AFI FEST 2009 PRESENTED BY AUDI ANNOUNCES NEW LIGHTS COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS
“FISH TANK” AND “WOMAN WITHOUT PIANO”
SHARE HONOR
SPECIAL JURY MENTION GOES TO “AJAMI”

LOS ANGELES (November 5, 2009)—AFI FEST 2009 presented by Audi tonight
announced Andrea Arnold’s FISH TANK and Javier Rebello’s WOMAN WITHOUT
PIANO as the joint winners of the inaugural AFI FEST New Lights Competition. A
Special Jury Mention went to Scandar Copti’s and Yaron Shani’s AJAMI. The New
Lights Competition was created to acknowledge and honor vital, groundbreaking films
by first and second time feature filmmakers from around the world.

The winners were announced at AFI FEST’s reception in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
following the Closing Night Gala presentation of Tom Ford’s A SINGLE MAN at
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The star-studded event included appearances by the
director and the film’s stars Colin Firth, Ginnifer Goodwin, Nicholas Hoult, Matthew
Goode, and Ryan Simpkins as well as celebrity guests Cindy Crawford and Randy
Gerber, Robert Evans, Harry Hamilin and Lisa Rinna, Kenny Ortega, Brett Ratner, and
Rita Wilson among others.

The awards were presented by actress and filmmaker Angela Bassett, who chaired the
jury, following an introduction of her fellow jury members: fellow actress and filmmaker
Julie Delpy, noted film journalist and author Bill Krohn, Buenos Aires International
Independent Film Festival (BAFICI) Artistic Director Sergio Wolf and Hong Kong
filmmaker Yonfan. FISH TANK cast member Michael Fassbender was on hand to
accept on behalf of the film.

AFI FEST Artistic Director Rose Kuo said, “The establishment of the AFI FEST New
Lights Competition has been one of many highlights for this year’s festival. Led by
Angela Bassett, our jury enjoyed and deliberated over a truly outstanding group of films,
and ultimately decided that the award should be shared by these two amazing works of
art.”

NEW LIGHTS COMPETITION AWARD WINNER

FISH TANK Cast: Michael Fassbender, Harry Treadaway, Katie Jarvis, Kierston
Wareing DIR: Andrea Arnold PROD: Kees Kasander EXEC PROD: Christine Langan,
David M. Thompson, Paul Trijbits UK

WOMAN WITHOUT PIANO (LA MUJER SIN PIANO) Cast: Jan Budar, Esperanza De la
Vega, Tomás del Estal, Nadia de Santiago DIR: Javier Rebello EXEC PROD: Damián
Paris, Stefan Schmitz, María Zamora Spain/France

SPECIAL JURY MENTION

AJAMI Cast: Fouad Habash, Nisrine Rihan, Elias Saba, Youssef Sahwani DIR: Scandar
Copti, Yaron Shani PROD: Moshe Danon, Thanassis Karathanos EXEC PROD: James
Richardson Israel/Germany

AFI FEST 2009 NEW LIGHTS COMPETITION JURY MEMBERS

ANGELA BASSETT
Angela Bassett trained at the Yale School of Drama before going on to appear on-and
off-Broadway. Bassett’s first breakout role in movies was in BOYZ N THE HOOD
(1991). She earned the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama and NAACP Image
Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture for her portrayal of Tina Turner
in the biopic WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT (1993). Among her other movies are:
MALCOLM X (1992), HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK (1998), MUSIC OF
THE HEART (1999), WAITING TO EXHALE (1995), and AKEELAH AND THE BEE
(2006). Bassett joined the final season of ER (2008-2009) and will make her directorial
debut with the film UNITED STATES (2010), adapted from Percival Everett’s novel
Erasure.
JULIE DELPY
Julie Delpy has made a name for herself as a director, actress, singer and writer in
Europe and the US. She was recently nominated for an Academy Award as a writer
(with co-writers Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater) for BEFORE SUNSET (2004), a
follow-up to BEFORE SUNRISE (1995). She also starred in both films. Delpy has
worked with the esteemed directors Jean-Luc Godard on DETECTIVE (1985),
Agnieszka Holland on EUROPA EUROPA (1990), Krzysztof Kieslowski on the TROIS
COULEURS trilogy (1993, 1994, 1994), Roger Avary on KILLING ZOE (1993), Jim
Jarmusch on BROKEN FLOWERS (2005) and Lasse Hallstrom on THE HOAX (2006).
Delpy made her directorial debut with the short film BLAH BLAH BLAH (1995). In 2007,
she wrote, directed and starred in 2 DAYS IN PARIS.

