First Tuesdays with The Midwest Independent Film Festival…
March 6th: Steel City, starring Golden Globe Winner America Ferrera!
2007 Golden Globe Award Winner America Ferrera (Best Actress in a Comedy, Ugly Betty) heads up an all-star cast in the Midwest independent drama, Steel City, written and directed by Alton, IL native Brian Jun, entirely shot and produced in Illinois. This superb ensemble includes Steppenwolf stalwart Laurie Metcalf, Prison Break’s John Heard and Raymond J. Barry, who has been nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his portrayal of the unyielding Uncle Vic in this film. The Midwest Independent Film Festival is honored to present Steel City on Tuesday, March 6th at 6:00 p.m. at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema in Chicago. Click here for the trailer!
JUST ADDED FOR TUESDAY! The Producers Panel, Presented by The Midwest Independent Film Festival: “Bringing Hollywood Talent to Midwest Films.” Click here for the complete list of panelists!
Synopsis: More at www.steelcitythemovie.com! A young man struggles to hold his family together while keeping his own life on track in this independent drama. P.J. Lee (Thomas Guiry) is a teenager growing up in a decaying industrial town in Illinois. Few kids have it easy where P.J.'s from, but he has it harder than most -- his parents split up several years ago, and P.J.'s father, Carl (John Heard), is in jail on vehicular manslaughter charges he's not likely to shake. P.J.'s big brother, Ben (Clayne Crawford), is married and has a life of his own, through his fondness for booze and other women suggests he's following the same sorry path as his dad. P.J.'s mother, Marianne (Laurie Metcalf), is remarried to a police officer, Randall (James McDaniel), and they have little to offer him other than a chance to join the police academy. When P.J. loses his job as a busboy, he finds he can no longer pay the rent on his house, and has a falling out with his girlfriend, Amy (America Ferrera), who works at the same diner. With nowhere else to go, P.J. moves in with his uncle Vic (Raymond J. Barry), but he soon begins to buckle under Vic's "straighten up and fly right" attitude. The first feature film from writer and director Brian Jun, Steel City was enthusiastically received during its premiere screening at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
On Tuesday, March 6th, the Pre-Show Cocktail Reception, sponsored by Goose Island Brewing Company, begins at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark, at 6 pm. Then join us as our shorts program begins promptly at 7:30 pm. Projection services are provided by sponsors Resolution Digital Studios, Mimi Productions and Zacuto. Post-screening reception will be held at Sausalito, 543 West Diversey. For more information, please visit www.midwestfilm.com.
NEXT EVENT: First Tuesdays with The Midwest Independent Film Festival continue Tuesday, April 3rd with an exclusive screening of the critically acclaimed hip-hop doc Rock The Bells. Director Casey Suchan scheduled to attend!
