Full Lineup of Films for Palm Beach International Women's Film Fest

PBWIFF 2011 FILMS:
(Films and special events are subject to change)
A complete film schedule will be available at www.pbwiff.com after March 10

FEATURES

EntreNos
Producer: Joseph de la Morte and Michael Skolnik
Directors: Paola Mendoza & Gloria La Morte
Writer: Paola Mendoza & Gloria La Morte
Cast: Paola Mendoza, Sebastian Villada Lopez &Laura Montana Cortez
2010, USA     
Spanish w/ English subtitles  
80 minutes      
Abruptly abandoned by her husband in a country completely foreign to her,Colombian native Mariana struggles to take care of herself and her two youngchildren on the unforgiving streets of New York City.   Based looselyon her autobiography, writer/director Paola Mendoza also stars in this gritty,independent drama with an upbeat ending.   

HabanaEva
Southern Premiere-- (Winner, New York Latino Film Festival)
Producers: Fina Torres, Marco Mundarain, Camilo Vivres
Director: Fina Torres
Writer: Fina Torres, Julio Carrillo, Jorge Camacho
Cast: Prakriti Maduro, Yuliet Cruz, Carlos Enrique Almirante
2010, Cuba, Venezuela, France
Spanish w/ English subtitles
97 minutes
In Havana, shaken by Fidel's retirement, a young seamstress, trapped in asweatshop job, dreams of designing beautiful dresses.   Frustrated byher lazy though adorable Cuban boyfriend, she meets a sophisticated ex-patriotCuban/Venezuelan who dazzles her with a glamorous future.  After manysurprises, Eva has to choose between the two men she loves.   Hers isan unexpected decision... a humorous metaphor of Cuba's options for thefuture.        

HannahFree - LGBT Sidebar - (Best PictureMontreal Gay & Lesbian Film Fest)
Producers: Claudia Allen, Tracy Baim, Wendy Jo Carlton, Sharon Gless, MartieMarro, Sharon
Zurek
Director: Wendy Jo Carlton
Writer: Claudia Allen
Stars: Sharon Gless, Maureen Gallagher and Kelli Strickland
2009, USA                                   
86 minutes
Hannah and Rachel grew up as little girls in the same small Midwest town, wheretraditional gender expectations eventually challenge their deep love for oneanother. Hannah becomes an adventurous, unapologetic lesbian and Rachel astrong but quiet homemaker. Weaving back and forth between past and present,the film reveals how the women maintained their love affair despite a marriage,a world war, infidelities, and family denial.

In Another Lifetime 
Florida Premiere
Producers: Silke Hassler, Peter Turrini
Director:  Elisabeth Scharang
Writer: Elisabeth Scharang
Cast: Ursula Strauss, Johannes Krisch, Orsolya Toth, Peter Vegh, RafaelGoldwasser, Franzika Singer, August Schmolzer, Rainner Egger
2010, Austria, Germany
German with English subtitles
91 minutes
In the waning days of WWII, a band of Jewish prisoners on a death march toMauthausen camp in an Austrian hay barn.  An opera singer from Budapestconvinces his fellow prisoners to stage an operetta, hoping to win theprotection of the locals but instead sparks a conflict of emotions among thevillagers, ranging from senseless hate to a longing for the humanity of music.

Leading Ladies - Closing Night
East Coast Premiere
Producer: Daniel Beahm        
Directors: Erika& Daniel Beahm
Writer: Erika Beahm & Jennifer Bechtel
Cast: Laurel Vail, Shannon Lea Smith, Benji Schwimmer &Melanie Le Patiin
2010, USA     
English
102 minutes    
An overbearing ballroom dancing stage mom and her two daughters must redefinetheir roles in life and on the dance floor as each learns to "let lovelead". 

MyYear Without Sex
Producer: Bridgit Ikin
Director: Sarah Watt
Writer: Sarah Watt
Cast: Sacha Horfer & Matt Day        
2010,Australia           
English           
96 minutes      
Love and life are just a sneeze away for Natalie when she suffers ananeurysm.  Her doctor's advice: avoid heavy lifting, straining on thetoilet, sneezing and orgasms. Over the year, we watch her and her husband dealwith recovery, sexual and domestic frustration, faith, temptation, and tryingto maintain a "normal" life for their children in this touchinglyfunny film.

