Every week, I get several press releases, screening invitations and other notifications from a handful of studio contacts. While I won’t be sharing any information regarding my screening invites, some of the press releases might be of interest to my readers, so I thought I’d start sharing them in toto with all of you. These could include new image galleries for various films or important updates to upcoming releases from various smaller studios and art house production companies.

• Press Release: Big Time Public Relations’ Sundance Slate

Press Release: Big Time Public Relations’ Sundance Slate

Big Time is representing five films in Park City this year: DRUNKTOWN’S FINEST will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, while I PLAY WITH THE PHRASE EACH OTHER, HUNTINGTON’S DANCE, SKANKS, and THREE NIGHT STAND will do so at the Slamdance Film Festival.

Below please find additional information about all of our films. Let us know if you’re interested in reviews or interviews for any film – the filmmakers and stars of each will be in Park City for the festivals. We look forward to working with you!

DRUNKTOWN’S FINEST / NEXT Category / Sundance

On a beautifully desolate Navajo reservation in New Mexico, three young people – a college-bound, devout Christian; a rebellious and angry father-to-be; and a promiscuous but gorgeous transsexual – search for love and acceptance.

As the three find their lives becoming more complicated and their troubles growing, their paths begin to intersect. With little in common other than a shared heritage, they soon learn that the key to overcoming their respective obstacles may come from the most unlikely of sources, each other.

Inspired by a 20/20 story that called her hometown of Gallup, NM “Drunktown USA,” writer/director Sydney Freeland has constructed a moving and ultimately uplifting story about coming of age in the most challenging of circumstances while still finding hope, healing, and the chance for a better life.

DRUNKTOWN’S FINEST is written and directed by Sydney Freeland. The film stars Jeremiah Bitsui, Carmen Moore, Morningstar Angeline, Kiowa Gordon, Shauna Baker, and Elizabeth Francis. Producers are Chad Burris and Mateo Frazier. Executive Producer is Robert Redford. Music is by Mark Orton (Nebraska), Cinematography is by Peter A.Holland, acs, and Harry Yoon is editor.

DRUNKTOWN’S FINEST will have its World Premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in the NEXT category.

2014 Sundance Institute-Time Warner Fellowship Recipient
2010 Sundance Director’s Lab
2010 George and Dolores Eccles Directing Fellowship
2010 Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab
2010 New Mexico New Visions Award Winner
2009 Sundance Native American Lab

DRUNKTOWN’S FINEST will screen at the following dates and times:
Premiere Screening (limited press tickets available):
Saturday, January 18 at 3:00pm – The Yarrow Hotel Theatre

Press & Industry Screening
Tuesday, January 21 at 9:00am – Holiday 2

Additional Screenings (limited press tickets available):
Sunday, January 19 at 6:00pm – Temple Theatre
Tuesday, January 21 at 6:45pm – Broadway Centre Cinema 3 (Salt Lake City)
Friday, January 24 at 5:30pm – Prospector Square Theatre

SKANKS / Documentary Competition / Slamdance

In religion and football-obsessed Alabama, a community theatre in Birmingham, mounts an original musical called “Skanks in a One Horse Town” – an uproarious and ribald tale about three women, played by gay men, who accidentally travel from 1978 Studio 54 to 1878 Deep Hole, Texas via a disco ball time machine.

The feature documentary SKANKS follows the actors and creators of this musical from rehearsal through performance and after – at work, in their homes, and with their families.

Despite a city that can be unwelcoming at times and a culture that tells them in subtle and not subtle ways that they are second-class citizens, the cast of twenty-two bonds to form a family of sorts, and the play becomes the most successful in the theater’s history. SKANKS is about the redemptive power of theatre, the communities we create, and how humor and laughter can help overcome any obstacle.

The Director of SKANKS is David McMahon. McMahon also serves as producer, along with Alan Oxman. Editing is by Brendan Reed and Director of Photography is Cameron Cardwell. Original Music is by Flannery Hooks, with original songs by Flannery Hooks, Christoph Hooks, and Billy Ray Brewton.

SKANKS will have its World Premiere in Documentary Competition at the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival.

SKANKS will screen at the following dates and times (limited press tickets available):
Sunday, January 19 at 10:20am – Main Screening Room

Tuesday, January 21 at 8:10pm – Gallery Screening Room

HUNTINGTON’S DANCE / Documentary Competition / Slamdance

In 1995, 28-year-old Chris Furbee suddenly found himself the primary caregiver for his mother, who was dying of Huntington’s disease. She was in denial of her condition, disdainful of his help, and mourning the loss of her independence. Chris turned to his video camera for solace, chronicling his own anger, love, and frustration with this emaciated stranger who used to be his vibrant mother.

