2006 BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL
Films, Events and Screening Schedule

All screening will take place at the Tribeca Cinemas, 54, Varick Street, New York, NY.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

6:00 p.m. - Program 1

BAFF opening night short film serieS

Fragments

Short Film
Director: David Paterson
Running Time: 8 min : 02 sec
Synopsis: Life and death, callousness and compassion, ignorance and denial; all these create that historical memory we call 9/11.

 

Eyewitness

Short film
Director: William Davis
Running Time: 2 min : 45 sec
Synopsis: The scene takes place in the office of a psychologist, who listens to a client relate his experience of being abducted by aliens and having undergone experiments involving surgical equipment.

 

Little Man

Short film
Director: Damon Maulucci
Running Time: 10 min : 02 sec
Synopsis: Pissed off that he is once again left to fend for himself, an 8-year-old boy learns to stand up for himself in one night.

 

The Tested

Short film
Director: Russell Costanzo
Running Time: 29 min
Synopsis: The Tested' follows Dre, 16, as he struggles with the possibility of joining a gang. It's the last day leading up to his initiation: to shoot a total stranger in broad daylight. Is it possible for him to make the right choice, or is the whole thing bigger than he is?

 

Shift

Short film
Director: Jonathan Yi
Running Time: 36 min
Synopsis: A young struggling actor works the night shift of a mailroom and enters an industrial world dominated by rage and exhaustion that he will never forget.
www.shiftcinema.com

 

8:15 p.m. - PROGRAM 2

BAFF opening night premiere event

Key Chain

Short film
Director: Pei-Lin Kuo
Running Time: 5 min : 18 sec
Synopsis: Key Chain' is a story about the Electra complex. A fiction film that explores the conflict between subconscious and conscious.
www.peilinkuo.com

 

The Wine Bar

Short Film
Director: Christian Remde
Running Time: 11 min : 30 sec
Synopsis: On a winter night in New York City, an average guy, Henry, wanders into an upscale wine bar looking for a beer. Obviously out of place, Henry innocently offends both the snooty Bartender and Evelyn, the pretty young woman quietly reading next to him. When Evelyn's hotheaded boyfriend, comes in looking for a fight, Henry decides to take matters into his own hands. The Wine Bar is a short comedy about saying what you mean and not judging a
book by its cover.
www.thewinebarmovie.com

 

Johnny Slade's Greatest Hits

Feature Film
Director: Larry Balmire
Running Time: 85 min
Synopsis: Down-and-out lounge singer Johnny Slade is hired by a mystery man to open a hot new club, the catch being he's given a new--and terrible--song to sing each night. Noticing that whenever he sings one a new crime is committed, Johnny gradually realizes his songwriter-benefactor is a powerful mob boss in hiding and his "Greatest Hits" are the only way the man can give orders to his crew.
Cast: John Fiore, Vincent Curatola, Robert Giardina, Richard Portnow, Frank Santorelli, Jennifer Blaire, Red Peters, Dolores Sirianni, Joe Gannascol.
www.johnnyslade.com

 

10:00 P.M.

BAFF Opening Night Party in the Tribeca Cinemas Reception Lounge

Complimentary beer sponsored by Stella Artois

Friday, November 17, 2006

6:00 p.m. - PROGRAM 1

Prescription For Disaster

Feature Documentary
Director: Gary Null
Running Time: 1 hr : 28 min
Synopsis: Prescription For Disaster is an in-depth investigation into the symbiotic relationships between the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA, lobbyists, lawmakers, medical schools, and researchers, and the impact this has on consumers and their healthcare.
During this thorough investigation, we take a close look at patented drugs, why are they so readily prescribed by doctors, the role insurance companies and HMO's play in promoting compliance, and the problem of rising health care costs. We will examine the marketing and public relations efforts on behalf of the pharmaceutical companies, including sales reps, medical journals and conferences.
www.garynull.com

 