Starring Maja
East Coast Premiere
Producer: Sandra Harms        
Director: Teresa Fabrik
Writer: Teresa Fabrik
Cast: Zandra Andersson, Moa Silen, AnastasiosSoulis        
2009, Sweden
Swedish w/ English subtitles 
91 minutes
Maja is an overweight, socially awkward girl who dreams about being an actress,and Alex appears to be handsome and popular boy yet has secret dreams ofhis own. This bright film about growing up boldly touches on loneliness and"otherness" yet creates hope and new alternatives.   

Om Obama
US Premiere
Director: Janaki Viswanathan
2010, India
Tamil w/English subtitles                         
99 minutes
A comedy about a South Indian village that believes that Obama can savethem so they pray for his success in the presidential campaign.  AnAmerican journalist sets out to find out the back story.

Opal
East Coast Premiere
Producer: Jason  Cohen
Director: Dina Ciraulo
Writer: Dina Ciraulo
Cast: Nayeli Adorador-Knudsen, George Maguire, Kevin Rolston, Carrie Paff,Gabriel  Marin, Amos  Glick,Jonathan, Leveck,Laurellee,Westaway,Antonia Fuller, Paul Whitworth, Roxanne Weiber, Kurt Meeker
2010, USA     
English           
79 minutes      
Raised in a logging camp at the end of the 19th century, Opal Whitely was aself-taught naturalist who rose to fame with the publication of her diariesonly to have her reputation fall when readers suspect her of a hoax. Today,she's a cult icon. Filmed with an appreciation of the beauty of the Northwest,this film leaves you deciding the truth behind thisscandal.     

The Purple Sea - LGBT Sidebar
Florida Premiere
Producers: Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Giovanna Emidi, Silvia Natili, Rosanna Thau,Guilio Fiolati
Director: Donatella Maiorca  
Writers: Donatella Majorca, Pina Mandolfo, Mario Cristiani, Donatella Diamanti
Cast: Valeria Solarino, Isabella Ragonese
2010, Italy      
Italian w/ English Subtitles    
105 minutes    
Set against the wild beauty of 19th century rural Sicily, Angela fears nothingand nobody. When she can't hide her feelings for Sara, she changes her outerappearance to disguise herself as a man.  As intense and compelling asonly young love can be, the two women challenge the rules of their society inorder to be together.

The Whistle blower - Opening Night - (Winner, best feature Palm Springs Int'lFilm Fest)
East Coast Premiere
Producer: Sergei Bespalov, Nicolas Chartier, Peter Schafer
Director: Larysa Kondracki   
Writers: Larysa Kondracki, Eilis Kirwan  
Cast:  Monica Bellucci, Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, Liam Cunningham,David Strathairn
2011, USA
A dramatic feature based on the experiences of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska copwho served as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and outed the U.N. for coveringup a sex scandal.

Women Without Men
Southern Premiere
Producers: Susanne Marian, Martin Gachlacht, PhillipaBober         
Director: Shirin Neshat
Writers: Shirin Neshat & Shoja Azari
Cast: Pegah Farydoni, Anita Shahrzad, Shabnam Tolouei, OrsiToth           
2009, Iran       
Iranian w/ English subtitles    
99 minutes
Set against the background of the British-US-backed coup which ousted the Shahof Iran in 1953, this exquisitely photographed film weaves together the storiesof four women from different backgrounds whose experiences are shaped by theirfaith and society.

DOCUMENTARIES

A Small Act
Florida Premiere - (Official Sundance Selection)
Producers: Patti Lee, Jeffrey Soros, Jennifer Arnold
Director: Jennifer Arnold
Writer: Jennifer Arnold
Cast: Chris Mburu, Hilde Black        
2010, USA     
Swedish, Kikuyu w/ EnglishSubtitles          
88 minutes      
A young Kenyan's life changes when his education is sponsored by a Swedishstranger--a Jewish Holocaust survivor.  Years later, he funds his ownscholarship program to repay the kindness he once received.  With clarityand grace, this documentary bears witness to the ripple effect a single actioncan create.

