Fuggedaboudit! Michael Imperioli and Drea de Matteo Will Host the Festival
Among Other Sopranos Cast Members
The Independent Film Channel (IFC) presents Mezzo-Sopranos airing Saturday, December 29 at 8:00PM/ET. Before Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco), Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli), 'Artie' Bucco (John Ventimiglia), Adriana La Cerva (Drea de Matteo), Rosalie Aprile (Sharon Angela) and 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero (Vincent Pastore) made a killing on TV; they were mere struggling independent film actors. See how the cast of the Emmy Award-winning drama series "made their bones" in little known film gems exclusively on IFC.
Hosting from Mare Chiaro Taverna in Little Italy, Michael Imperioli, John Ventimiglia, Drea de Matteo and Sharon Angela share their stories of how they found their acting roots and made their transition from independent films to a hit TV show.
The Mezzo-Sopranos film festival "lineup" includes:
On the Run (1999) – directed by Bruno de Almeida
Saturday, December 29 at 8:00 PM/ET
A straight-laced travel agent (Michael Imperioli) living a lonely life in New York reunites with his wacky childhood friend (John Ventimiglia) who has just escaped from prison. A once quiet existence is permanently disrupted and ensues into one risky misadventure after another that will change both their lives forever. Sharon Angela is also featured.
The Bet (1992) – directed by Ted Demme
Saturday, December 29 at 9:45PM/ET
A film short, starring Vincent Pastore, about two brothers who operate a New York deli and struggle against self-imposed odds. One brother gets in over his head at the racetrack and risks the family business to cover a huge bet he hopes will bail him out of his past gambling debts.
Blind Light(1997) – directed by Pola Rapaport
Saturday, December 29 at 10:15PM/ET
A photographer (Edie Falco) searching for inspiration on the isle of Capri is overwhelmed by a moment of self-awareness. The blinding Mediterranean sunlight transforms an artist with writer's block to a visionary.
Sleepwalk (1998) – directed by James Savoca
Saturday, December 29 at 11:15PM/ET
The romantic comedy chronicles the pas de deux that arises from a chance midnight encounter between Henrietta (Drea De Matteo), a struggling loft-bound artist with issues, and Ray (Ivan Martin), a worse-for-wear night crawler, as they search for answers under the stars and rooftops of New York.
The Independent Film Channel (IFC), managed and operated by Bravo Networks, is the first and most widely distributed channel dedicated to independent film presented 24 hours a day, uncut and commercial-free. IFC Entertainment, a division of IFC, consists of IFC Productions, a feature film production company; IFC Films, a theatrical film distribution company; Next Wave Films, established to provide finishing funds and other vital support to emerging filmmakers; and IFC Originals, which produces cutting-edge original programming for the network. In addition, IFC Productions launched InDigEnt, an initiative that helps established filmmakers shoot productions on digital video.
A subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC) and NBC, Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. manages Bravo, The Independent Film Channel, American Movie Classics, WE: Women's Entertainment, MuchMusic USA, Rainbow Sports, News 12 Networks and MetroChannels as well as the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. In addition, Rainbow is a fifty-percent partner in FOX Sports Net. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. ((NYSE:MGM) owns a 20 percent stake in four of Rainbow's national networks – AMC, Bravo, IFC and WE: Women's Entertainment. A new series of Cablevision common stock — Rainbow Media Group tracking stock (NYSE:RMG) — began trading on the NYSE on March 30th. The assets that comprise Rainbow Media Group tracking stock include: Rainbow's five national networks, the company's interest in the national service FOX Sports Net, and Rainbow's 5 regional sports channels outside of the New York market, and Rainbow Network Communications.
Contact:
Elektra Gray
516-803-4542
Ellen Paz
516-803-4619