The 2015 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival (WillFilm) celebrating its 6th year, will run Thursday, November 19 to Sunday, November 22, 2015. For the second year in a row, the Festival will be screening at the Cinema at the Wythe Hotel.
The opening night spotlight film of WillFilm 6 is THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES, written and directed by indie filmmaker Phil Allocco starring Fran Kranz (THE CABIN IN THE WOODS), Oddette Annable (THE ASTRONAUTS’ WIVES CLUB) Mary Elizabeth Ellis (IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA), and Colleen Camp (AMERICAN HUSTLE).
The festival will world premiere the film AMOK, directed by Rick Rodgers. The film is about a husband and father, Josh Hamilton (THE BOURNE IDENTITY, MADAME SECRETARY), who is haunted by events from his childhood. AMOK also stars ACADEMY AWARD Nominated actress Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (THE COLOR OF MONEY, GRIMM) and TONY AWARD winner Kate Burton (127 HOURS, SCANDAL). The cast and crew will attend the opening night party and a talkback following the screening.
The US premiere of THE TRAIN, written and directed by Asher Grodman will be another special screening. Inspired by a true story, it is the final screen role of ACADEMY AWARD Winner Eli Wallach. Steven Spielberg is on record calling it ‘a fitting exit for a grand master of the performing arts.’ THE TRAIN tells the story of a preoccupied young man, who reluctantly agrees to meet his girlfriend’s grandfather and learns that life can change in a moment. The festival will also screen the feature debut of Timothy Busfield’s (THIRTY-SOMETHING, FIELD OF DREAMS, SLEEPY HOLLOW) ONE SMART FELLOW. It stars and was co-written by Busfield, Melissa Gilbert and Laura Innes. The festival also includes a short, RAISE THE TOYGIGANTIC, by returning producer/director, Gail Lerner (WILL & GRACE, HAPPY ENDINGS, BLACK-ISH). The director debuted her short, GIRLS SEASONS 38, at the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival in 2013.
Lynn Shelton will present her short MINIMUM WAGE, starring Sara Ramos (PARENTHOOD). Shelton, originally from the UK, regularly directs on television (THE MINDY PROJECT, THE NEW GIRL), and her film YOUR SISTER’S SISTER screened at The Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festivals.
The full schedule of festival screenings and events will be announced in early November. Participants include actors Melissa Gilbert (LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, SECRETS AND LIES), Ray Wise (TWIN PEAKS, MAD MEN, FRESH OFF THE BOAT), Fran Kranz (CABIN IN THE WOODS), Randy Harrison (QUEER AS FOLK, Mr. ROBOT), Josh Hamilton*, Timothy Busfield*, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio*, Aaron Lazar (THE WOLF OF WALL STREET) and Treat Williams (HAIR, PRINCE OF THE CITY, 1941).
The east coast premiere of INDIGO GREY; THE PASSAGE. produced and shot in Brooklyn, features an original score by Evanescence’s Amy Lee, Dave Eggar and Chuck Palmer.
Past honorees and guests include Frank Walley, Cathy Moriarty, Dakota Fanning, Skeet Ulrich, Keir Gilchrist, Chloe Dahl, Gail Lerner, Rene Balcer, Michael Urie, Illeana Douglas, and Julia Ormand.Williamsburg Independent Film Festival
The mission of the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival is to nurture and celebrate new and independent film makers in the mecca of hipster and progressive culture., Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Williamsburg Independent Film Festival started in 2010 and takes place in New York, New York
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THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES, World Premiere of AMOK, Among Lineup for 2015 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival
The 2015 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival (WillFilm) celebrating its 6th year, will run Thursday, November 19 to Sunday, November 22, 2015. For the second year in a row, the Festival will be screening at the Cinema at the Wythe Hotel.
The opening night spotlight film of WillFilm 6 is THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES, written and directed by indie filmmaker Phil Allocco starring Fran Kranz (THE CABIN IN THE WOODS), Oddette Annable (THE ASTRONAUTS’ WIVES CLUB) Mary Elizabeth Ellis (IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA), and Colleen Camp (AMERICAN HUSTLE).
The festival will world premiere the film AMOK, directed by Rick Rodgers. The film is about a husband and father, Josh Hamilton (THE BOURNE IDENTITY, MADAME SECRETARY), who is haunted by events from his childhood. AMOK also stars ACADEMY AWARD Nominated actress Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (THE COLOR OF MONEY, GRIMM) and TONY AWARD winner Kate Burton (127 HOURS, SCANDAL). The cast and crew will attend the opening night party and a talkback following the screening.
