NY Premiere of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Documentary FIGHTVILLE, by Hudson Valley Filmmakers at Woodstock Film Festival on September 22, 2011

(Woodstock, NY) SEPT. 12, 2011:
The popularity of the Mixed Martial Arts is the focus of FIGHTVILLE, a documentary by Hudson Valley filmmakers Pepper & Bones (Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker), that will screen at the 2011 Woodstock Film Festival.

In the hands of this talented veteran filmmaking team, FIGHTVILLE focuses not only on the battle in the cage, but on the meaning of the fight. With terrific cinematography and storytelling, "Fightville" introduces you to the boys who train at the Gladiators Academy, each struggling to escape childhood pain, lives of crime and dissolution by channeling trauma through fighting. Fighting is, for them, a spiritual process.

"When we first started filming FIGHTVILLE, we knew very little about MMA, but after 18 months of filming we really came to love the culture of the fight world. Fighting is the stuff that movie legends are made of–who hasn't wanted to be Rocky or Bruce Lee? MMA is the evolution of that legacy."

As fast as the sport is growing, there is still a gap to mainstream acceptance and the filmmakers hope that FIGHTVILLE will open the door to MMA for a new audience. "Popular culture has long embraced boxing and there is storied history of literary greats championing the sport. Hemingway, London and Mailer were all fighters. That's just now beginning to happen with MMA and we hope that FIGHTVILLE will be able to introduce a wider audience to the beauty and passion of the sport while elevating the perception of MMA," says Tucker.

About the filmmakers:
Pepper & Bones are the filmmaking duo Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker best known for their epic chronicle of the Iraq War that began with the release of the acclaimed “Gunner Palace” in 2004 by Palm Pictures. In 2009, their final war film, “How To Fold a Flag” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. “Fightville” will mark Petra and Michael’s fourth appearance at the Woodstock Film Festival.

FIGHTVILLE will screen on Thursday, September 22 at 8:00pm at Upstate Films in Rhinebeck and again at Friday, September 23 at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock.

For tickets and more information visit Woodstock Film Festival website or or call the WFF box office at (845) 810-0131

Media:
fightville.net
facebook.com/fightvillemovie
twitter.com/fightville

Press Contacts:
For Immediate Inquiry
Pepper & Bones
contact@pepperandbones.com

About the Woodstock Film Festival:
Hailed by Indiewire as "A true American Maverick Among Fests" and praised by actor Ethan Hawke as "among the finest of a dying breed: a festival that isn't trying to sell you anything, but simply and beautifully celebrating the art & craft of filmmaking", the Woodstock Film Festival premiers exceptional films, hosts the most talented emerging and established professionals in the movie industry; presents A-list concerts, panels and parties, and creates stimulating, innovative programming year-round.

The Woodstock Film Festival is a non-profit, 501 (C)(3) with a mission to present an annual program and year-round schedule of film, music and art-related activities that promote artists, culture, inspired learning and diversity.

The Woodstock Film Festival celebrates its 12th Annual Festival September 21- 25, 2011, with an extraordinary line-up of fiercely independent films, panels, concerts and special events in Woodstock and the neighboring towns of Rhinebeck, Kingston and Rosendale.