Quantock Joins 2006 Avignon/New York Film Festival and John Turturro Gala

NEW YORK – Quantock LLC has been named PR Counsel for the 12th Avignon/New York Film Festival which opens in Manhattan on November 15 and includes a directorial retrospective of honoree, actor/writer/director John Turturro. Mr. Turturro will be feted on November 12 at a pre-festival gala dinner at acclaimed restaurant Daniel in Manhattan and be presented with the first Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cinema Award for Independent Cinema. The award, which promises a moment of film-making and wine-making history, comprises samples of the famous vintage for the next ten years.

The festival will screen as its closing night film Mr. Turturro’s most recent work as writer/director, “Romance and Cigarettes,” starring Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini, Christopher Walken, Mary-Louise Parker, and Elaine Stritch.

“Avignon/New York” —- the intimate and charismatic festival that continues to charm New Yorkers with its mix of cinematic gems and epicurean delights —- is the American edition of the Avignon Film Festival founded by Jerome Rudes twenty-four years ago in Provence, France.

In expanding its celebration of the richness and diversity of American independent film and European cinema, the 2006 “Avignon/New York” will premiere twenty new features, documentaries and shorts from both sides of the Atlantic. Also attending will be Bob Rafelson (“The Postman Always Rings Twice”) to screen and discuss his indie classic, “Five East Pieces.” From Paris, the festival will also welcome Bob Swaim, the American director who won a French Oscar (César) for La Balance with the American premiere of his new documentary about black artists in Paris, Lumieres Noires. It is expected that all directors presenting films will be in attendance during the festival in order to participate in Q&A at screenings, seminars, interviews and daily receptions.

Samuel Garrick, President of Quantock said: “I am delighted that Quantock will be working with the Avignon/New York Film Festival to build on the success of previous editions. For many years, Jerry Rudes has been a tireless advocate of the independent filmmaking community and we at Quantock are proud to support his commitment.”

The complete list of features, documentaries and shorts at the 2006 Avignon/New York Film Festival is now posted on the festival website (www.avignonfilmfest.com). Also included in the 5-day program of screenings will be round-table discussions with industry experts, interviews with participating filmmakers, and nightly cocktail parties.

Avignon/New York audience-voted grand prizes for emerging directors, the “21st Century Filmmaker Awards,” and the “Pierre Salinger Award for Documentary Filmmaking,” will be announced at the festival’s closing ceremony on Sunday, November 19 at 7:30 pm.

Hosted at Hunter College-CUNY on the Upper East Side of Manhattan (69TH Street & Lexington Avenue), Avignon/New York’s screenings take place at the 625-seat Kaye Playhouse and are enhanced by state-of-the-art High-Definition digital projection. All screenings and programs are open to the general public. Discounts are available to students, seniors and groups.

www.avignonfilmfest.com


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