BILL KROHN
Bill Krohn has been the Los Angeles correspondent for the French magazine Cahiers
du cinema since 1978. In 1994 he co-directed, co-produced and co-wrote IT’S ALL
TRUE: BASED ON AN UNFINISHED FILM BY ORSON WELLES for Paramount
Pictures and Films Balenciaga, Paris. He is the author of the Hitchcock au
travail/Hitchcock at Work (Cahiers du cinema/Phaidon) monograph; a monograph for
Stanley Kubrick for Cahiers du cinema/Le Monde; and Luis Bunuel: Chimera (Taschen
Books). He also edited Joe Dante et les Gremlins de Hollywood (Locarno/ Cahiers du
cinema). He reviews films for The Economist and is completing Serial Killer Dreams for
Reaktion Books, London.

SERGIO WOLF
Sergio Wolf is a critic, professor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He was a programmer at
the Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival (BAFICI) from 2005 to 2007,
and has been the artistic director of BAFICI since 2008. Wolf has written Cine
Argentino: La otra historia (1992), Cine/Literatura: Ritos de pasaje (2001) and Nuevo
Cine Argentino (2002). In addition, he wrote the screenplays for the Raúl Perrone films
LA FELICIDAD (UN DÍA DE CAMPO) (1998) and ZAPADA (1999), Anahí Berneri’s
ENCARNACIÓN (2006) and POR TU CULPA (2008) and Inés de Oliveira Cézar’s
EXTRANJERA (2006). Wolf directed the films YO NO SE QUÉ ME HAN HECHO TUS
OJOS (2003) and LAS ORILLAS (2007).

YONFAN
A true auteur of Asian cinema, PRINCE OF TEARS director Yonfan writes, directs and
produces his own films. He also serves as art director for his projects. Born in Hunan,
China, he moved to Taiwan with his parents in 1952. Yonfan spent his adolescent years
in Taichung before moving to Hong Kong in 1965. Yonfan began directing his own
features after working in movie distribution and as an acclaimed photographer. He has
made 13 films. He first received international acclaim with BISHONEN (1998) at the
1999 Berlin International Film Festival. His next production, PEONY PAVILION, opened
the 2001 Hong Kong International Film Festival and won the Best Actress Award at the
Moscow Film Festival for Rie Miyazawa. It was voted one of the Ten Best Films by Time
Magazine. He then worked on COLOR BLOSSOM (2004) starring Keiko Matsuzaka,
Harisu and Theresa Cheung. He has just completed PRINCE OF TEARS, his first film
shot in Taiwan.

AFI FEST 2009 OVERVIEW:

The first film festival of its size and magnitude to offer free tickets to all of its screenings,
including Gala presentations, AFI FEST 2009 rolled out the red carpet with the highly
anticipated North American Premiere of Wes Anderson’s THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX
on October 30. Starring the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason
Schwartzman, Bill Murray and Owen Wilson, the event featured appearances by Murray
and Schwartzman as they joined Anderson for a rare West Coast premiere for one of
his films.

Other highlights of the Festival included the Centerpiece screening of Terry Gilliam’s
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS with Gilliam and AFI FEST Tribute subject
Christopher Plummer in attendance, Gala screenings of Lee Daniels’ PRECIOUS,
BASED ON THE NOVEL “PUSH” BY SAPPHIRE with the director and nearly the entire
cast as well as executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry in attendance,
EVERBODY’S FINE with Robert DeNiro, Kate Beckinsale and Drew Barrymore on hand
to support director Kirk Jones, and a Tribute to Viggo Mortensen preceding a screening
of THE ROAD.

DigiFest opened its doors to the public, production design legend Bob Boyle – who
turned 100 this year — was celebrated with a tandem screening of Daniel Raim’s
documentary SOMETHING’S GONNA LIVE and a special 50th Anniversary screening of
Alfred Hitchcock’s classic NORTH BY NORTHWEST – including a conversation with
cast members with Martin Landau and Eva Marie Saint that was moderated by director
William Friedkin.

