The
Provincetown International Film Festival, scheduled
for June 15-19, enters its seventh year with the
announcement of the 2005 recipient of the annual
Filmmaker on the Edge award. This year the Festival
honors director/writer Mary Harron, whose 1996 debut
feature I SHOT ANDY WARHOL, immediately launched her into the spotlight as
a maverick filmmaker to watch. The film is an
unabashed but sympathetic depiction of real-life
separatist lesbian feminist Valerie Solanas who
notoriously shot and wounded '60s pop artist icon Andy
Warhol. Upon its release it received wide critical
acclaim and won star Lili Taylor a Special Jury Award
at the Sundance Film Festival. Harron's second
feature, the internationally successful (and equally
provocative) AMERICAN PSYCHO, was adapted from Brett
Easton Ellis' controversial bestseller. Released in
2000, Harron was nominated for "Director of the
Year" by the London Film Critics Circle.
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Mary
Harron is Provincetown International Film
Festival’s recipient of
their annual Filmmaker on the Edge
award. Her 1996 debut feature I SHOT ANDY
WARHOL launched her
career. Photo
courtesty of PIFF. |
Harron's
forthcoming THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE (2005) stars Gretchen Mol, Lili Taylor and Jared Harris and is
produced by Christine Vachon. The much-anticipated
bio-op on the legendary 1950's pinup model is slated
for release in 2005 by HBO Films. Harron is currently
in pre-production for her next film PLEASE KILL ME,
based on Legs McNeil's best-selling book. In addition,
she has directed some of televisions edgiest shows,
including "The L Word," "Six Feet
Under," and “Oz.” Raised in Toronto, educated
at England's Oxford University and currently residing
in New York City, Harron began her filmmaking career
creating documentaries for British television. Before
working in film, she was a journalist in the rock
music industry and helped launch the first punk
magazine, Punk.
She was the first writer to interview The Sex Pistols
for an American publication.
Previous
recipients of the "Filmmaker on the Edge"
award at the Provincetown International Film Festival
are director/writer Jim Jarmusch (2004), director Todd
Haynes (2003), director Gus Van Sant (2002), producers
Ted Hope and James Schamus (2001), producer Christine
Vachon (2000), and filmmaker John Waters (1999).
In
addition to the Filmmaker on the Edge Award Ceremony,
the Festival premieres over 50 films from around the
world and continues many established special programs.
Included in the 2005 line-up will be the Breakfast
with... series (providing opportunities for the
public to dine with industry professionals to discuss
aspects of their craft), the Youth and Diversity Film
Program (showcasing films that encourage young adults
to discuss the concerns of today's world), A Night at
the Drive-In (hosted at the Wellfleet Cinemas -
home of one of the world's few remaining outdoor
drive-in movie screens), a special screening of The
Rocky Horror Picture Show and the “not to be
missed” Clambake and Pool Party (hosted by the
historic waterfront Crown and Anchor Inn).
The
line-up of films, special events, ticket information,
venues, travel, and accommodation suggestions are on
the Festival website. For more information about the
Festival visit www.ptownfilmfest.org
or call 508-487-FILM.