8:00 p.m. - PROGRAM 2

Everything’s Jake

NYC SPOTLIGHT SCREENING
Feature Film
Director: Matthew Miele
Running Time: 1 hr: 34 min
Synopsis: Within the most storied city in the world lives Jake, a man who can truly call Manhattan his home. Jake’s charming existence is discovered by Cameron, a man who feels like a stranger wherever he goes, with seemingly everything to live for, but now without anywhere to turn. When their unlikely friendship is formed, Jake’s unique way of life will be uncovered. A life no one ever thought possible or to even exist. His was a life lived with heart and spirit and a story that has remained untold. A man unknowingly holding the answer to what Cameron has been missing and everyone has been searching for. In Cameron’s search for the man with nothing, he found everything.
Cast: Ernie Hudson, Graeme Malcolm, Debbie Allen, Lou Myers, Willis Burks, David Smyrl, Stephen Furst, Robin Givens

 

ERNIE HUDSON HONORARY AWARD PRESENTATION (following the screening of “Everything’s Jake”)

The Big Apple Film Festival will present Actor Ernie Hudson with a lifetime achievement award for accomplishments in film and television. His legendary career spans over 100 film and television credits. Mr. Hudson’s feature film and television credits include HBO’s “Oz”, “Everything’s Jake”, "The Jazz Singer," "The Main Event," "Space Hunter," "Penitentiary II," "Going Berserk," "The Joy of Sex", “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle” and, of course, the mega-hit "Ghostbusters." Mr. Hudson is currently co-starring on the television series “Desperate Housewives”.
www.ernie-hudson.com

10:00 P.M.

BAFF After Party at the Tribeca Cinemas Reception Lounge

Complimentary beer sponsored by Stella Artois

Saturday, November 18, 2006

12:00 P.M. - Program 1

Shepherds

Short Film
Director: Florence Buchanan and Karen McIntyre
Running Time: 7 min: 40 sec
Synopsis: Dogs never lie, but people do. Jake and Lucy are too proud to admit they still love each other. Fortunately, their German Shepherds drag them together, and force them to confront their feelings at last.

 

Home

NYC SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY SCREENING
Feature Documentary
Director: Dawn Scibilia
Running Time: 1 hr: 10 min
Synopsis: Home is a visual poem in which a Dubliner, along with a host of celebrities, reflect on the concept of home, nostalgia and his recent immigration to New York City.
Cast: Alan Cooke, Mike Myers, Woody Allen, Rosie Perez, Liam Neeson, Susan Sarandon, Pete Hamill, Frank McCourt, Colin Quinn, Fran Lebowitz, Alfred Molina, Malachy McCourt

 

2:00 P.M. - Program 2

FREE PANEL DISCUSSION: Indie Film Distribution

The 2006 Big Apple Film Festival presents a free panel discussion on the ever- growing world of independent film distribution. The interactive discussion will include information on distribution trends, strategic marketing for independent films and new distribution opportunities available to independent filmmakers today.

The panel discussion will include special guests Cleo Godsey, Director of Business Affairs, First Run Features, Jason Leaf, co-president, Avatar Films and writer/producer David Paterson. The panel will be moderated by Aaron Levine of the Gen Art Film Division.

 

3:30 P.M. - Program 3

Gilbert

Animation
Director: Patrick Kelly
Running Time: 4 min
Synopsis: Homosexual one-eyed chickens, drug crazed 10 year olds, over sexed blobs, crooked cops, greedy children, homeless worms, sentimental robots, and high adventure. Living life a thousand times harder than you do, Gilbert makes no judgments and no excuses.

 

Mirage

Animation
Director: Youngwoong Jang
Running Time: 8 min: 25 sec
Synopsis: MIRAGE is a story about my life as a collector having endless desires. Main character is a bio-mechanic robot who has to fill his glass chest with water in order to sustain his life. This story happens in water but the robot cannot recognize it. He just wants to get more water. The robot character appears with a small stem. He squeezes a small stem to get a water droplet and takes it into his glass chest. He continues to collect water droplet from small stems to huge stems. During his journey, he meets a fish. Both need water.

 

Jukebox

Animation
Director: Alex Budovsky
Running Time: 3 min
Synopsis: This animation is based on the song “Jukebox” and original drawings by Jim Avignon (aka Neoangin) from his album “Scratchbook”.

 

Coven

Experimental
Director: Arden Wohl
Running Time: 12 min
Synopsis: The film, based on the historical children's story 'Hansel and Gretel', written by the Brother's Grimm, takes on a naturalistic, realistic approach to the tale. The film centers on Gretel, and her coming of age with a Witch who resides in the forest. Gretel learns sorcery and takes revenge on her Stepmother as part of an initiation into a Coven.
Voice-over performance by Leelee Sobieski

 

Intoxicated Demons

Short Film
Director: Donlee Brussel
Running Time: 12 min : 30 sec
Synopsis: How do you get over your last girlfriend? Drinking, ranting, raving, taking a ride home from a total stranger...

