Film fest adds star power
The Connecticut Film Festival is back for the seventh year, this time with more Hollywood starpower headlining the bill.
Robin Wright Penn, Alan Arkin and Keanu Reeves are all in the film “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.” I was filmed in Danbury and was expected to premiere Nov.21 at the Palace Theater in Danbury.
The Connecticut Film Festival premiere will give state residents the first chance to see the production.
“Premiering this movie is a milestone on many levels as it was written by Roxbury resident Rebecca Miller, daughter of famous playwright Arthur Miller, and was one of the first films to take advantage of the Connecticut tax credit by being produced within the state,” said Thomas Carruthers, executive director of the festival. “Numerous scenes in the film were shot in downtown Danbury during the same week of our 2008 Connecticut Film Festival and we are proud to host it as the official kickoff event of our new 2010 season, as well as bring it back to Danbury for its national pre-theatrical release screening.”
The festival plays in dozens of towns and cities throughout the state.
“Pippa” follows the journey of an aging suburban housewife confronting memories of her past while maintaining a grip on the world she has built for herself as an adult.
“”˜Pippa Lee”™ began as a novel about a woman who you think you know when you meet her,” said Rebecca Miller of her protagonist. “Of course, you find out that she”™s had a very different life than you”™d ever expect, that she has a past. Gradually, you come to understand her, know her, and maybe even love her through understanding that past.”
Miller”™s novel was released in 2000.
“This is the official start of The Connecticut Film Festival”™s annual series of events and weekend festivals that culminate in our huge six-day and night festival and conference in May 2010,” said Carruthers. “Our mission this entire season is to bring movie premieres and pre-theatrical releases of major motion pictures produced in our state back to our state.”
Again the organization has also partnered with numerous nonprofits to create charity fundraising events, benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation and The Hole In The Wall Gang Camps, among others.