For Immediate Release Contact: Carol O’Sullivan

August 19, 2008 412-681-5449

Pittsburgh Filmmakers Announces

September Programming

(Pittsburgh, PA) – The following are descriptions of Pittsburgh Filmmakers Film Exhibition program for September 2008. The films are screened at 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.

Special Event

Sept 12 – Nov 1:

Global Lens 2008

The Three Rivers Film Festival presents 10 films from 4 continents in one of the most lauded touring festivals of contemporary international film, Global Lens 2008. Organized by the non-profit group, Global Film Initiative, this successful program encourages filmmaking in countries with developing economies and emerging film communities. The films in the series have been selected for their authentic voice, cinematic accomplishment and unique cultural perspective. Besides Pittsburgh, the series has traveled to museums (including MOMA), colleges, high schools and art theaters throughout the US, to promote cross-cultural understanding through film – recognizing the unique capability cinematic storytelling has for fostering respect, trust and understanding.

The films includes Randa Chahal Sabbag’s The Kite, which earned the director a Grand Special Jury Prize at the 2003 Venice Film Festival; Wang Chao’s Luxury Car, which won the Un Certain Regard Award at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival; and Garin Nugroho’s Opera Jawa, which won the Silver Screen Award for Best Picture at the 2007 Singapore International Film Festival. Each film is shown twice; host venues are the Harris Theater and the Regent Square Theater. For a complete schedule go to: www.pghfilmmakers.org

The Harris Theater – 809 Liberty Ave

Thru Sept 4: Up the Yangtze

"An astonishing documentary of culture clash and the erasure of history amid China's economic miracle." - NY Times

The Yangtze River – and all that surrounds it – is undergoing an astounding transformation wrought by the largest hydroelectric project in history. In this remarkable journey, Chinese-Canadian director Yung Chang returns to the gorgeous, now-disappearing landscape of his grandfather's youth on a "farewell cruise" that traverses the gargantuan waterway. This beautiful film illustrates the wrenching changes not only facing China, but the world at large. In English and Mandarin. (Yung Chang; China/Canada; 2008; 93 min)

Sept 5 – 11: Baghead

"Sophisticated radar trained on the undercurrents of contemporary relationships"

-- NYTimes

This hit from the film festival circuit is all about the “mumblecore” – a cinematic movement with Cassavetes roots and indie film school bravado. Mark and Jay Duplass, who directed cult fave The Puffy Chair, are back with this hilarious new comedy delivered with its own brand of shaky camera, abrupt edits, and intelligent (and largely) improvised dialogue. The horror story begins when four struggling young actors decide to hole up in a rustic, secluded cabin and write a script that will give them the dream parts they've always wanted. As they drink, "mumble," and toss around ideas, the friendships become blurry and cabin fever sets in. One night they realize they’re not alone in the woods. This amazingly tongue-in-cheek send-up of indie flicks is also an insightful bit of character drama. The Brothers showed their short film (Scrabble) in the 2004 Three Rivers Film Festival. (Mark and Jay Duplass; USA; 2008; 84 min)

Sept. 12 – 18: Global Lens 2008

Sept. 19 - 25: Kenny

“Funny enough to give scatology a good name.” –Variety

This quirky comedy was a huge hit and major prizewinner from Down Under. It tells the story of Kenny Smyth, a lovable middle-aged guy who makes his living installing “port-a-loos” at public events. Under-appreciated, he enthusiastically shares his knowledge of sanitation with all those he meets. Kenny juggles family, co-workers (his faithful “splashdown” crew), and sewage with charm, humor and dignity. Flush with big laughs, it’s the original, uncut, unrated Australian version, in English but with English subtitles. (Clayton Jacobson; Australia; 2006; 103 min)

Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: In Search of a Midnight Kiss

“Uncommonly bright ... gives me renewed hope for the future of so-called independent cinema” – Andrew Sarris

This bittersweet romantic-comedy does for Los Angeles what Woody Allen did for New York in Manhattan. Beautifully shot in New Wave-ish black-and-white, it’s a wonderful lo-fi journey though love, sex and modern relationships. And in the process, captures an unexpectedly intimate side of the sprawling West Coast city. We follow a whimsical plot where a lonely and broke 29-year-old posts a personal ad on craigslist. He meets a surly blonde determined to find the right guy to be with at midnight. Together, they chase the promise of a fresh start. (Alex Holdridge; USA; 2008; 90 min)

Regent Square Theater – 1035 South Braddock Ave.