Atlantic Crossing: A Robots Daring Mission
East Coast Premiere
Director: Dena Seidel
2010, USA     
English           
82 min
The story of a passionate team of scientists led by world-renown oceanographerScott Glen who make history by successfully navigating the first autonomousunderwater robot across the Atlantic Ocean.

Birth Markings
Director: Margaret Lazarus
2010, USA
English
20 minutes
Twelve women explore the changes pregnancy has made on their bodies.

Eshet Rosh Hamenshala
World Premiere
Director: Tzipi Trope   
2010, Israel     
Hebrew w/ English Subtitles     
63 minutes       
Aliza Olmert is a woman who's tried to hold on to her identity as anartist, wife, and mother during a stormy political life she never wanted toenter.  Wife of Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister from 2006 to2008, this documentary shows that the personal is political and vice versa.

From Weepies to Chick Flicks
US Premiere
Producer: Clara Kuperberg, Peter Krajewski
Director: Clara Kuperberg
Writer: Clara Kuperberg
Cast: Delia Ephron, Nora Ephron, Jennifer Garner, Molly Haskell, Callie Khouri,Lynda Obst
2010, UK
English
52 minutes
An exploration of women in the movies from the Hollywood "women's pictures" ofthe 30s and 40s to the "chick flicks" of today with an attempt to answer thepuzzling question: why is it that as women have become more powerful in societywomen's movies have become blander than ever?

Finding Kind - The Mean Girl Phenomenon Panel
US Premiere
Producer: Lauren Parsekian
Director:  Lauren Parsekian
Writer: Lauren Parsekian
Cast: Lauren Parsekian, Molly  Stroud
USA   
English           
75 minutes
Two girls go on a road-trip across America to interview hundreds of middle andhigh school students about the "mean girl" phenomenon ofbullying.  Their goal: to establish a national school program for girls.

March On - LGBT Sidebar
World Premiere
Laura Mc Ferrin          
2010, USA     
English 
92 minutes       
2009 gay rights parade & couples whose lives are affected by lack of thesimple human right to wed.

Resilience
North American Premiere
Tammy Chu     
2009, USA     
Korean w/English subtitles       
75 minutes       
A Korean birth mother and her adopted American son try to build a relationshipafter 30 years apart. A story about loss, separation and building brokenties                                           

Twiga Stars: Tanzania's Soccer Sisters
North American Premiere
Producer: NishaLigon           
Director: Nisha Ligon
2010,Tanzania           
English           
80 minutes      
Follow a year in the life of the Twiga Sisters, players on Tanzania's nationalwomen's football team, as they come together for their biggest competitionever. An intimate, energetic and uplifting portrait of young women trying tomake it as foot ballers in one of the poorest countries of theworld.   

Two Horses of Genghis Khan
East Coast Premiere
Producers: Beatrix Wesle & Byambasuren Davaa     
Director: Byambasuren Davaa
Writer: Byambasuren Davaa
Cast: Urna Chahar-Tugchi     
2009, Mongolia          
Mongolian w/ EnglishSubtitles         
90 minutes      
A promise, an old, destroyed horsehead violin, and a lost song lead the singer,Urna through Outer Mongolia in this beautifully filmed journey through Mongoliain search of these symbols of an ancient culture.

Weightless
World Premiere
Producer, director: Faith Pennick      
2010, USA     
English           
39 minutes      
Heavy girls rule the water in this graceful doc about a group of strangers whojoin a scuba diving class created by a plus-size woman for plus-size women.

SHORTS

A Burning Hunk of Desire - Animation Sidebar
Produced, Directed by Amanda Daniels
12 minutes

Animation:A Palette of Possibilities - Animation Sidebar
World Premiere
Produced, Written and Directed by AngelaHinton                           
15 minutes
This short family-friendly documentary is a tour of some of the animators whobrought to life classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, Mulan, TheBlack Hole and more.  With guides such as Academy Award nominee Joe Hale,artist Ron Dias and many others, you will discover stories and inspirationaladvice from artists who achieved their dreams.  This film is a fascinatingcollection of anecdotes and insights from some of the best animators in theworld today. 