Additional attendees at AFI FEST 2009 included Paula Abdul, Judd Apatow, Mel B.,
Fairuza Balk, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, Lily Cole, Jennifer
Coolidge, Joe Dante, Charlize Theron, Eva Mendes, Ivan Reitman, Jamie Foxx, Brian
Geraghty, Maggie Grace, Shawn Hatosy, Harmony Korine, Ali Landry, Samm Levine,
Mario Lopez, Eva Longoria Parker, Paula Patton and Robin Thicke, Amanda Plummer,
Sidney Poitier and his daughter Sydney Poitier, Corneliu Porimboiu, Sherri Shepherd,
Mallika Sherawat, Gabourey Sidibe, Verne Troyer, Olivia Wilde, Shailene Woodley and
Madeline and Yvonne Zima, and among others.

AFI FEST 2009 will conclude with two days of screenings sponsored by Moving
Pictures Magazine at the Laemmle’s Monica 4-plex, 1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica, as
part of AFI FEST’s alliance with the American Film Market. Those screening will be
highlighted by the World Premiere of Agnieska Wojtowicz-Vosloo’s AFTER.LIFE
starring Liam Neeson, Christina Ricci and Justin Long. The director, as well as Ricci
and Long will attend the screening and participate in a Q&A.

Overall, AFI FEST 2009 showcased 67 features (54 narrative, 13 documentary) and 27
shorts for a total of 94 films representing 32 countries.

For full press release, click here.

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AFI FEST 2009 PRESENTED BY AUDI ANNOUNCES THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY’S “A SINGLE MAN” AS CLOSING NIGHT GALA PRESENTATION

SONY PICTURES CLASSICS’
“THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS”
IS CENTERPIECE SCREENING GALA PRESENTATION

PROGRAMMING INCLUDES TRIBUTES TO
VIGGO MORTENSEN AND CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER

COMPLETE FESTIVAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED

TICKETS AVAILABLE STARTING FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16

LOS ANGELES (October 14, 2009)—AFI FEST 2009 presented by Audi today announced the complete lineup of films for the 23rd edition of the Festival, including the Closing Night Gala, Centerpiece Screening, Tributes and Special Presentations.

The Weinstein Company’s A SINGLE MAN has been selected as the AFI FEST Closing Night Gala presentation. A SINGLE MAN will make its US Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Thursday, November 5, 2009.

Sony Pictures Classics’ THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS has been selected as AFI FEST’s Centerpiece Screening Gala presentation. THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS will make its US Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Monday, November 2, 2009.

The Closing Night Gala presentation of A SINGLE MAN features the directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford from his script adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s acclaimed novel. The film follows a day in the life of a gay British college professor in Los Angeles as he attempts to cope with the death of his partner. Ford’s work helming the project and Colin Firth’s lead performance in the film have received critical acclaim following screenings at the Venice and Toronto film festivals. Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode and Ginnifer Goodwin also star in the film. The Weinstein Company release is due in theaters on December 11.

Ford, Firth and Moore are scheduled to attend.

“It is exciting to champion a talented artist like Tom Ford as he moves beyond the boundaries of one medium into another. In A SINGLE MAN, he delivers an elegant and beautiful personal story that will resonate with all audience members“ said AFI FEST Artistic Director Rose Kuo.

The Centerpiece Screening Gala presentation features the latest work by director Terry Gilliam. THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS follows the leader of a traveling theater troupe who, having made a deal with the devil, takes audience members through a magical mirror to explore their imaginations. The film stars Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Heath Ledger in his final role. The Sony Pictures Classics release is due in theaters stateside on December 25.

Gilliam and Plummer are scheduled to attend.
“The mind-altering, looking-glass world that Terry Gilliam creates in THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS,” notes Director of Programming Robert Koehler, “is like a model for his ideal cinema, in which anything can happen and all rules are broken. If audiences thought that THE DARK KNIGHT was their last glimpse of Heath Ledger, then what Ledger brings to Gilliam’s fantasy-adventure will surprise them.”

