Three Day Event Hosted at the IFC Center
New York, NY – May 16, 2006 – The Independent Film Channel (IFC), the first and largest network dedicated to independent film, announced today its support of the fourth annual CANS Film Festival in partnership with the Food Bank For New York City, the major provider of food to New Yorkers in need. The festival will take place at the IFC Center in downtown Manhattan May 22-24, and will include screenings of three highly acclaimed independent films on three consecutive evenings, each followed by a star-studded, themed fundraising event. Stanley Tucci and Oliver Platt are the Festival's Host Committee Chairs.
"This is a tremendous event that ties together our ongoing support of independent film with a very important cause," said Evan Shapiro, IFC's Executive Vice President and General Manager. "Food Bank is an incredible organization and we are excited to host this year's CANS festival at the IFC Center and share our original documentaries in support of the fight against hunger."
"The Food Bank's partnership with IFC has allowed us to expand the CANS Film Festival and reach new audiences in our effort to assist the two million New Yorkers at risk of going hungry," said Dr. Lucy Cabrera, Food Bank's President and CEO. "Through the wonderful medium of film, we are able to bring increased awareness and funds to the growing issue of hunger. We are very grateful to IFC for their support."
The Honorary Host Committee for the 2006 CANS Film Festival has been endorsed by several celebrities including Stanley Tucci (Chair), Oliver Platt (Chair), Peter Boyle, Kristin Chenoweth, Kenneth Cole, Billy Crudup, Alan Cumming, Hope Davis, Tony Danza, Edward Norton, Mary-Louise Parker, Aidan Quinn, Paul Rudd, Peter Sarsgaard, Lili Taylor, Liv Tyler and Patrick Wilson.
Other sponsors of this year's CANS Film Festival include: Great Performances, Heineken, jetBlue, Yellow Tail, 1010 Wins, amNewYork, Four-Cubed, Hoy, HX, Moviefone, The New York Blade, New York Moves, T47, Time Out New York, Viamedia, and WB11.
Monday, May 22, 6:00 PM – Opening Night Gala
"Orange-carpet" welcome and reception. Rosie Perez makes her directorial debut with Yo Soy Boricua, Pa'que Tu Lo Sepas! an IFC original documentary narrated by Jimmy Smits and produced by Rory Kennedy and Liz Garbus. Yo Soy Boricua puts the themes of family, language and racism into perspective while exploring the historical relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States. Q&A session with Ms. Perez follows the screening, plus a star-studded tasting event and live auction.
Tickets: $150.00 each
6:00: Orange carpet welcome and pre-movie cocktail reception
7:00: Screening
8:30 – 10:30: Tasting event and raffle
Tuesday, May 23, 7:00 PM – Fabulous!
It's Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema followed by a cocktail party and silent auction. Picking up where the 1995 documentary The Celluloid Closet left off, the IFC original Fabulous! shows the leap in out-and-proud filmmaking in the U.S. from Kenneth Anger's Fireworks (1947) right up to Brokeback Mountain. Q&A with filmmakers Lesli Klainberg and Lisa Ades following the screening.
Tickets: $75.00 each
7:00: Screening
8:30-10:30: Cocktail party and silent auction
Wednesday, May 24, 7:30 PM – "Ride the Bull and Buck Hunger"
A special screening of Rank, an IFC original documentary that brings the gritty reality of the hazardous sport of bull riding into focus for the first time. Q&A session with director John Hyams and producer Jon Greenhalgh follows the screening, plus a western-themed cocktail party and the "Ride the Bull and Buck Hunger" fundraiser complete with a mechanical bull.
Tickets: $75.00 each
7:30: Screening
9:00-11:00: Cocktail party and fundraiser
Food Bank Young Professionals Committee (YPC)
The YPC has been instrumental in the planning and promotion of the Festival's closing night event – A screening of "Rank" followed by a "Ride The Bull and Buck Hunger" fundraiser. Many of the YPC members have courageously agreed to ride an on-site mechanical bull to raise money to help the Food Bank in its mission of feeding hungry New Yorkers.
To get tickets and for additional information, go to www.foodbanknyc.org, or call 212-566-7855, ext. 2239. All donations made on the Food Bank's website will be matched by IFC.
At least two million New York City residents are at risk of going hungry. The majority of them are women with children, the elderly, the disabled and the working poor. Food Bank For New York City, the city's primary supplier of food for the hungry, helps provide the food for more than 250,000 free meals served each day by more than 1,200 nonprofit community food programs in the five boroughs. Last year, the Food Bank distributed more than 67 million pounds of food and was recognized as the 2004 Food Bank of the Year by America's Second Harvest, The Nation's Food Bank Network. For more information, visit our website at www.foodbanknyc.org.
The IFC Center opened in June of 2005 on the premises of the historic Waverly Theater. After a four-year renovation, the new complex features state-of-the-art cinemas with luxurious seating and high-definition digital and 35mm projection. The theater presents new independent, foreign and documentary features, as well as the ongoing programs Weekend Classics, Waverly Midnights and Short Attention Span Cinema (short films screenings before every feature). The Center also includes The Waverly, a Great Performances restaurant that serves lunch, dinner and snacks, and features a full bar.
About IFC
The Independent Film Channel (IFC) is the first and most widely distributed network dedicated to independent film 24 hours a day, uncut, uncensored and commercial free. The network is part of IFC Companies — the only brand to operate in every area of independent film to include television, production, financing, distribution, digital, on-demand and exhibition. IFC Companies uses its unique cross-platform position to broaden the audience of independent film and to provide independent filmmakers with a strong voice. IFC Companies is a division of Rainbow Media Holdings, LLC.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in the entertainment industry, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic programming with linear networks including national networks – AMC, fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment; its regional programming service – Rainbow Sports Networks; on-demand networks including Mag Rack and sportskool; and the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere – the VOOM HD Networks. Rainbow's other businesses include its film distribution, production and exhibition division – IFC Entertainment; in addition to its advertising sales division – Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation – and its full service network programming origination and distribution company – Rainbow Network Communications.
About the Food Bank
At least two million New York City residents are at risk of going hungry. The majority of them are women with children, the elderly, the disabled and the working poor. Food Bank For New York City, the city's primary supplier of food for the hungry, helps provide the food for more than 250,000 free meals served each day by more than 1,200 nonprofit community food programs in the five boroughs. Last year, the Food Bank distributed more than 67 million pounds of food and was recognized as the 2004/05 Food Bank of the Year by America's Second Harvest, The Nation's Food Bank Network. For more information, visit our website at www.foodbanknyc.org.