Thru Sept. 10: My Winnipeg

“Unexpectedly beautiful. A haunting phantasmagoria of a film – comic, singular, surreal. A film to give yourself to, with pleasure.” – LA Times

Named Best Canadian Film at the 2007 Toronto Film Fest, this is a re-imagined version of childhood from indie director Guy Maddin (The Saddest Music in the World) as well as a goodbye letter to his hometown. (Guy Maddin; Canada; 2008; 80 min)

Special Event: Sept. 11 at 8:00pm

The Devil Music Ensemble LIVE with Red Heroine

The Devil Music Ensemble is an innovative musical trio from Boston who’ve established a huge fan base and critical acclaim in the field of silent film accompaniment. For this martial arts film, the DME pulls from the traditions of Chinese folk music and soundtracks from classic kung fu cinema. This is the only modern score made expressly for this film. Red Heroine is the only surviving episode of the 13-part movie serial. We follow the rise of a woman warrior with the genre’s characteristic blend of pulp and mystical derring-do. It begins when a band of outlaws raids a village, kidnaps a maiden, and causes the death of her grandmother. The young woman is rescued by a mysterious hermit who teaches her his special skills. She re-emerges years later as a full-fledged warrior, ready to deploy her magic powers and avenge her grandmother's death. This is a rare chance to see a surviving example of a “wuxia” (sword and sorcery) film from 1920’s Shanghai – most were destroyed after the Communist Revolution – accompanied by a thrilling live score. Subtitled. (Wen Yimin; China; 1929; 94 min) Tickets are $12.

Opens Sept. 12: Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

“Confirms [Thompson’s] place in the great American parade of cranks, renegades and sages - that is, in the best, most disreputable corner of our literary pantheon.” – NYTimes

Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) tackles the man, the myth, the haze of drugs, but also highlights the bold, innovative journalism that secured Thompson’s reputation – at one time the most popular writer in America. The result is a fast-moving, wildly entertaining documentary touching on many big moments: his ill-fated relationship with Hells Angels, his bid for sheriff of Aspen, the notorious story behind Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and his involvement in the ‘72 presidential campaign. Finally, an unflinching version of the libertarian’s life, and with a great soundtrack too! Johnny Depp, who financed Thompson's 2005 funeral, serves as the film’s narrator. (Alex Gibney; USA; 2008; 118 min)

Starting Sept. 18: Global Lens 2008

Sept. 20 at 2:00pm: Wizard of Oz

Bring the family and enjoy an old-fashioned afternoon matinee! Then it’s off to see the wizard, the scarecrow, the tin man, the cowardly lion, Dorothy and Toto, too. This beloved Technicolor classic is even more charming on the Big Screen. (Victor Fleming; USA; 1939; 119 min)

Sept. 25 at 8:00pm: Greetings from Pittsburgh: Neighborhood Narratives premiere

As part of the Pittsburgh 250 celebration, ten different short films explore Pittsburgh neighborhoods by different filmmakers, in a variety of styles. The neighborhoods are:

Oakland, South Side, Homestead, Bloomfield, Downtown, the Strip District, the Hill District, Mt. Oliver, Lawrenceville, and Regent Square (natch!) Total: 90 min. Tickets are $10, and are available in advance at our theaters.

