Palm Beach Women's International Film Festival April 6, 2011

Palm Beach Women’s International Film Festival
Announces Lineup with Award Winning “The Whistleblower” to Open, Closes with “Leading Ladies”

Highlights include 10 World Premieres, 7 US Premieres, Films from
15 countries and Sharon Gless Appearance

The inaugural Palm Beach Women’s International Film Festival will open with The Whistleblower, Best Feature Film winner at Palm Springs International Film Festival, directed by female director Larysa Kondracki, starring Vanessa Redgrave and Rachel Weisz. The festival will wrap with the zany comedy Leading Ladies. The full line-up of films either produced or directed by women will run April 7 – 10 and includes 10 world premieres, seven US premieres, and six East Coast Premieres. Films from 15 countries including Austria, Australia, Canada, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Venezuela and the US are represented.

Sharon Gless (Cagney and Lacey, Queer as Folk), producer and actress of Hannah Free, will make a special appearance at the screening of the film on Saturday, April 8 at 7 pm at the Compass Community Center, followed by a party in Gless’s honor at the Cottage in Lake Worth.
Additional Saturday events include a special program on Animated Films featuring the top female college animators in the country, and a panel of expert animators lead by animation and art professor Amy Berkowitz, (Miami International University of Art and Design and Boca Raton Museum of Art.) On Saturday, a breakfast with the filmmakers and the Young Women’s Film Competition and Awards Presentation will be held. (Young Women finalists will be announced by March 10)

More highlights include the US Premiere of Finding Kind, a documentary about the “mean girl” phenomenon, which has been covered extensively in national news. The film will screen on Sunday, April 10 at Muvico Cityplace, followed by a panel on school bullying from leading area experts including the School District of Palm Beach County and the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida.

Other highlights include the East Coast Premiere of Atlantic Crossing: A Robots Daring Mission, the story of scientists led by world-renown oceanographer Scott Glen, who make history by successfully navigating the first autonomous underwater robot across the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, a showing of films speaking to Gay and Lesbian themes will be presented by Compass at the Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theatre.

“The artistic integrity of the international films we are presenting will put this festival on the map not only in Palm Beach County, but throughout the world,” said PJ Layng, PBWIFF Co-Director. “While all of the films are made by women, they have mass appeal to all audiences; some will make you laugh, some cry, while others will educate and fascinate,” added Layng.

The festival will screen at Muvico Parsian at CityPlace, Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theatre and PGA Cinemax in Palm Beach Gardens. The festival opens on Thursday, April 7 at 7 pm at Muvcio with The Whistleblower, directed and written by female newcomer Larysa Kondracki. The drama is based on the experiences of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska cop who served as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and outed the U.N. for covering up a sex scandal. Ms. Kondracki will be in attendance and conduct a post-film Q&A, immediately followed by a glamorous rooftop party at Roxy’s Skybar on Clematis Street. Tickets are $50 for both film and party and include complimentary trolley transportation by the West Palm Beach DDA, complimentary food and two cocktails per person.

Closing festivities are on Sunday, April 10 at 7 pm at The Premiere at Muvico in CityPlace. Grab your favorite beverage and dance in your seat for the zany comedy Leading Ladies directed by Erika and Daniel Beahm, written by Erika Beahm & Jennifer Bechtel starring Laurel Vail, Shannon Lea Smith and Benji Schwimmer. The film features an overbearing ballroom dancing stage mom and her two daughters whom must redefine their roles in life and on the dance floor as each learns to "let love lead". The Closing Party and Tiffany & Company Awards Presentation will follow at The Premiere at Muvico. Closing Night tickets are $20 for both the film and party.

Individual movie tickets are $8 for matinee and students with valid ID and $10 for all films after 5 pm. Tickets, passes and special events are all on sale at www.pbwiff.com. Passes start at only $25 with the best value - the gold pass for only $100 which affords patrons to see all movies and attend special events.

The Palm Beach Women’s International Film Festival is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to producing a world class film festival that will inspire, promote and support women filmmakers. For more information visit www.pbwiff.com or call (561) 712-1113.

Official Website: http://www.pbwiff.com