Cannes Indie fest kicks off 2010 festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2010 –
Called "the most exciting thing to happen in Cannes since the Director's Fortnight" The Cannes Independent Film Festival launches its 2010 festival today in Cannes France. The festival, which runs alongside but is completely independent of the Festival de Cannes, keeps its focus on celebrating low-budget filmmaking.

During the festival run from May 12 to 23, the Cannes Independent Film Festival will show over 40 features and 80 short films, showcasing indie filmmakers from all over the world. The majority of the screenings take place in the 50-seat screening room at the CIFF Villa, just off the Croisette, but CIFF films also screen at the Palais des Festivals and other top venues in Cannes.

"The Festival de Cannes, between its Hollywood blockbuster launches and its screenings by revered icons, has become a place where indie filmmakers no longer feel welcome. CIFF has the potential to revitalize the most important event on the world film calendar to a new generation of beginning filmmakers' said festival director Erich Schultz.

With the mission of integrating low-budget indie films into the lifeblood of the Cannes experience, the Cannes Independent Film Festival works to level the playing field for new filmmakers to get their works shown, and sold, in Cannes.

Festival highlights include Simon Rumley's sexy thriller RED WHITE & BLUE, Sameer Hanchate's Bombay-set finance drama GAFLA, and Kate Madison's much publicized micro-budget Lord of the Rings prequel, BORN OF HOPE -- which is playing in the Palais des Fesitvals on Friday night, May 14. Showing before BORN OF HOPE at the Palais will be the world premeir of Julie Pacino's (daughter of Al Pacino) first short film ABRACADABRA.

CIFF is also developing into a crucial business hub for the low-budget indie film industry, a key attraction to filmakers in Cannes looking to see cutting-edge filmmaking, and one of the Europe’s most popular indie festivals. With an emphasis on new talent, discovery and innovation, the Cannes Independent Film Festival’s vibrant programme of films and events combines a commitment to indie filmmaking ideals with a sound understanding of their possibilities in the marketplace.

Full information, including screening schedules, can be found on the CIFF website: http://www.cannesfest.org/

BORN OF HOPE:

BORN OF HOPE is a 72 minute Lord of the Rings prequel that tells the story of the birth of Aragorn. Shot on a micro budget of £25k mostly raised from donations from fans who followed the film's production clips on YouTube, the finished film has become an internet sensation with over 1.5 million views, and has launched director Kate Madison as a hero of UK indie filmmakers.

Wendy Ide of The Times gave the film four out of five stars and wrote "Every frame of this film was made with love — and it shows". Richard Taylor effects supervison at Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop said of the film; ""Amazing stuff. It's incredible to see what craftsmanship, sensitivity and attention to detail is being brought to bear on this ambitious project."

Read what the Times had to say about the film:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article7023822.ece

ABRACADABRA:

ABRACADABRA, a short film, is Julie Pacino’s directorial debut about an ensemble cast of characters whose lives intersect during a day at the park. The film was co-written by Julie Pacino and Jennifer DeLia and produced by Jennifer DeLia.

It stars Beth Grant (No Country for Old Men; Little Miss Sunshine), Sean Kanan (Young and the Restless), Ty Simpkins (Revolutionary Road; Pride and Glory), James Wirt (Billy Bates), Josephine de La Baume (La Princesse de Montpensier – in competition feature film Cannes 2010; Boogie Woogie) and Jennifer DeLia.

ABRACADABRA was shot in New York City on HD by talents Bradford Young and Luke McCoubrey. Young shot the award-winning short film PARIAH (Sundance 2008) and was recently noted in Filmmaker Magazine as one of the top 25 most cutting-edge filmmakers to watch.

This text is available electronically with photos at http://www.cannesfest.org/news.htm