Second Annual Vail Film Festival Announces Line-Up

Second Annual Vail Film Festival Announces Line-Up

Hollywood Comes to Top-Rated Ski Resort in North America

VAIL, Colo., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Second Annual Vail Film Festival has announced its roster of over 60 films from around the world for the 2005 Festival. Held from March 31-April 3, the festival promotes independent filmmaking, with a special focus on new and innovative filmmakers. In partnership with "Best Life Magazine," the event will offer an Oscar(R) Shorts Showcase, feature films, documentaries, shorts, student films, television pilots and action sports.

Filmmakers Scott and Sean Cross founded the Vail Film Festival, which has become an annual tradition drawing talented filmmakers from around the globe. "I think the world is waiting to see how the next generation of independent filmmakers will change the landscape of film," said Sean Cross. "We'd like the Vail Film Festival to help usher in the next century of filmmaking and filmmakers."

One festival highlight will be the Colorado premiere of "The Wendell Baker Story," directed by Luke Wilson and Andrew Wilson. The film stars Will Ferrell, Eva Mendes, Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson. Andrew Wilson, Luke Wilson and Owen Wilson will be in attendance to support their film.

Also at the festival to support their films will be actors turned directors Tiffani Thiesen ("90210," "Just Shoot Me") and Janine Turner ("Northern Exposure"). Ms. Thiesen's is a short entitled "Just Pray" and Ms. Turner will screen her short "Trip in a Summer Dress."

New additions to the festival include films in the Oscar(R) Shorts Showcase, including "Ryan," directed by Chris Landreth and winner of the Academy Award for Best Short Film (animated); and "Wasp," winner of the Academy Award for Best Short Film (live action), directed by Andrea Arnold.

"Palindromes," the new film directed by Todd Solondz, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ellen Barkin and Richard Masur will screen at the festival along with "The Thing About My Folks," starring Paul Reiser and Peter Falk.

This year's festival will also screen eight documentaries including "Z Channel," starring Jacqueline Bisset, Alexander Payne, Quentin Tarantino and James Woods. Director Alexandra Cassavetes documents the Z Channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the United States, and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. (For a complete list of this year's films visit www.vailfilmfestival.org.)

Besides screenings, the festival will also feature workshops, seminars and panel discussions with award-winning actors, writers and directors. The festival will kick off with an opening night party at the newly constructed Donovan Pavilion on Gore Creek (March 31), a filmmakers' reception at Larkspur at the base of Golden Peak (April 1), the festival awards ceremony and party on-mountain at Vail's Eagle's Nest Marketplace (April 2), and the festival closing brunch at Larkspur (April 3).

Last year's Vail Film Festival hosted the North American premiere of Richard Linklater's "Before Sunset," starring Ethan Hawke, which was named one of the top five films of 2004 by many of Hollywood's leading film critics and nominated for an Academy Award.

The Vail Film Festival is produced by the Vail Film Institute, a non-profit arts organization that is dedicated to fostering independent cinema and creative filmmaking. The 2005 sponsors include presenting sponsor "Best Life Magazine" as well as Redwood Creek, Subaru, Calvin Klein, Realities, United Airlines, MetaFoundry and Landmark Theaters. Community partners include the Town of Vail, Vail Resorts, the Vail Daily, and the Vail Valley Foundation. A full list of community partners can be found on the Vail Film Festival Web site.

Festival passes incorporate a combination of skiing, movies and music. For tickets and additional information, visit the Web site at www.vailfilmfestival.org or call toll-free (866) 476-1092.

Source: Vail Film Festival

CONTACT: Suzanne Trantow of JohnstonWells Public Relations, +1-303-623-3366, ext. 111, Strantow@JohnstonWells.com, for Vail Film Festival; or Bobby Willis of Vail Film Festival, +1-970-333-9689, Bobby@VailFilmFestival.org

Web site: http://www.vailfilmfestival.org/

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