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February 22, 2007

For Immediate Release

Palm Beach International Film Festival Gearing Up For 12th Annual Event With Exciting Programming Changes

PALM BEACH, FL., February 22, 2007 – The 12th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) announced today it will inaugurate several new events at this year’s festival, scheduled for April 19-26, 2007. The most exciting announcement is the installment of the first “World Showcase of Films.” This day long showcase will feature premieres of independent films from two new countries each year with this year’s focus on South Africa and Israel. The South African Showcase will take place on Monday, April 23rd and the Israeli Showcase is scheduled for Tuesday, April 24th in conjunction with Israeli Independence Day.

“With such a diverse population, it is important that we bring in filmmakers and pay tribute to the various backgrounds represented in our community,” explained Randi Emerman, Executive Director of the Palm Beach International Film Festival. “Because Israel and South Africa are so well represented in our local population, we are proud to honor films from those countries.”

Additional changes are on tap as well, the star-studded opening night will move to Boca Raton at Sunrise Cinemas in Mizner Park with a special opening night planned at Mizner Park. A Silent Film Fest will unspool for the first time in northern Palm Beach County at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre on Friday, April 20. The silent festival will feature live piano accompaniment partnered with several classic films with a Q&A followed by a silent film historian. Documentary films have always been a favorite at the fest and this year a tribute to the documentary filmmakers is planned on Sunday, April 22 called “Doc Day Afternoon.”

As festival programmers are busy narrowing nearly 1,000 films submitted to this year’s event to about 130; an expected announcement of the film schedule will come in March.

However, waiting until April to take part in the festival isn’t necessary. The festival is collaborating with the Mizner Centre of the Arts in presenting three classical and jazz music themed films during the first annual Festival of the Arts Boca. The first film presentation on Tuesday, March 6 is The Pianist starring 2003 PBIFF honoree Adrien Brody. On Thursday, March 8 The Cotton Club starring Richard Gere and Gregory Hines screens just prior to the jazz presentation of The Yellowjackets. The final film presentation is Memoirs of a Geisha with violin solos by Itzhak Perlman, scheduled to perform on Saturday of the event. All films screen at 2 pm at Sunrise Cinemas at Mizner Park. For tickets and information on the Festival of the Arts visit www.festivaloftheartsboca.org or call 866-571-2787.

The excitement of the 12th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival begins Thursday, April 19 and runs through Thursday, April 26. Additional activities, events, educational seminars and celebrity honorees will be announced in the coming months. For updates, schedules and ticket packages visit www.pbifilmfest.org or call  .

PBIFF is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization supporting film programs in local schools and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of future filmmakers by helping them fulfill their dreams to one-day work in the world of film.

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