The US premiere of THE TRAIN, written and directed by Asher Grodman will be another special screening. Inspired by a true story, it is the final screen role of ACADEMY AWARD Winner Eli Wallach. Steven Spielberg is on record calling it ‘a fitting exit for a grand master of the performing arts.’ THE TRAIN tells the story of a preoccupied young man, who reluctantly agrees to meet his girlfriend’s grandfather and learns that life can change in a moment. The festival will also screen the feature debut of Timothy Busfield’s (THIRTY-SOMETHING, FIELD OF DREAMS, SLEEPY HOLLOW) ONE SMART FELLOW. It stars and was co-written by Busfield, Melissa Gilbert and Laura Innes. The festival also includes a short, RAISE THE TOYGIGANTIC, by returning producer/director, Gail Lerner (WILL & GRACE, HAPPY ENDINGS, BLACK-ISH). The director debuted her short, GIRLS SEASONS 38, at the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival in 2013.
Lynn Shelton will present her short MINIMUM WAGE, starring Sara Ramos (PARENTHOOD). Shelton, originally from the UK, regularly directs on television (THE MINDY PROJECT, THE NEW GIRL), and her film YOUR SISTER’S SISTER screened at The Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festivals.
The full schedule of festival screenings and events will be announced in early November. Participants include actors Melissa Gilbert (LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, SECRETS AND LIES), Ray Wise (TWIN PEAKS, MAD MEN, FRESH OFF THE BOAT), Fran Kranz (CABIN IN THE WOODS), Randy Harrison (QUEER AS FOLK, Mr. ROBOT), Josh Hamilton*, Timothy Busfield*, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio*, Aaron Lazar (THE WOLF OF WALL STREET) and Treat Williams (HAIR, PRINCE OF THE CITY, 1941).
The east coast premiere of INDIGO GREY; THE PASSAGE. produced and shot in Brooklyn, features an original score by Evanescence’s Amy Lee, Dave Eggar and Chuck Palmer.
Past honorees and guests include Frank Walley, Cathy Moriarty, Dakota Fanning, Skeet Ulrich, Keir Gilchrist, Chloe Dahl, Gail Lerner, Rene Balcer, Michael Urie, Illeana Douglas, and Julia Ormand.
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5th Williamsburg Independent Film Festival Opens November 20th
Like Sunday Like RainThe Williamsburg Independent Film Festival celebrates its 5th year opening on Thursday, November 20 and running through Sunday, November 23, 2014. Launched in 2010, the festival has showcased independent films from around the world, many with a focus on Williamsburg and Brooklyn.
According to Peter Bloch, a Co-Director of the festival, “Final selections for the festival were completed on October 21, from among 272 entries by emerging film makers in 53 countries. This is the largest international response that WillFilm has had and it shows that Williamsburg and Brooklyn continue to inspire and draw creative people from around the globe.” After four very well received years at IndieScreen, the film festival looks forward to a move this November to its new home at the Wythe Hotel on the Northside. “Everyone will enjoy the screenings and celebrating these talented storytellers at the Wythe Hotel and they will feel right at home in this new venue.”
The schedule of festival screenings includes the premieres of Like Sunday Like Rain, directed by Frank Whaley and starring Debra Messing, Billie Joe Armstrong and Leighton Meester. The opening night spotlight film of WillFilm 5 is the NYC premier of LIKE SUNDAY LIKE RAIN, written and directed by Frank Whaley (PULP FICTION, SWIMMING WITH SHARKS). This is Mr. Whaley’s fourth film as writer/director- his first film, JOE THE KING premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival and won the prestigious Waldo Salt Award. As an actor he has appeared in over seventy-five films. The Festival will also feature the directorial debut of Skeet Ulrich (AS GOOD AS IT GETS, SCREAM). Ulrich’s film THE GIRL ON THE ROOF, stars Todd Lowe and Lenny James.
Also, featured, Recursion directed Tony & Olivier Award Nominee Sam Buntrock and starring Tony Nominee Rob McClure. Another notable entry includes “1946″ starring British actor Andrew Buchan. It depicts Jimmy Stewart’s life crisis before accepting his iconic role in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Other entries feature cameo performances by Doris Roberts and Courtney Cox. Past honorees and guests include Cathy Moriarty, Federico Castellucio, Skeet Ulrich, Keir Gilchrist, Chloe Dahl, Gail Lerner, Rene Balcer, Michael Urie,Illeana Douglas, Daryl Roth, and Julia Ormand.