First Tuesdays with the Midwest Independent Film Festival:
2009 festival launches with LA Film Festival award-winner The Poker House
Just added: Q&A with producer Peter Quartaroli follows the screening!
Chicago, IL – The Midwest Independent Film Festival launches its 2009 season of First Tuesday festivities with the award-winning drama The Poker House, the directorial debut of Iowa native and silver screen veteran Lori Petty. This gritty drama stars Selma Blair, David Alan Grier and newcomer Jennifer Lawrence, who earned the Outstanding Performance honor at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival.The First Tuesday festivities begin at 6 p.m. at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark, on Tuesday, February 3rd. JUST ADDED: Q&A with Poker House producer Peter Quartaroli follows the screening!
Our special advance screening of The Poker House is being presented by Our Children's Homestead.OCH is committed to assuring that abused, neglected and troubled children with special health care needs, will live safely and securely with a family in a permanent place called home.
Film Synopsis: Directed and co-written by Iowa native Lori Petty, co-written by and starring Michigan native David Alan Grier.Supporting cast includes Michigan native Selma Blair (Hellboy), newcomer Jennifer Lawrence and a wealth of Chicago talent.An ordinary day in young Agnes' life is anything but. With a strung-out mother, a pimp father figure, and a home overrun by gamblers, thieves, and johns, Agnes is simply trying to survive. Following Agnes and her two younger sisters on a day touched by tragedy and triumph, actor-turned-director Lori Petty presents a unique coming-of-age story that eschews predictability and indie tropes.
Opening Film:Verve, produced by Reverse Momentum Foundation for Our Children's Homestead. Directed by Rocco Cataldo, produced by Michael Kwielford, Robert Geniesse and Inga Howe.
Screening Information: Tuesday, February 3rd -- festivities begin with a Pre-Show Cocktail Reception (sponsored by GUINNESS Draught) at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema (2828 North Clark) at 6 p.m.The evening’s Producers Panel, presented by Reverse Momentum Foundation, will begin in the theatre at 6:30 p.m.The Poker House screens promptly at 7:30 p.m.Post-screening reception generously hosted by Forno Diablo, 433 West Diversey.General admission is $10 and includes entry into all of the evening’s festivities.
ABOUT THE MIDWEST INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
The Midwest Independent Film Festival is the nation's only film festival solely dedicated to the Midwest filmmaker, presenting audiences with regionally produced independent cinema every first Tuesday of the month at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark in Chicago.This year-round film festival sits proudly at the center of the independent film scene in Chicago and the Midwest and is dedicated to celebrating and strengthening that community. More information can be found on the Festival website: www.MidwestFilm.org.
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