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Press Room
The following was the official press release about the film festival.
"FAITH ON FILM 2002," A CATHOLIC FILM FESTIVAL, SET FOR MARCH
Theme addresses moral dilemmas as depicted in cinematic art
New York, NY, February 1, 2002 — A film festival sponsored by the Catholic Communication Campaign will explore moral dilemmas in cinematic art and the profound importance of Catholic values in making life choices. "Faith on Film 2002" will present five feature films March 7, 8, and 9 at New York City's East 59th Street Clearview Cinema in mid-town Manhattan. Panel discussions with noted film critics, moral philosophers, and film scholars will follow each screening.
"This year's festival looks at some good people who make bad choices," said Gerri Paré, Director of the Office for Film and Broadcasting (OFB), part of the Communications Department of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "The films, including ‘Sophie's Choice,’ ‘The Apostle,’ and ‘Crimes & Misdemeanors,’ highlight the fact that each of us is asked to make defining moral choices in our lives. The question becomes: How will we apply our Catholic values to difficult decisions? Each of our films provides a unique context for exploring the answers."
"Faith on Film 2002" has arranged both evening and afternoon screenings to accommodate the differing schedules of moviegoers. "We also hope the single admission ticket price of just $5.00 will encourage many individuals and families to join us. Attendees at our first festival, held in Jubilee year 2000, especially appreciated the panel discussions afterward. This year," she said, "we feel sure our distinguished panelists, with their extensive film and/or philosophy backgrounds, will have some real insights to share with the audience."
The schedule of screenings for "Faith on Film 2002" is:
| Thursday, March 7 • 6:30 pm |
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| Friday, March 8 • 6:30 pm |
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| Saturday, March 9 • 11:15 am |
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| • 2:30 pm |
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| • 7:00 pm |
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Confirmed panelists to date include:
• Clarence Gilyard, network TV series actor and film star, teacher, and winner of the NAACP Image Award.
• Gina Guerrieri, Fordham University film instructor; screenwriter and award winning filmmaker.
• Henry Herx, former director of the OFB. Herx reviewed films and TV programs for the Catholic Church for over 30 years, and edited Our Sunday Visitor's Family Guide to Movies and Videos, which features over 8,000 capsule movie descriptions and ratings.
• Father Robert E. Lauder, St. John's University professor of philosophy, film critic, author, and columnist for two diocesan newspapers: The Tablet and The Long Island Catholic.
• Msgr. James Lisante, former director of The Christophers, author, and frequent spokesperson for the Church in the media. He hosted cable TV's "Personally Speaking" and authored a book by the same name.
• Lou Lumenick, Chief Movie Critic of the New York Post. He has worked in diverse editing and writing positions at the Post, including metropolitan editor, and at the Bergen Record. He has lecured on film at the State University of New York and appeared on such programs as Entertainment Tonight, A&E's Biography, and Access Hollywood.
• Bahman Maghsoudlou, Ph.D, award winning film producer, lecturer, international film festival juror, and author of Iranian Cinema.
• Fr. Jim Martin, Jesuit theologian, author of In Good Company: The Fast Track from the Corporate World to Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, and associate editor of America magazine, the national Catholic weekly.
• Eleanor O'Sullivan, film critic and syndicated writer for Gannett Newspapers' Asbury Park Press for the past 16 years. Her reviews have been televised and broadcast on radio, and she has interviewed scores of filmmakers.
• M.Z. Ribalow, award-winning playwright, author, film instructor, and Artist in Residence at Fordham University
• Scott Siegel, film and theater critic. Scott Siegel's reviews appear in print, on the radio and the internet. He has authored, and with his wife, Barbara, co-authored, a total of 46 books, including The Encyclopedia of Hollywood, and American Film Comedy.
• Eva Stadler, Ph. D., Professor of Film Studies at Fordham University and author of articles about the films of Robert Bresson, avant-garde cinema, African film, and the relationship between film and literature.
• William Wolf, a Rutgers University graduate, critic, author/ educator. He served as film critic for Cue Magazine, later New York Magazine and was a syndicated film critic and columnist for the Gannett chain.
The Clearview Cinema is located at 239 E. 59th Street between Second and Third Avenues. Because seating is limited, the OFB recommends making reservations by calling the toll free festival number, 866-FOF-FEST (866-363-3378).
All films are appropriate for either adults, or adolescents and adults. "Sophie's Choice" is MPAA-rated R-restricted; under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
The Office for Film and Broadcasting produces weekly film and television reviews based on moral and artistic considerations, taking into account their positive aspects while cautioning against material that may be exploitative or demeaning. In addition, the OFB produces a weekly video column, a media-related segment for Catholic Weekly Radio, and topical articles about evaluating popular culture from a Catholic perspective.
Capsule movie reviews are available throughout the year at www.usccb.org and on the toll-free Movieline, 800-311-4222. "Faith on Film 2002" is sponsored by the Catholic Communication Campaign, an initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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Editors: To schedule an interview with Gerri Paré, Director of the Office for Film and Broadcasting, please contact Norma Vavolizza or Jeff Fogliano at 212-687-0607. For more information on the work of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, please visit www.usccb.org.
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