AFI FEST has selected actors Christopher Plummer and Viggo Mortensen to receive tributes at this year’s Festival. Sponsored by the Skirball Cultural Center, Plummer’s tribute event will precede the screening of his film THE LAST STATION on Tuesday, November 3. Mortensen’s tribute will precede the US Premiere of the film THE ROAD on Wednesday, November 4. Both Tributes will take place at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

One of the world’s most respected actors, Plummer has won two Tony Awards (for CYRANO and BARRYMORE), three Drama Desk Awards, the National Arts Club Medal and two Emmys. He was a leading member of Laurence Olivier’s Royal National Theatre and Peter Hall’s Royal Shakespeare Company. Since appearing in Sidney Lumet’s STAGE STRUCK (1958), his more than 100 films have included WIND ACROSS THE EVERGLADES (1958), THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965), WATERLOO (1970) and TWELVE MONKEYS (1995), THE INSIDER (1999), A BEAUTIFUL MIND (2001), SYRIANA (2005) and INSIDE MAN (2006). He stars as Leo Tolstoy in THE LAST STATION and plays the title role in THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS.

John Hillcoat THE ROAD is adapted from the acclaimed novel by Cormac McCarthy, THE ROAD stars Mortensen as a father making his way with his young son across the scorched landscape of a post-apocalyptic world. Directed by Hillcoat from a script by Joe Penhall, the film also stars Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce and Molly Parker. The Weinstein Company release is due in theaters November 25.

Mortensen, Hillcoat and Theron are scheduled to attend.

From his debut in Peter Weir’s WITNESS (1985) to his signature role of Aragorn in Peter Jackson’s LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, Mortensen’s career has been highlighted by intensely stunning portrayals of men of strict and uncompromising character dealing with a shifting moral universe. Notable films include Sean Penn’s INDIAN RUNNER (1991), Gregory Widen’s THE PROPHECY (1995), Ridley Scott’s G.I. JANE, Tony Goldwyn’s A WALK ON THE MOON (1999), David Cronenberg’s A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (2005) and EASTERN PROMISES (2007)—for which he received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations—and Ed Harris’ APPALOOSA (2008).

“Viggo Mortensen and Christopher Plummer are two actors and film artists of the highest order,” said Kuo. “They share that rare trait of being looked up to by audiences and film fans around the world as well as being greatly respected by their peers.”

Other highlights among the complete film schedule announced today include Jonathan Demme’s music documentary NEIL YOUNG TRUNK SHOW (with Demme and Young confirmed to attend) and the screening of two films connected by legendary art director and longtime AFI Conservatory Distinguished Lecturer Robert Boyle, who turned 100 on October 10. Those films are AFI Conservatory Alumnus Daniel Raim’s (Production Design ’99) documentary SOMETHING’S GONNA LIVE and Alfred Hitchcock’s classic NORTH BY NORTHWEST, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

A follow-up to Raim’s Oscar-nominated documentary, THE MAN ON LINCOLN’S NOSE, SOMETHING’S GONNA LIVE profiles Boyle (THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, THE BIRDS) and renowned art directors Henry Bumstead (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, THE STING), Harold Michelson (STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, CATCH-22) and Albert Nozaki (THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS), as well as master cinematographers Conrad Hall (IN COLD BLOOD, BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID) and Haskell Wexler (WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT). From snapshots, sketches and vintage footage interwoven with interviews and new scenes of these octogenarian artists at work, we get a behind-the-scenes look at master moviemaking.

Boyle and Wexler will attend the World Premiere screening.

On Monday, November 2, AFI FEST, in conjunction with Warner Home Video will present a special screening of Hitchcock’s NORTH BY NORTHWEST. The first Hitchcock film to be released on Blu-ray, the film has been restored and remastered for its 50th anniversary. As part of the Gala event, director William Friedkin will attend to moderate a Q&A with Boyle and the film’s stars Eva Marie Saint and Martin Landau.

Koehler noted, “In our 23rd year, our programming seeks to shine a light on an international cinema landscape filled with brilliant young filmmakers forging fresh, unexpected pathways, documentarians on a quest for truth, and a fascinating survey of stop-motion animation (FANTASTIC MR. FOX, IN THE ATTIC, A TOWN CALLED PANIC), while delivering what AFI FEST has done from the beginning—offering audiences a view of the vastness of cinema across the world.”

