Press Kit · 2014
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JUNE 2014 · THE LOWER EAST SIDE · NYC PRESS KIT · 2014 www.lesfilmfestival.com | © L.E.S FILM FESTIVAL, LLC P.1 PRESS | L.E.S. Film Festival www.lesfilmfestival.com | © L.E.S FILM FESTIVAL, LLC Writer/director Abel Ferrara's lush, impressionistic cinematography and introspective premise lingers days after screening. "I've worked with Abel three times. The more I work with him, the more I trust him," said Dafoe. "He presented me with a scenario, these little islands of activity, and we fleshed them out in the shooting. There was some written dialogue [and] there were some places where we departed and improvised. I think back story can help guide your choices, but when you're playing a scene, you're not making choices, you're just intuitive." 4:44's Lower East Side setting makes it a natural fit for the LES Film Festival. Proving that LES is indeed more, the LES Film Festival features the work of talented low budget filmmakers, showcasing their films in Lower East Side venues, including the Sunshine Cinema, Crosby Street Hotel and Grand Opening performance space on Norfolk Street. [Continued.] Read the Full Article Here: http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/444-last-day-on-earth-les-film-festival 4:44 Last Day On Earth NY Special Screening Where: Crosby Street Hotel Who was there: Guests included Willem Dafoe, Shanyn Leigh, Natasha Lyonne, Abel Ferrara, Jimi Celeste, Damon Cardasis, Shannon Walker, Roxy Hunt, Tony Castle, Giada Colagrande, and [Photo: Shanyn Leigh, Natasha Lyonne, Willem Dafoe] Roxy Hunt. Read full article here: http://guestofaguest.com/new-york/party-crasher/last-nights-parties-the-dvf-awards-and-kelly- ripa-and-anderson-cooper-host-bully-screening&slide=6 P.2 PRESS | L.E.S. Film Festival www.lesfilmfestival.com | © L.E.S FILM FESTIVAL, LLC “The last page is the first place most readers turn to in New York: “The Approval Matrix,” opposite Cover 3, offers a hilarious and spot- on assessment of the week’s pop culture news.” -NY Magazine This publication receives over 8 million media impressions (print and online) Read full article here: http://nymag.com/arts/all/approvalmatrix/71653/ www.lesfilmfestival.com | © L.E.S FILM FESTIVAL, LLC P.3 PRESS | L.E.S. Film Festival www.lesfilmfestival.com | © L.E.S FILM FESTIVAL, LLC LES Film Festival celebrates low-budget movies and adds celebrity judges MARCH 6TH, 2012 Damon Cardasis and Shannon Walker, the founders of the LES Film Festival and former NYU classmates, were trying to figure out a way to screen their joint mockumentary, “March,” when inspiration struck. “We were on a street corner one day and we were talking about doing some screenings in the city, and saying how we should see what other people are making in films for really low budgets,” Walker said of their a-ha moment. “Damon was like, ‘Why don’t we just create a film festival?’ And that will sort of be the theme: Low-budget films.” That led to last year’s wildly successful launch — and, now entering its sophomore year Tuesday night, there’s huge buzz about what’s up next. It doesn’t hurt that this year they’ve also added a few celebrity judges — including actress Susan Sarandon and singer Justin Bond. The pair partnered up with creative team Tony Castle and Roxy Hunt of BFD productions to launch last year’s festival with the kind of aesthetic and vibe fitting of the LES’ eclectic art scene. “Huge film festivals like Sundance or Tribeca cater a lot to studios, so it’s a David and Goliath situation,” Cardasis said. “There are a lot of people who are extremely creative but they just don’t stand a chance when they’re up against these humongous films with these humongous budgets, teams, producers and celebrities.” The festival will be held this year at three lower East Side locations: the Sunshine Cinema, the Crosby Street Hotel and its home base at Grand Opening. Besides Sarandon and Bond, GQ editor Logan Hill and noted photographer Harvey Wang will also judge. And Willem Dafoe will helm a Q&A session on his film “4:44 Last Day on Earth.” But the added element of celebrity hasn’t caused the grounded team to lose perspective. The foursome do everything from blog, hang flyers and select films to sweeping the floor and cleaning toilets. “I am festival director and toilet scrubber,” Walker laughed. To read the full article http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/les-film-festival-celebrates-low-budget-movies-adds-celebrity-judges- article-1.1033446#ixzz1tjpKG3yR P.4 PRESS | L.E.S. Film Festival www.lesfilmfestival.com | © L.E.S FILM FESTIVAL, LLC As we speak, there’s