Queens International Film Festival Expands To 7 Venues

Starting November 15 and continuing through November 19, film aficionados from all over the globe will come to New York to celebrate the Queens International Film Festival (QIFF). Due to an overwhelming response of entries and support, this year, the festival's fourth, will see an expansion to seven different venues: The Museum of the Moving Image, Kaufman Astoria Studios, O.W.N Charter School, P.S.166 Auditorium, The Gallery (where the information/hospitality and box office is located), Cinema Paradiso and Renaissance Hall.

From November 16 to 19, more than 200 films will be screened, including several 2007 Academy Award contenders. The five-day event is attracting powerhouse directors, fledgling actors and moviegoers alike. QIFF has laid the groundwork to build a global entertainment community in the diverse, local neighborhood of Queens. Unlike other film festivals, QIFF actively seeks to empower young talent, finding beauty in unique collaborations while educating international lovers of film.

With a program of events including the Hip Hop Spin Award and a retrospective on acclaimed Greek Filmmaker Costa Gavras that will culminate with a celebration of Greek cuisine at renowned Cavo Restaurant, a fashion show by a top costume designer, an international cinema selection, a "Docs (documentaries) of the World" series, and a "Show Your Shorts" program, this year's festival program showcases and promotes New York's own film scene in three special competitions: Celebrating New York on Film, the Queens Cinema Collection and Brooklyn Takes Over. QIFF once again has invited students from top New York film schools to participate in this year's QIFF Student Showcase. In collaboration with Stella Adler, the festival will feature a youth program designed to expose at-risk children from the five boroughs to the exciting and expressive medium of film. Festival organizers have also secured the screening of 2007 Oscar contenders and will welcome again Academy Award and Hollywood Foreign Press Association members at the festival.

A contemporary of the Tribeca Film Festival, QIFF has been recognized for discovering masterworks among independent film productions. In previous years, QIFF has screened "Perhaps Love", the Closing Night Film at the Venice Film Festival 2005 and Academy Award contender for Best Foreign Film 2006, directed by Peter Chan ("The Love Letter" and "He's a Woman, She's a Man") and produced by Andre Morgan ("Million Dollar Baby"); "I am David" (starring Jim Caviezel), premiered at the festival before its national release; "Down to the Bone" (Winner Best Dramatic Acting, Sundance 2004); and "Brooklyn Bound" (Winner Tribeca Film Festival, 2004), among many others.

QIFF has the support of Governor George Pataki's Office, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Queens Councilmembers Eric Gioia and John Liu, Charles Gargano of the Empire State Development Corporation, Pat Kaufman of the N.Y. Film Office and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. Moviegoers, independent filmmakers, and high profile personalities from the film industry, sport world and political arena have attended the festival during its four years in existence, including Danny Mancuso (Middle Weight World Boxing Champion), Martin Scorsese, who stopped by to celebrate his daughter's performance in "Downtown", actor Walter Alza ("Get Rich or Die Tryin'"), Gregory Cascante, producer ("True Romance", "Prizzi's Honor"), Chad Allen, actor ("NYPD Blue", "Charmed"), Richard Vetere, writer and novelist (The Third Miracle), Sean Stone, a young director following in the footsteps of his father, Oliver Stone, John Savage, actor ("The Godfather", "Son of Sam") and Max Ryan, actor ("Kiss of the Dragon").

QIFF supporters enjoy promotional visibility through the festival's various marketing materials and in the international exposure that accompanies this event. Major sponsors such as Stella Artois, Sprint/Nextel, Starbucks, Media Services, Astoria Federal Savings and Queens County Savings Bank have been added to this year's event.

Venues for this year's QIFF, all located in Astoria, are

+ Museum of the Moving Image 35th Avenue at 36th Street

+ Kaufman Zukor Studio 34-12 36th St.

+ Cinema Paradiso 35-02 35th Avenue (across from Museum of Moving Image) + P.S. 166 Auditorium 33-09 35th Ave. at 34th Street

+ The Gallery (Hospitality/Information) 35th Avenue and 36th Street + Cavo Restaurant 42-18 31st Ave. + Renaissance Hall 27-34 21st St. + Cup 35-01 35th Ave at 36th Street + O.W.N Charter School

36-12 35th Ave. at 36th Street.

For the QIFF schedule of events and travel directions, visit www.queensfilmfestival.com