental documentary is enhanced by Alloy’s live music – a stirring combination of found percussion and state of the art electronic synthesizers. For years they’ve captivated Pittsburgh audiences performing with Blackmail, Phantom of the Opera and other silent classics.

The complete schedule goes online at www.3RFF after October 15. This year’s festival art – soon to be seen on sides of buses, flyers, posters, and programs – was created by Pittsburgh agency Brunner.

How to get tickets:

Opening* and Closing Night Tickets are $15. They go on sale October 20, at 10:00 am. They can be purchased by phone at ProArts (412-394-3353), online at www.proartstickets.org, or in person at the front desk at Pittsburgh Filmmakers offices.

Symposium Tickets are $30; $15 for students and PF/PCA members. Call Will Zavala at: 412-681-5449 ext. 219.

The Six-Pack Pass is $40 (six admissions plus a T-shirt). These are on sale now online at proartstickets.org, at all three theaters, and at the front desk at Filmmakers. They are also available at all Crazy Mocha locations, where you get a free coffee with the purchase of a pass.

A Silver Screenie Pass is $125 and on sale now. This pass is good for all films and special events. These passes are available online at www.proartstickets.org, by calling Pro Arts (412-394-3353), at all three theaters, or at the front desk at Filmmakers.

Single Tickets are $8.

These can be purchased in advance online at www.proartstickets.org. And as always, single tickets are sold at the theaters one half-hour before showtime.

*In addition, from 5:30 - 7:00 on Nov. 6, a special pre-fest cocktail party takes place at Concept Art Gallery, next to Regent Square Theater, with local actors from opening night films. Tickets are $75; to order call Laura at 412-681-5449, ext. 206.

Please note: There is a small service fee for using ProArts. No phone orders are being taken at Pittsburgh Filmmakers offices, but passes and special event tickets can be purchased there in person, during regular business hours.

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