Charlize Theron's "East of Havana" to open Monaco Charity Film Festival 14th May 2007

Paris – Tuesday February 2007 — Festival Founder Vincente-Andres Zaragoza announced today that the 2nd annual Monaco Charity Film Festival (MCFF) has selected its movie screening schedule for its May 14 to 19, 2007 Film Charity Event.

As the most highly regarded and anticipated film event in Monaco's cultural programme and befitting its reputation this year The Monaco Charity Film Festival has selected as its opening night film, on Monday 14 th May 2007, the Principality's premiere of Charlize Theron's "EAST OF HAVANA". A powerful documentary that uses three Havana rappers as a vehicle in which to explore the struggles and frustrations of young Cubans surviving amid a crumbling revolution. Festival Founder Vincente -Andres Zaragoza said "We are delighted to be able to premiere East of Havana at the MCFF as this film reflects the uncompromising creative vision that is the MCFF. We are also honoured to present our first Live Film Event on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May 2007 which will be an extraordinary demonstration of the transformative power of cinema. This unique event will see Terence White introduce his landmark work "HOT STEEL" as it has never been seen before at 1700 in the Salle Debussy, Hotel de Paris Monaco. A glorious live film event that will play like film folk art and will appeal to discerning viewers."

Terence White , the longest serving foreign correspondent in Kabul, was employed by Agence France-Presse for five years from 1992 until 1997, when he was expelled by the Taliban.

"Hot Steel", his best-selling book, describes his extraordinary Afghan exploits from surviving a helicopter crash, frontline capture by doped-up rebels and a mortar bomb explosion which nearly terminated his career; it was friendly fire – and Friday 13 th.

A tranquil academic interlude at California's prestigious Stanford University was not to be: just days after arrival on campus, New York's Twin Towers were destroyed and al-Qaida became a household name.

Post 9/11 Terence returned to Kabul to track down the Afghan surgeons who saved his life, among them a unique Afghan woman (a chain-smoker who refused to wear the infamous burqa veil), who nevertheless convinced the militant mullahs to allow female medical students to complete their education.

Although still scouting for films, Festival Founder Vincente-Andres Zaragoza said, "I am delighted at the quality of both our Opening film and our first Live Film Event and how it chimes with the rest of the Festival's programme. On the surface "East of Havana" and "Hot Steel" couldn't be less alike but what "East of Havana" and "Hot Steel" share, apart from their complete understanding of the art and craft of filmmaking, is humanism and clarity of vision and a desire to make films which make us think about the world we live in"

Monaco Charity Film Festival is a Charity Event for emerging film makers. Launched 5 years ago by Vicente-Andres Zaragoza, the money raised from the festival is donated to the charities headed by the Prince of Monaco – with emphasis on charities for impoverished and abandoned children.

Official Festival Website: http//www.monacofilmfestival.org
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For further information please contact:

1) Ms. Isabel Echeverry
Telephone number : +001 310 498 3610
Email: isabel@rebercovington.net

2) Mr. Vicente-Andres Zaragoza
Telephone: +336 07 51 88 88
Email: vz@pentiumgroup.com