THE HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND GUILD HALL SUMMERDOCS SERIES
CONTINUES IN AUGUST SHOWCASING
HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE, THE ZEN OF BENNETT AND ETHEL
Saturday, August 4th, Monday, August 13th and Friday, August 31st respectively
East Hampton, NY (July 26, 2012) – The Hamptons International Film Festival, working in partnership with Guild Hall, continues its annual SummerDocs series, with IFC’S HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE on Saturday, August 4th at 8pm at Guild Hall. Tony Bennett will appear with his film THE ZEN OF BENNETT at Guild Hall on Monday, August 13th at 8pm, and Rory Kennedy will bring the series to a close on Friday, August 31st at 8pm with a screening of the HBO documentary ETHEL. Alec Baldwin returns to host the series and will lead Q&A’s after each screening with the filmmakers and talent from the films.
First-time director and award-winning journalist David France (who has been covering the AIDS crisis for 30 years, first for the gay press and then for the New York Times and Newsweek, among others) chronicles the early years of the AIDS epidemic, a crisis that was still largely being ignored both by government officials and health organizations-until the sudden emergence of the activist group ACT UP. France culls from a huge amount of archival footage—most of it shot by the protestors themselves—to create not just an historical document, but also an intimate and visceral recreation of the period through the very personal stories of some of ACT UP’s leading participants. A handbook for all activists who want to make change, HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE captures both the joy and terror of those days, and the epic day-by-day battles that finally made AIDS survival possible. Deborah Dugan, the CEO of Bono’s RED Charity, which fights for an Aids Free Generation will join Alec Baldwin and David France after the screening for the conversation. Sundance selects will premiere the film on September 21st.
Created and conceived by son Danny Bennett, THE ZEN OF BENNETT is a seductive and soulful view into the mind of singer Tony Bennett as well as an intimate portrait of the artist’s creative process as he turns 85 years old. In a first person narrative, Tony reflects back over his 60-year career while looking ahead within the context of his latest recording project. We experience inspirational insights as Tony discusses his philosophies of life, lessons learned, and his passion for art and music. For more information on THE ZEN OF BENNETT, please visit www.zenofbennett.com
ETHEL traces the remarkable life of Ethel Kennedy, told by those who know Ethel best: her family. Directed by her Emmy® Award-winning daughter, Rory Kennedy, the film features candid interviews with Ethel and seven of her children. The film is a personal portrait of Ethel’s political awakening, the life she shared with Robert F. Kennedy, and the years following his death when she raised their 11 children on her own. Intimate, funny, and deeply moving, ETHEL offers a rare look inside a political dynasty strengthened by family bonds, a compassion for others, and a wisdom forged from both hardship and triumph. The film is scheduled to premiere on HBO in October.
“In our fourth season, SummerDocs presents films from wonderfully disparate perspectives and in different styles,” said HIFF Board member Alec Baldwin. “HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE, chronicling the work of ACT UP; THE ZEN OF BENNETT, a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Tony Bennett in the recording studio; and ETHEL, Rory Kennedy’s essay on her mother, all promise HIFF audiences and our other guests great film programming during Summer on the East End.”
“After a strong start in July, these 3 films cap off one of our strongest SummerDocs line ups to date ” said Hamptons International Film Festival Director of Programming David Nugent. “Offering our audiences on the east end of Long Island an alternative to the traditional summer fare is part of our mission as an organization, and we continue to be thrilled with this series’ popularity.”
The Hamptons International Film Festival greatly appreciates the support from their corporate sponsors including, American Airlines, Altour, Silvercup Studios, Baume & Mercier, Nicolas Feuillatte, Capital One, A&E and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
Tickets for the screenings are available for purchase at www.guildhall.org or at the Guild Hall Box Office.
The 20th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival will take place this year from October 4th – 8th.
ABOUT THE HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Hamptons International Film Festival was founded in 1993 to celebrate independent film – long, short, fiction and documentary – and to introduce a unique, varied spectrum of international films and filmmakers to the public. The Festival is committed to exhibiting films that express fresh voices and differing global perspectives, with the hope that these programs will enlighten audiences, provide invaluable exposure for filmmakers and present inspired entertainment for all. Taking place among the charming seaside historic villages of Long Island’s east end, the Hamptons International Film Festival’s intimate, informal atmosphere makes the festival an ideal destination for cinephiles. The 20th anniversary edition takes place over Columbus Day weekend, October 4th- 8th, 2012.
For more information about the Festival and to become a member, please visit our website at www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.
ABOUT GUILD HALL
Founded over 75 years ago, Guild Hall is the year-round arts center dedicated to serving the residents, members, families, and artists of the East End and offering them, as well as visitors and tourists, enriching experiences by presenting relevant and meaningful programs in the visual and performing arts, working in collaboration with artists, and providing a meeting place for the community. For more information and to become a member, visit www.guildhall.org.
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Lina Plath Clare Anne Darragh