Huntington’s Disease is a brutal and unforgiving hereditary disease that slowly destroys the nervous system and mind of its victims. The diagnosis is always fatal. If one parent has the disease, their children have a 50% chance of also having it.

For 18 years, Chris continued to document his own journey from overwhelmed son, to angry victim, to energized activist. HUNTINGTON’S DANCE provides an intimate, raw, unsettling, and touching look at his family’s struggle to come to terms with a debilitating disease that threatens to ravage them all and how he, ultimately, chooses to move forward with hope for the future.

HUNTINGTON’S DANCE is directed by Chris Furbee. Producers are Chris Furbee, Herbert Bennett, Debra Sugerman, and Otis Bess. Herbert Bennett wrote and edited the film, while Otis Bess was Director of Photography. Original music is by Mike Furbee, Simon Kendall, and Gene Furbee.

HUNTINGTON’S DANCE will have its World Premiere in Documentary Competition at the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival.

HUNTINGTON’S DANCE will screen at the following dates and times (limited press tickets available):
Sunday, January 19th at 3:00PM – Gallery Screening Room
Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:45PM – Gallery Screening Room

THREE NIGHT STAND / Beyond Category / Slamdance

Carl has a great life. He’s recently married to the beautiful and smart Sue, and has a good job as a video game designer at a prestigious company. But Carl’s not satisfied – he desperately
wants a promotion, and more importantly, a marriage with greater excitement and inspiration. He organizes a weekend trip to a ski lodge where he plans to reconnect with Sue through relaxation, exercise and sexual adventure. But Carl has a secret: this isn’t his first trip to the B&B. Carl spent many passionate weekends here with Robyn his ex-girlfriend, whom he is still secretly obsessed with. Carl and Sue’s world is turned upside down when they arrive to find Robyn, still beautiful and enigmatic, running the lodge. Now, Carl will have to face the greatest temptation of his life – the one who got away.

The film, written and directed by Pat Kiely, stars Emmanuelle Chriqui (Entourage, DON’T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN, WRONG TURN), Sam Huntington (SUPERMAN RETURNS, FANBOYS), and Meaghan Rath (Being Human, LOST AND DELIRIOUS). Produced by Kiely and Brian Vroom, and executive produced by Marie-Claude Poulin, Pierre Even, Emily Alden, Meaghan Rath, and Brian Vroom. The film is a Canadian production, andPacific Northwest Pictures will distribute the film in Canada.
THREE NIGHT STAND will have its World Premiere in the Beyond Category at the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival.

THREE NIGHT STAND will screen at the following dates and times (limited press tickets available):
Sunday, January 19th at 310:20PM – Gallery Screening Room
Wednesday, January 22nd at 2:00PM – Main Screening Room

I PLAY WITH THE PHRASE EACH OTHER / Feature Competition / Slamdance

Jake is a neurotic young man who is persuaded by his friend Sean to leave his hometown to live in the big city. Sean is an eccentric poet who survives by swindling inexperienced customers on Craigslist. Upon arriving, Jake finds that Sean has disappeared and – alone, jobless, homeless, and broke – he struggles to fit into the city’s bleak, nocturnal landscape. Through riveting phone conversations the details of Jake’s strained relationships with distant friends, former lovers, and forgotten family are revealed.

Filmed in a stark monochrome against a backdrop of recession stricken America, I PLAY WITH THE PHRASE EACH OTHER is the first feature film composed entirely of cell phone calls (and was shot on an iPhone). In it screenwriter and director Jay Alvarez, along with his talented ensemble cast, has created a world that is both familiar and completely fantastical.

I PLAY WITH THE PHRASE EACH OTHER is written and directed by Jay Alzarez. It stars Will Hand, Jay Alvarez, Megan Kopp, and Alexander Fraser. Producers are Jay Alvarez, Ray Callaway, and Megan Kopp. Original music is by Evyn Oliver. Cinematography and editing are by Ray Callaway.

I PLAY WITH THE PHRASE EACH OTHER will screen at the following dates and times (limited press tickets available):
Saturday, January 18th at 1:10PM – Main Screening Room
Tuesday, January 24th at 4:20PM – Main Screening Room