AFI FEST continues its unique and successful association with the American Film Market with 23 of the features in official selection at AFI FEST represented by distributors at AFM, unfolding concurrently with AFI FEST from November 4–November 11. The following films are among those that will participate in the market and screen at the festival: AFTER.LIFE; THE BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL, NEW ORLEANS; BELLAMY; CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH; EVERYONE ELSE; FIRST OF ALL, FELICIA; FISH TANK; THE HOLE; THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS; KANIKOSEN; THE LAST STATION; THE LOVED ONES; THE MESSENGER; THE MILK OF SORROW; MOTHER; NEIL YOUNG TRUNK SHOW; PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE; THE ROAD; THE SILENT ARMY; A SINGLE MAN; THE TWO HORSES OF GENGHIS KHAN; WOMAN WITHOUT PIANO; YOUTH IN REVOLT.

Enhancing the AFI FEST/American Film Market alliance, the final two days of AF FEST (November 6-7) will screen at the Laemmle’s Monica 4-plex, 1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica, in close proximity to AFM headquartered activity.

AFI FEST 2009’s overall lineup will showcase 67 features (54 narrative, 13 documentary) and 27 shorts for a total of 94 films from 32 countries.

The breakdown by section is Galas/Tributes (7), New Lights Competition (11), Special Presentations (3), Documentary (13), World Cinema (27), Alt_Cinema (6) and Shorts (27).

The Festival is headquartered at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. All screenings from October 30–November 5 will take place at the Grauman’s Chinese and Mann Chinese 6 theaters in Hollywood with the final two days of the Festival (November 6-7) screening at the Laemmle’s Monica 4-plex in Santa Monica.

Free tickets to all Festival screenings are available online at AFI.com/AFIFEST or by phone at 866-AFI-FEST beginning October 16, at the Mann Chinese 6 Theatre (6925 Hollywood Blvd.) in the Hollywood and Highland Center) beginning October 26, and on the day of scheduled screenings via Rush Lines. Early entry to all screenings can be secured by becoming a patron of the Festival and purchasing an AFI FEST Patron Pass. For more details, visit AFI.com.

Click here to access the full press release with the complete schedule.

Los Angeles, CA, September 16, 2009—AFI FEST 2009 presented by Audi announces 12 films that will screen at this year’s Festival (October 30-November 7) including Lee Daniels’ PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE, Werner Herzog’s THE BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS and Bong Joon-ho’s MOTHER.

The film festival, which will debut it’s groundbreaking “See a Film on Us” initiative featuring complimentary tickets to all films including a limited number of seats at each Gala Presentation, will be headquartered at the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel between October 30 and November 5. AFI FEST will then move to Santa Monica for the final two days of screenings presented in association with the American Film Market (AFM).

Lee Daniels’ PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE is the first announced Gala Presentation at this year’s AFI FEST. Set in 1980’s Harlem, the film tells a story of salvation through education against all odds as it follows the hopeful trajectory of ‘Claireece Precious Jones (played by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe), an overweight and illiterate teen pregnant with her second child and abused by her poisonously angry mother. The film also stars Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sheri Shepherd and Lenny Kravitz. PRECIOUS will be released by Lionsgate on November 6.

AFI FEST 2009 will also mark the return of Werner Herzog to the Festival after Herzog’s celebrated panel appearance two years ago. Herzog’s THE BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS is a loosely interpreted re-imagining of Abel Ferrara’s gritty classic starring Nicolas Cage as a rogue detective who is as devoted to his job as he is to scoring drugs. Complicating his tumultuous life is the prostitute he loves (played by Eva Mendes). The film also stars Val Kilmer.

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AFI FEST 2009 wants you to see a film for free.

LOS ANGELES, CA, May 7, 2009—AFI FEST 2009 presented by Audi will be held
October 30 – November 7 in Hollywood, California, celebrating its 23rd year as Los
Angeles’ premier film festival. This year, in recognition of Audi’s 100 years of
automotive innovation, AFI and Audi will offer complimentary tickets to all screenings,
including a limited number of seats at the evening screenings and Galas, including
Opening and Closing Night.

The festival will be headquartered at the historic Mann’s Chinese Theatre between
October 30 and November 5th, and then move to the seaside for screenings in Santa
Monica presented in association with the American Film Market (AFM). The Hollywood
Roosevelt returns as the festival’s host hotel.

“AFI FEST presented by Audi brings the best of global cinema to the world capital of
the art form,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO. “Presenting the screenings
compliments of AFI and Audi is our way of reaching out to film lovers in these
challenging times and inviting them to see a movie on us.”

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