Opens Sept. 26: Frozen River

“A gripping, beautifully written drama suffused with authenticity. – Film Journal

Critics can’t stop raving about Melissa Leo’s (Homicide: Life on the Streets) Oscar-worthy performance in this Sundance prizewinner. Shot in the sub-zero temps of upstate New York, this indie feature tells the compelling story of Ray (Melissa Leo), a middle-aged mother of two teenagers, who’s lured into the illegal world of immigrant smuggling. Broke after her husband leaves town with the down payment for their new trailer, she reluctantly teams up with a young mom she has met from the nearby Indian reservation. Soon the two are making runs across the frozen St. Lawrence River carrying illegal Asians in the trunk of Ray’s Dodge Spirit. (Courtney Hunt; USA; 2008; 97 min)

Sunday Night Series: Nuclear Sundays VIII

Co-presented with Physicians for Social Responsibility, this annual series presents a variety of cinematic explorations on nuclear war. Speaker after each film.

Sept. 7: Dr. Strangelove

This remains the definitive black comedy about the subject of mass annihilation. Peter Sellers is hilarious in three roles, most notably the mad scientist, Strangelove, who can’t control his robot hand. (Stanley Kubrick; USA; 1964; 93 min)

Sept. 14: Barefoot Gen

A powerful anti-war statement based on a Japanese manga, it’s about the effect of the atomic bomb on a young boy's life and the lives of his people. Gen and his family are living in Hiroshima as Japan nears the end of World War II. (Mori Masaki; Japan; 1992; 83 min)

Sept. 21: Thirteen Days

Starring Bruce Greenwood as John F. Kennedy, this gripping story is set during the two-week Cuban missile crisis in October of 1962. It centers on how the President, the Attorney General, and other advisors handled the explosive situation. (Roger Donaldson; USA; 145 min)

Sept. 28: Gojira (Godzilla)

This is the Japanese original, not the re-edited US version. Unlike the remakes and sequels, Gojira’s not a good guy, he’s mad as hell and rises from the sea belching radioactive breath – the inadvertent by-product of a nuclear accident. (Ishiro Honda; Japan; 1954; 80 min)

Melwood Screening Room – 477 Melwood Ave.

Sept. 5 – 7: Dancing in Amdo – Pittsburgh premiere!

On the heels of the Beijing Olympic Games, Pittsburgher Carl Cimini presents his feature-length documentary Dancing in Amdo, an extensive, heartfelt exploration of the Tibet/China crisis. Cimini and his crew take us inside China for an unprecedented look at the current state of Tibetans living within China and those living in exile in India. In an interview from his residence in exile in Dharamsala, India, the Dalai Lama offers his view on the future of Tibet, its culture and its people. Officials of the Tibetan Government in Exile, Buddhist monks, teachers, and artists describe the challenge to save their culture from extinction. Also, in never-before seen interviews, officials from the Peoples Republic of China offer their perspective on the volatile situation.

(Carl Cimini; China/Tibet/USA; 2008; 106 min)

Sept. 9: Film Kitchen

This showcase of regional film and video art is presented on the second Tuesday of every month. This month’s highlights include the work of Carl Cimini and Sam Boese. Co-sponsored by City Paper, WYEP-FM, Pittsburgh Brewing, and DH Creative. Reception at 7:00; films at 8:00pm.

Sept. 18: Frida

This gorgeous film about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, who channeled the pain of a crippling injury and her tempestuous marriage to Diego Rivera into her work, stars Salma Hayek. And it’s directed by the woman who brought The Lion King to the stage. (Julie Taymor; USA; 2002; 123 min). Pitt students are free, as part of a three-month series, co-presented by PittArts.

Sept. 19 & 20: Spike & Mike’s Sick & Twisted Animation 2008

It’s baaack! Spike and Mike's has had a loyal following of gross-out fans since 1990, and this year's 26 new films follow the fest's tried-and-true debauchery. The 2008 collection of is filled with so much that is so wrong… standouts include Mike Geiger's Cuddle Sticks, which features the most disgusting popsicle imaginable. There are fresh appearances from old favorites Dr. Tran and the Happy Tree Friends among others, and there are also a whole new crop of characters ready to make you vomit through your nose, including one particularly raunchy film featuring a yellow tweety bird and a horse's gigantic private parts. Due to adult content no one under 18 admitted. (Approx. 100 min)

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