31st Nashville Independent Film Festival (Excerpt)

ENTERTAINMENT WIRE - May 30, 2000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) - The Nashville Independent Film Festival, presented by Regal Cinemas, proudly announces its 31st year of annual competition for independent film June 7-11 at the Regal Green Hills 16. The 2000 NIFF will showcase the best in animations, short subject, features, documentary, experimental, young filmmaker, and television pilot/episodic TV. The festival received over 800 entries and selected 275 films and videos to present at the festival. Between 10,000 and 15,000 people are expected to attend the five-day event. Since 1997, audience attendance at the NIFF has increased by 294%.

The Opening Night Gala is scheduled for June 6, with a special screening of Under Hellgate Bridge. In his directorial debut, Michael Sergio reveals the mean streets that run beneath NYC's Hellgate Bridge. In a world where easy money and drugs are a way of life, two old enemies, Ryan and Vincent, confront each other in a battle for love and power. The film stars Jonathan LaPaglia, Michael Rodrick and Dominic Chianese (from HBO's hit TV series "The Sopranos"), Frank Vincent, Brian Vincent, and native Tennessean Jordan Bayne. All are scheduled to attend.

The festival closes this year with Linda Yellen's The Simian Line. Ms. Yellen's film includes brilliant performances by Tyne Daly, Lynn Redgrave, William Hurt, Cindy Crawford and Harry Connick, Jr.


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