the Lower East Side Film Festival. Judges include Rebecca Miller. She’s Arthur Miller’s daughter. Daniel Day- Lewis’ wife. Also a Sundance winning writer and director. “This small festival began three years ago,” Rebecca said. “I’m no great expert, but I support really young people doing low-budget filmmaking. It’s wonderful homemade stuff. It’s chutzpah. “I personally critique 18 films, although there’s more. I look for a genuine authentic voice. Can be surreal or naturalistic. Style doesn’t matter. “I’m just trying to help them. Who knows where they’ll be in 10 to 15 years? With barely enough money to keep them going, it really depends on the response. Sometimes they show in drive-in movies.” Other than helping mankind, what else she doing? “Farrar Straus Giroux is publishing my book ‘Jacob’s Folly.’ It’s fiction. A contemporary rollicking story, dealing with a volunteer fireman, about a Jewish girl living on Long Island. It’s based on novels floating around in my head. “I write every day. Coffee immediately. After that, I work each morning after everyone’s off to school. I break about one then look around for a little extra breakfast. I write four hours. Kids come home at 4. When you’re alone, immersed in work, writing, without the joy of family, and you’re self motivated, it’s a lonely job.” Read the full article here: http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/cindy_adams/low_budget_films_get_boost_zACqiEHxr88iWWwRjfrmkK 101 things to do in the summer in New York City 2013 If TriBeCa was too rich for your blood, the LES Film Festival is for you. Now in its third year, this ten-day series concentrates on independent, low-budget shorts and feature films, and throws in a couple of parties for good measure. Most screenings ($12) are programmed thematically—animation, docs, made in New York, mind f*ck (yes, you have our attention) to name but a few. A judging panel that includes Judah Friedlander and downtown duo AndrewAndrew will pick the best in six categories and dole out the awards at a free party (Crosby Street Hotel; June 21 6–10pm; reservations required). Look for announcements before June starts regarding the outdoor block party and drive-in (June 16 6–10pm). Visit lesfilmfestival.com for a complete schedule and tickets. Read the full article here: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/101-things-to-do-in-the-summer-in-new- york-city-2013?pageNumber=10 P.5 PRESS | L.E.S. Film Festival www.lesfilmfestival.com | © L.E.S FILM FESTIVAL, LLC Exclusive: L.E.S.* Festival to Feature ‘Having You’ and ‘History of Future Folk’ David Ehrlich May 14, 2013 In three short years, the Lower East Side Film Festival has become one of the most exciting under the radar film events in all of New York City. Indeed, the festival – which emphasizes films made on tight budgets – has so much to offer that the fact that all of the screening venues are within 100 paces of my apartment isn’t even the most exciting part about it. Occupying some of the finest and most festival perfect theaters in all of Manhattan, the L.E.S.* Fest has quickly evolved from the cool, BYOB-style vibe of its inaugural edition to a really cool and excellently curated BYOB-style vibe, complete with neat (but low- key) celebrity guests and unexpectedly major premieres (last year, L.E.S.* snagged the NY bow of Abel Ferrara’s “4:44: Last Day on Earth,” beating the esteemed NYFF to the punch). This year’s fest kicks off on June 13, with a screening of “How to Follow Strangers,” and Film.com is pleased to announce that two excellent titles – “Having You,” starring Anna Friel, and Fantastic Fest sensation “History of Future Folk” – have been added to the fest’s ever-expanding lineup. Check out the trailers below, and don’t forget to pick up your tickets when they go on sale tomorrow. Visit L.E.S.* Fest’s website for more info, and I hope to see you there! Read the full article here: http://www.film.com/movies/exclusive-l-e-s-festival-to-feature-having-you-and- history-of-future-folk March 4th, 2012 Read The Full Article Here: http://flavorpill.com/newyork/events/2012/3/6/les-film-festival P.6 PRESS | L.E.S. Film Festival www.lesfilmfestival.com | © L.E.S FILM FESTIVAL, LLC LES Film Festival 2012 is Bigger, Still Eccentric; Includes Dolly Parton, Dustin Lance Black and Susan Sarandon The LES Film Festival, which will run March 6-18 in Manhattan, has announced its 2012 lineup with films starring Dolly Parton, Dustin Lance Black, Olivia Munn and Lizzy Caplan. The festival also features an expanded list of Lower East Side venues and a jury that includes Susan Sarandon and photographer-filmmaker Harvey Wang.