NORTHAMPTON INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

The Northampton Independent Film Festival (NIFF) will host an arousing night of independent film, presenting “Sex and Cinema” on Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 5pm-11pm at the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA.  The 15th annual independent film celebration will showcase three important independent films and a selection of short bonus films prior to each screening.  Filmmakers will be in attendance and available for Q&A and discussion. This is the first in a series of screenings that NIFF plans to present throughout the year.
 
“This year NIFF presents ‘Sex and Cinema,’ featuring three highly acclaimed films that focus on sex in different ways: Roman Polanski’s legal issues (the documentary ‘Wanted and Desired’); the pharmaceutical industry’s exploitation of women and sex (‘Orgasm, Inc.’); and a modern tale of the sexual relationships of 20-somethings (‘Friends (With Benefits)’),” said Doug Guthrie, President of the NIFF Board of Directors. “Once again, NIFF caters to filmgoers with an appetite for artistic adventure, intellectual discussion and originality.”

The lineup for the evening is:

“Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” – 5:00 PM Screening
Open to Public and Free of Charge, courtesy of HBO Independent
Film followed by Q&A moderated by film professor/curator David Kleiler focused on Roman Polanski
Film website: http://www.hbo.com/docs/docuseries/romanpolanski/
Marina Zenovich’s award winning documentary examines the public scandal and private tragedy that led to legendary director Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States. Some may have seen the film at Sundance or at other film festivals or on HBO last year. But this is the documentary often mentioned in the many articles about Roman Polanski and remains fascinating now. This film examines that year-long period, using archival footage of the media frenzy and of Polanski's life before the charges, clips from his films, and contemporary interviews with many of the principles - attorneys, the victim, and Polanski's friends and associates. Polanski remains enigmatic, but portraits emerge of the machinations of justice and of a judge more interested in his image than his word or the law.  The film was the 2009 Emmy award winner for Outstanding Directing for Non-fiction programming (Marina Zenovich) and Outstanding Writing for Non Fiction Programming. 

“Orgasm, Inc.” -7:00 PM Screening
Screening followed by panel discussion with Director and Writer Liz Canner
Film website: http://www.orgasminc.org/
“Orgasm, Inc.” is the shocking and illuminating documentary by filmmaker Liz Canner.  Canner takes a job with a pharmaceutical company editing erotic videos for a drug trial Her employer is developing what they hope will be the first Viagra drug for women to win FDA approval to treat a new disease: Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD). Liz also gains permission to film the company for her own documentary. Initially, she planned to create a movie about science and pleasure but then begins to suspect that her employer, along with a cadre of other medical companies, might be trying to take advantage of women (and potentially endanger their health) in pursuit of billion dollar profits. ORGASM INC. is a powerful look inside the medical industry and the marketing campaigns that are literally, and figuratively, reshaping our everyday lives around health, illness and desire. 

“Friends (With Benefits)”- 9:00 PM Screenings
Screening will be followed by Q&A with Filmmaker Gorman Bechard
Film website: http://www.whatwerewethinkingfilms.com/
“Friends (With Benefits)” asks the question: what happens when two close friends decide to secretly blur the lines dividing friendship and relationship. Chloe and Owen, best friends since their sandbox days, are now in med school with little time for relationships...but lots of time for desire. One fateful day, a brave Owen proposes the "perfect" solution: Friends (read: no messy relationship stuff)...with Benefits (read: insanely messy sex stuff). "Perfect," that is, if the two hadn't always been secretly in love with one another. So what DOES happen to them? And to the rest of their tight knit group of friends? A lot of complications. In fact, to quote their therapist, "It's brought down empires; imagine what it can do to a group of friends.”

Over the past 15 years, the Northampton Independent Film Festival (NIFF) has become one of the premier annual arts events in Northampton and has helped the area to earn the distinction of being named a top Small Arts Destination Town.  This year’s festival will be held at the Academy of Music (274 Main Street, Northampton, MA) and offers three great films for the price of one, with a $10 admission charge for the entire evening (or $10 each for individual films “Friends (With Benefits)” and “Orgasm, Inc.”). “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” is open to the public and free of charge, courtesy of HBO Independent. Tickets will be available for purchase at the Academy of Music box office prior to each screening.

The Northampton Independent Film Festival (NIFF) was founded by Dee DeGeiso and Howard Polonsky and is committed to establishing a northeast center for the exploration, examination, and celebration of independent filmmaking.  NIFF showcases the works of filmmakers whose films demonstrate quality, innovation, and independence in both form and content.  NIFF is sponsored by Comcast and WGBY.  The Northampton Independent Film Festival can be found on the web at www.niff.org.