DANCES WITH FILMS

CONTACT:
Leslee Scallon
323.850.2929
leslee@danceswithfilms.com


RECESSION OR DEPRESSION, DANCES WITH FILMS IS NOT DOWNSIZING
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THE FESTIVAL THAT HAS BEEN BREAKING THE RULES FOR A DOZEN YEARS OPENS ON JUNE 4TH

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA (May 27, 2009) – As many film festivals close their doors, Dances With Films continues to expand as the demand for their truly independent brand surges. Taking place June 4th thru 11th at the Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in West Hollywood, the festival will be screening nearly 100 films (features, shorts, docs and music videos) from as far away as Australia, Italy and UK to films from local talent outshining many of the films in the theatres today.

The industry “Meet the Filmmakers” cocktail party will be held, June 4, 2009 at Guys and Dolls, located on Beverly Boulevard next to Jerry’s Deli in West Hollywood for industry, press and Dances With Films filmmakers and alumni. To rsvp please email info@danceswithfilms.com

Festival rules require that all competition films have no “known” actors, directors, writers or producers, however as alumni advance in their careers and to “break” our own rules, an “Alumni Spotlight” section of the festival has been created to continue the support of the DWF community. This year, Dances will spotlight the documentary, MYTHIC JOURNEYS by alums Steven and Whitney Boe with the voice talents of Tim Curry, Mark Hamill and Lance Hendrickson; the comical short film, COWBOY DREAMS, featuring Bill Engvall and Danny Trejo from alum Paul DeNigris; BEING MICHAEL MADSEN, starring Michael Madsen, Virginia Madsen, with a host of cameos from Harry Dean Stanton to Darryl Hannah, from alum Michael Mongillo. The Spotlight Finale film will be political thriller, THE DIVIDED starring Jeremy London by alum Bennett Stein.

“Since the beginning, Dances With Films has been about building a community of filmmakers who understand the pain and elation of what each have gone through to finish their respective films. We’re proud when we say many of our filmmakers stay in touch with each other long after the festival ends and for many years after,” says Michael Trent, Co-Founder. With an expected attendance of nearly 8,000 audience participants and a nearly 100% filmmaker attendance, DWF expects the question and answer sessions with the film creators to be lively.

In a world of formulaic, homogenized film festivals, Dances With Films continues to break the rules for a dozen years.

The 2009 Competition Features are:

Corpse Run, written and directed by John-Michael Thomas, produced by Danielle Jacobs.
Cryptic, written and directed by Danny Kuchuck and John Weiner, directed by Danny Kuchuck, John Weiner and Jenifer Shahin.
How I Got Lost, written and directed by Joe Leonard, produced by Massoumeh Emami, Jared Parsons and Sam Mestman.
The Last Hurrah, written and directed by Jonathan Stokes, produced by Richie Molyneux, Jonathan Stokes and Chuck DeRosa.
Love Conquers Paul, written and Directed by Colin Bannon, produced by Colin Bannon, David Bannon, Barry Kerr, Brian Carroll and Jennifer Roe.
Miss Ohio, written and directed by Gregory Fitzsimmons, produced by Gregory Fitzsimmons and James Francis Flynn.
My Normal, written by Renee Garzon, Adam Sales, Abdul Malik Abbott, directed by Irving Schwartz, produced by Renee Garzon, Adam Sales, Abdul Malik Abbott and Phillippa Davis.
Park Sharks, written and directed by Dan Lee, produced by Steve Lesser.
The Scar Crow, written and directed by Andy Thompson and Pete Benson, produced by Andy Thomson.
Tiny Little Lies, written by David H. Luz, directed and produced by Randolph Harrison, Exec producers David H. Luz, Tom Woolen, Eric P. Rothenberg, co-exec producer David Gordon.
Waking Dreams, written and directed by Deepika Daggubati, produced by Kalyan Vindhya, Deepika Daggubati, Sulekha Naidu


FAST FACTS:

WHO: Dances With Films, the film festival dedicated to TRUE independent talent, where unknown filmmakers create ALL of the competition films.

WHEN: June 4-11 2009
Screening times vary, check schedule
Truly independent features, shorts, docs and music videos from all over the world, panels

and.... the 2Minute, 2Step Short Film Challenge, held during the week of the festival. 8 filmmakers are selected from script submissions and given 4 (four) hours to shoot and edit an under 2 minute film. Watch from our Filmmaker Lounge as they accept the challenge of completing their script.

WHERE: Laemmle's Sunset 5
8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046

Tickets are available on the Dances With Films website for $10 prior to June 4, $12 afterwards. Full access festival passes are also available for $125.

For 12 years, DWF has championed the unflinching spirit at the very core of the independent filmmaking scene. While the vast majority of film fests rely heavily on "celebrity," DWF has relied on the innovation, talent, creativity and sweat equity that revolutionized the film industry. That reliance continues to prove successful with alumni moving on to write and direct celebrity studded vehicles and create hit television series, produce multi-million dollar films. We can even throw in a few Oscar Nominees....

For more information ~ www.danceswithfilms.com or call 323.850.2929