 

Closing Time – Storia Di Un Negozio

Short Documentary
Director: Veronica Diaferia
Running Time: 30 min : 30 sec
Synopsis: The family, the neighborhood, the way the city changes in a blink of an eye.

 

Pitch

Short Film
Director: Ian Gelfand
Running Time: 20 min
Synopsis: Two NYU film grads, hot off the success of their smash hit student film, prepare to pitch their big action movie to a film studio, in hopes of making the leap to “the next level”.

 

The Apologist

Short Film
Director: Guy Shahar
Running Time: 7 min
Synopsis: Joe is a serial apologist. Totally self-absorbed, he says 'I'm sorry' so often, even he doesn't know what the words mean anymore—that is, until a female he tramples refuses his apology. Face to face with his own hypocrisy, he learns just how powerful sincerity can be.

 

Helen At Risk

Short Film
Directors: Jim Elliot and Gedney Webb
Running Time: 14 min
Synopsis: Armed with only empathy and her belief in the redemptive power of Art, Helen Briggs teaches a mask-making workshop at the state penitentiary. When confronted with disinterested prison guards, rowdy inmates, and her unsteady nerves, Helen realizes this is no ordinary art class. One woman in a room full of prisoners: anything can happen.

6:00 P.M. - Program 4

BAFF HORRORFEST SERIES

Witchwise

Short Film
Director: Joe Harris
Running Time: 13 min
Synopsis: Everyone adores Andrew, including his old Aunt Mary. Rather, she did... until she died. Now, standing at her funeral, his Aunt’s casket open before him, Andrew reflects on the last time he saw Mary alive, the shocking events that led to her death and the terrible secret she took to her grave.

 

Shocked Jock

Short Film
Director: Michael Warner
Running Time: 16 min
Synopsis: A shock jock’s worst nightmare becomes reality when a listener kidnaps his 4-year-old daughter and calls into the radio show to take control. 'Nightmare... ON AIR'

 

Erie Road

Short Film
Director: Michael Weinstein
Running Time: 23 min
Synopsis: The mother of an Erie University Freshman named Chris Graven
was murdered one year ago. His father is a pathologist in the morgue who's been analyzing the numerous amounts of murders in the town. His mother's death has been extremely difficult for Chris and all he wants to do is find out who's responsible. On his way to a therapy session, he gets into a near accident with a girl who he finds very attractive. After agreeing to go on a date that night, he finds himself in an unusual home that might give him all the answers.

 

Penny Dreadful

Short Film
Director: Bryon Norton
Running Time: 29 min: 30 sec
Synopsis: Jessica and David Clausen are a young upstart couple that inherit a beautiful brownstone townhouse in NYC's West Village District. But does the house hold a terrible secret?

 

8:00 P.M. - Program 5

BAFF CLOSING NIGHT PROGRAM

Blankout

Short Film
Director: Perrine Gauthier
Running Time: 8 min: 49 sec
Synopsis: 'Blankout' takes you to the abyss of the mind of a writer lacking for inspiration,... and for lucidity.
www.myspace.com/cameoproductions

 

Searching For Bobby D.

Feature Film
Director: Paul Borghese
Running Time: 105 min
Synopsis: Johnny Argano, a young Italian-American actor born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., is frustrated with his lackluster career and also with how he and his actor friends are frequently typecast. Obsessed with meeting and getting to work with his idol Robert DeNiro, Johnny writes his own screenplay and sets out with a few of his buddies to try to raise the money and make the movie and to get Robert DeNiro to star in it with them.
Cast: William DeMeo, Tyson Beckford, Sandra Bernhard, Carmen Electra, Elizabeth Hendrickson, Tony Darrow, Frank Pellegrino, Karen Lynn Gorney, Kevin Dobson, Louis Vanaria, James Madio, Mario Cantone, Michael Nouri.

BAFF CLOSING NIGHT AWARDS CEREMONY (In the theater following the closing night program)

10:00 P.M.

BAFF Closing Night Party in the Tribeca Cinemas Reception Lounge

Complimentary beer sponsored by Stella Artois