FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  August 18, 2002

CONTACT: Ilene Marder Media Relations (845) 246-1122; Meira Blaustein, Director, WFF (845) 679-4265

 FILMS OF THE HUDSON VALLEY / CATKSILLS COME UP BIG IN 2002

 (Woodstock, NY) August 19,’02- Films with local ties are a significant part of the 3^rd Annual Woodstock Film Festival. More than twenty films have local connections or were shot in the region including: 

Personal Velocity, directed by Rebecca Miller and starring Parker Posey, Kyra Sedgwick and  Fairuza Balk, was shot in the Hudson Valley. The editor, Sabine Hoffman and the producer Lemore Syvan are both WFF advisory board members. Elias Moor (845 679-7425), WFF’s print trafficker worked on the film as an asst location manager and appears in the film. At the 2001 festival, the entire crew of Personal Velocity conducted a seminar on how the film was produced digitally. The Woodstock Film Festival is proud to open the 2002 schedule with Personal Velocity. 

Pipe Dream, directed by John Walsh and starring Martin Donovan and Mary Louise Parker. The film was produced by Accord resident Sally Roy (sallyroy@aol.com) 

A Shot in the Dark -- This documentary about the search for father was directed by Bard alumni, Adrian Grenier (recklessproductions@yahoo.com)

who also appears in the film, Love in the Time of Money. 

Strange Fruit -- This documentary about the controversial Billie Holiday song was directed by Woodstock resident Joel Katz (845-679-4640) 

Ah, the Pageantry of Bread and Puppet: This documentary about the famed Bread and Puppet theater, was co-directed by Woodstock resident Deedee Halleck (845 679-2756). 

Blue Car – This feature film directed by Karen Moncrieff, stars Hudson Valley resident David Strathairn. 

West 47^th Street – This feature documentary which examines mental illness and its misconceptions, was co-produced and directed by June Peoples (212 765-6600), an Orange county resident and a former editor at the Times Herald. 

Deep Water -- This documentary about the building of the Ashokan reservoir was directed and produced by Woodstock residents Toby Carey (845 657-2914), Robbie Dupree and Artie Traum. 

The Last Waltz – This Martin Scorsese documentary, called by many the greatest rock ‘n’ roll documentary of all time, features the last concert by The Band, whose members were and for the most part still are, Woodstock residents. 

I Call Myself Persian – This short documentary about growing up as an Iranian in the United States, is co-directed by Tanaz Eshaghian (212-529-0965). Tanaz grew up in Woodstock and has also featured films in the 2000 and 2001 Woodstock Film Festivals. 

The Legend of Chick Chandler -- This 30 minute short, which was produced entirely in the Hudson Valley, examines the end of the career of fictional CNN anchor Chick Chandler. The film, which was directed by Vassar alum Adam Kluger (adamkluger@hotmail.com), stars Woodstock resident Bill Tush, former senior entertainment correspondent for CNN. 

Love Gets You Twisted – This short film stars Jolie Peters (845 246-3923), a nine year old actress from Saugerties who co stars in the upcoming HBO film Hysterical Blindness with Uma Thurman, Juliette Lewis and Gena Davis. 

Into the Night: The Benny Mardones – This full length documentary by Greg Ross (917 576-6072), features former Woodstock resident Benny Mardones. Other Woodstock residents including Michael Lang are interviewed. 

Dream Lover – This short film directed and produced by Anthony DiSalvo (212-222-9575)  about a home for developmentally disabled adults, stars Hudson Valley resident David Johansen (Buster Pointdexter, The Harry Smiths, Oz) 

The Stream – This short film by Megan Warner (212 571-9776) was shot in Hunter, NY. 

Coitus Interruptis – This short comedy is directed by Woodstock residents Gary and Greg Cergol (gcergol@nyc.rr.com) and stars Dechen Thurman, also from Woodstock. 

Waiting for Trains – This short film by Jason de Leon (monteverdefilms@aol.com) was shot at Rockeby Farms in Barrytown by a crew from the University of Texas in Austin. 

At Low Resolution – This thesis film from NYU was directed by lifelong Woodstock resident Jake Davis (deviousform@hotmail.com). 

Other local tie-ins include Uion panelist producer, attorney Don Carmody, screenwriting panelist Zachary Sklar (JFK), musicians Happy Traum and Kate Pierson  and many others..

 Since its inception, the Woodstock Film Festival, has acted as a conduit under the name Woodstock Film Commission for pre-production, production and post-production for filmmaking in the Hudson Valley/Catskill. Throughout the year, support is provided including networking opportunities, screenings and promotion via the online bulletin board and the bi-monthly newsletter. In addition to encouraging and promoting local filmmakers, the film commission provides support throughout the year to studio features, independent features, print, new media, short films and TV ads. Recent projects include Personal Velocity (winner of the grand jury prize at Sundance) Pagans, Prey, The Artist Experience (pilot episode), a 12-page shoot for GQ-UK.

The presenting sponsor of the Woodstock Film Festival is Saugerties-based Markertek.com, America’s largest video and audio supply and accessory house.

For more information about Woodstock Film Festival events, call (845) 679-4265 or visit the website at www.woodstockfilmfestival.com