THE 20TH ANNUAL HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SPOTLIGHT, COMPETITION AND WORLD CINEMA FILMS

THE 20^TH ANNUAL HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SPOTLIGHT, COMPETITION AND WORLD CINEMA FILMS WITH HIGHLIGHTS SUCH AS THE SESSIONS, AMOUR, FRANKENWEENIE, and THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE GIRL

The Festival continues a wide range of programs including Films of Conflict & Resolution, Pitch In for Social Documentaries-in-Progress, Views from Long Island, A Conversation With, Rowdy Talks and many additional programs celebrating our 20^thYear

Among those expected to attend the Festival are Richard Gere, James Schamus, Ann Roth, Mike Nichols, Alec Baldwin, Nathan Lane, Stevie Nicks, Alan Cumming, Trudie Styler, Sienna Miller, Ari Graynor, Melissa Leo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Terry George, Steve Van Zandt, David Chase, Adepero Oduye, Justin Long, Jess Weixler, John Magaro, Fisher Stevens, Richard Kind, Harris Yulin, Steven Culp, Domnhall Gleeson (SHADOW DANCER), Bella Heathcote (NOT FADE AWAY), Boyd Holbrooke, Dree Hemingway (STARLET), Elyas M’Barek, Scoot McNairy (ARGO), Adam Driver (GAYBY), Alicia Vikander (A ROYAL AFFAIR) and Nate Parker

East Hampton, NY (September 18, 2012) – The 20^th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) is proud to announce its Spotlight Films, the World Cinema Section and the films in this year’s Golden Starfish Award Competitions.  In this celebratory 20^th year the Festival is proud to present a dynamic and diverse group of films, filmmakers, industry and talent that will come to the Hamptons for this festival milestone.  The 2012 Festival runs from Thursday, October 4^th through Monday October 8^th in East Hampton with additional venues in Southampton, Sag Harbor, West Hampton and Montauk. Festival headquarters are located at the beautiful c/o The Maidstone Hotel on Main Street in East Hampton.

“We are proud to present such a stellar program for this year's 20^th Anniversary edition of HIFF,” said Karen Arikian, Executive Director. “In addition to the incredible line-up of films this year, the Festival also has important new partnerships with industry leaders including the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, New York (BAFTA New York) and Variety. Thanks to the astute guidance of the Board of Directors, led by this year's Honorary Chairman Alec Baldwin, and the commitment of our generous sponsors and patrons, we have been able to grow and fulfill our mission of the past 20 years: To exhibit the best and most thought-provoking independent films from around the globe.”

"From our first edition, up until today, we have remained committed to the goal of entertaining, enlightening and sometimes challenging the audiences whose appetite for great cinema remains as strong as ever,” says Director of Programing David Nugent. "From the Palme d'Or winner at Cannes to our 22 World Premieres, to the film that just won that Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival a few days ago, the audiences in the Hamptons will once again sample what we feel are the best films from around the world.”

The heart of the Hamptons International Film Festival is its Golden Starfish Awards and the films in the Competition for Best Narrative Feature (over $125,000 in goods and in-kind services), Best Documentary Feature ($3,000 in cash) and Best Short Film ($1,000 in cash).  Jury participants include filmmakers Chris Hegedus, Susan Lacy, and Rachael Horovitz; New York Film Critic Circle members Thelma Adams and Joshua Rothkopf; and actress/filmmaker Trudie Styler.

This year’s Golden Starfish Award competition films in the Narrative category are THE ALMOST MAN, directed by Martin Lund; DEAD MAN’S BURDEN, directed by Jared Moshé; LA DEMORA, directed by Rodrigo Plá; KUMA, directed by Umut Dag; and LORE, directed by Cate Shortland. The Golden Starfish Award competition films for Documentary are BAY OF ALL SAINTS, directed by Annie Eastman; COLOMBIANOS, directed by Tora Mårtens; EL HUASO, directed by Carlo Guillermo Proto; JASON BECKER: NOT DEAD YET, directed by Jesse Vile, and RISING FROM ASHES, directed by T.C Johnstone. The Golden Starfish Award competition films for Short Film are ABIGAIL, directed by Matthew James Reilly; BYDLO, directed by Patrick Bouchard; DANCE MUSIC NOW, directed by Johan Jonason; THE RETURN, directed by Blerta Zeqiri; and THE CURSE, directed by Fyzal Boulifa.

As previously announced, the Festival’s Opening Night Film on Thursday, October 4^th is the U.S. premiere of Liz Garbus’ LOVE, MARILYN; the October 6^th Centerpiece Film is Ben Affleck’s ARGO; and the Closing Night Film is David Chase’s NOT FADE AWAY, which will screen on Sunday, October 7. The Festival’s Southampton venue will kick off on October 5^th with SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, which won this year’s audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

HIFF greatly appreciates the support from their corporate sponsors including, Altour International, American Airlines, Capital One, The Wall Street Journal, Baume & Mercier, Silvercup Studios, Hearst Corporation, A&E Indie Films, Variety, BBC AMERICA and THE GREAT Britain Campaign, Served Fresh Media, PointBurst, Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Smart Water, Diplomatico, SnagFilms and David Burke.

For more information on the Festival, visit www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.