American Sweetheart 
Director: KarinBinjato          
2010, USA     
English           
8 minutes        
Clara's husband gets a taste of revenge when she bakes him an elaborate cakeafter learning he's cheated on her. 

Bullet
Director: RebeccaDrummond           
2010, USA     
English           
7 minutes        
A preppy high school princess with the world on a platter tries out for theBullets, the school's hard-playing, tough-talking softball team.

Finding Marilyn in Castel dell'Aquila
World Premiere
Producer: LisaVampa           
Director: SerenaCorvaglia                 
Writer: Hayley MareeJannesen         
Cast: Hayley Maree Jannesen,Marco, Martuffi,Giancarlo Sacripanti
2009, Italy      
Italian w/ English Subtitles
14 minutes
In rural Umbria, a rural resident meets an actress who's waiting in a pub forher car to be repaired.  He believes she's Marilyn Monroe.  ThisMonroe-look-a-like plays along with his fantasy and the day is brightened foreach of them.

Garage Sale  
Director: Glioriana Fonseca-Malavasi
2010, USA     
English           
7 minutes        
A garage sale leads a little girl to meet her neighbors.

Kidnap- Animation Sidebar
Director: Sijia Luo
4 minutes        

Little Heart- Animation Sidebar
US Premiere
Producer, director, writer: Janna-Marynn Brunnen   
2010, Canada
6 minutes, 41seconds            
This film explores the idea that love should last forever, the reaction when itdoesn't and the growth that follows. It's a story about the determination,destruction and strength of a Little Heart to understand love. Explored throughclassical hand drawn, hand painted (acrylic), paint on glass (water color), andcut out 2D animation techniques.  

Lonely Girl
World Premiere
Producers and directors: Valery Estabrook &Vickey Kuperman
2010, USA     
English           
4 minutes        
A no-nonsense woman tries to help her friend who's a victim of a no-showInternet date.  They physically confront him and make him apologize,grovel, and bleed.       

Mama Always Told Him
Director: Annabel Osborne    
2010,Australia           
English           
9 minutes        
George always falls in love too quickly.  Maybe this time, he'll rememberhis mother's advice.      

Nothing Happened
Southern Premiere
Producer: Jessica Henson, Jessica Provenz, Sarah Louise Lilley
Director: Julia Kots
Writer: Jessica Provenz
Cast: Jessica Henson, Sarah Louise Lilley
2010, USA
English
10 minutes
Sex, drugs, diet tips.  Girlfriends tell each othereverything.   But is there one topic that should stay off-limits?

Ready to Pop
World Premiere
Producer, director: Michelle Davidson
Writers: Kendra Cunningham, Michelle Davidson
Cast: Vicky Kuperman, Evan Leed, Kendra Cunningham, Michelle Davidson, AaronLaue
2010, USA     
English
6 minutes        
A horny, pregnant woman tries to get her uninterested husband to havesex.          

Stimulus Package 
Director: Mauri Bernstein      
2010, USA     
English           
6 minutes        
A domestic comedy about government spending.    

The Wendy-Lady - Animation Sidebar
World Premiere        
Producer, director, writer: Amy Alexander   
2010, Australia
4 minutes; 18 seconds
Inspired by Wendy Darling's adventures in 'Peter Pan', 'The Wendy-Lady' is adelicate tale of love, wine, bath time and never forgetting where you left yourrubber ducky.  Told through experimental morphing 2d animation.

Zimbabwe
World Premiere
Producer: Sylwia Dudzinska
Director, writer  Anjuli Hinds
Cast: Alyssa Nielsen, Christopher Borger, Erin West, Cameron Arnett ,R.C.Everbeck
2009, USA
English           
16 minutes      
Amid the turmoil and uncertainty of a militant regime, two children of Zimbabweare forced into a fight they hardly understand during a farminvasion.