Aruba International Film Festival

Academy Award® nominated actor and filmmaker Griffin Dunne ("After Hours," "40 Days and 40 Nights," "Game 6," "Johnny Dangerously") will present the world premiere of his short comedy titled "Veronica" at the Aruba International Film Festival (AIFF) today - Sunday, June 6 - at 6:30pm at Paseo Herencia (screening room 2). The surprise announcement was made today by AIFF Artistic Director Claudio Masenza.

Dunne's short is part of GreeneStreet Films' series of 17 short comedies from an eclectic group of Hollywood's most accomplished and reckognized comedy directors and actors, which will form the basis of a unique full-length theatrical comedy feature that will be released in early 2011.

Already shot are films by Peter Farrelly, Brett Ratner, Bob Odenkirk, Steve Carr, Griffin Dunne, Elizabeth  Banks, Steve Brill, Will Graham and others.  Among the talent starring in the films are Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Richard Gere, Naomi Watts, Liev Schrieber, Julianne Moore, Gerard Butler, Seann William Scott, Johnny Knoxville,  Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Mintz Plasse, Anna Faris, Kate Bosworth, Tony Shalhoub and Chloe Moretz, to name a few.

Dunne's segment stars Kieran Culkin ("The Cider House Rules," "Igby Goes Down," the upcoming "Scott Pilgrim vs the World") and Emma Stone ("Superbad," "House Bunny," "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," "Zombieland") and was shot in New York earlier this year.

The film is being produced by Peter Farrelly, Charlie Wessler, John Penotti and Ryan Kavanaugh.
Executive  producers are Tim Williams of GreeneStreet Films and Tucker Tooley of Relativity Media with Tom Gormican and Marc Ambrose co-producing. Witness Protection Films is also a production company partner.

The inaugural Aruba International Film Festival runs through June 11, 2010. In addition to Dunne's surprise premiere showing, the Festival has a full schedule of screenings and special events. On the whole, AIFF will showcase over 30 films from nearly 20 different countries, featuring several international premieres and many Caribbean/South American premieres.

The Festival kicked off on Friday, June 4th with "Hachiko" starring Richard Gere, who opened the Festival as its official host. In addition to opening the Festival, Gere is being bestowed with a special humanitarian award and participating in the Festival's signature "In Conversations With" series.

The afternoon of Sunday, June 6th is dedicated to showing the AIFF SPOTLIGHT SERIES, films of special interest to the Aruban community. Five of the movie theaters at the Festival site will be showing a total of 15 films, all created by filmmakers from the Caribbean.

Fox Searchlight's comedy "Cyrus," directed by Jay and Mark Duplass and starring John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei and Catherine Keener, is the closing night film.

The full AIFF program is available online at http://www.arubafilmfest.com/. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the AIFF's office at Paseo Herencia. Tickets are available in a variety of price ranges, from a simple movie ticket to packages of multi-event attendance, to top accreditation tickets for VIP events.

The breathtaking Caribbean island of Aruba provides the backdrop for the film industry's newest "must-attend" event, taking place June 4-11, 2010, with an inviting atmosphere, suited like none other, to attract actors, directors, filmmakers, and film lovers for a one-of-a-kind festival experience.

AIFF stands to further global awareness for the Island of Aruba as a center of art, culture and creativity and serve as a platform to promote the understanding and appreciation for the art of cinema and filmmaking. With participants enjoying a relaxed Aruban ambiance and a casual interaction between filmmakers and audience.

The annual AIFF will bring people from around the world to view a wide selection of films, join in discussions and attend special parties and events.

AIFF has a mission to encourage, educate and activate young Aruban filmmakers. Throughout the Festival, notable film professionals will be conducting master classes on all facets of filmmaking and the creative process.

For more information please visit the Aruba International Film Festival website at http://www.arubafilmfest.com/