North American Premiere of Luigi Falorni's Heart of Fire to Open 08 Film Festival

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Monday, 19 May 2008 22:51

Jackson, WY - May 20, 2008 - The 5th annual Jackson Hole Film Festival (June 5 - 9, 2008) will open at the Center for the Arts, with the North American premiere of Luigi Falorni's Heart of Fire. Luigi Falorni, director, is expected to attend. The Opening Night film will screen at 5:00 pm with the Jackson Hole Film Festival's, 5th Anniversary Party to follow at 7:00 pm at Spring Creek Ranch.

Having debuted his first film, the Academy Award-nominated documentary, The Story of the Weeping Camel to North American audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival, director Luigi Falorni chose to introduce North American audiences to Heart of Fire at the Jackson Hole Film Festival in order to participate in its groundbreaking Global Insight Summit, an international gathering where entertainment leaders and U.N. officials come together to explore how film and television can be leveraged to highlight critical international concerns. The Global Insight Summit is presented in conjunction with the Jackson Hole Film Festival and in collaboration with the United Nations.

"Opening with Heart of Fire and the important story it conveys highlights our mission to create a platform for experiencing film and sharing a global perspective in the hope of inspiring audiences and moviemakers alike," said Eben Dorros, president of Jackson Hole Film Institute, presenter of the Jackson Hole Film Festival. "We are honored that Luigi Falorni will premiere Heart of Fire to North American audiences in Jackson and are pleased to open this milestone year with a film highlighting the Festival's Global Insight film program."

In Heart of Fire, director and scriptwriter Luigi Falorni (The Story of the Weeping Camel), inspired by the bestselling story of Senait G. Mehari, chronicles the moving and heart-stopping story of a seemingly hopeless childhood.

"There was one thing I was absolutely certain of: I did not want to do the 'film tie-in.' I wanted to depict Senait's story as a source of inspiration and tell a universal story about a girl involved in a war," says Luigi Falorni. "This is why the main character of the film is not Senait, but Awet, giving me the freedom to establish the historical context more forcefully."

Awet's Story: Heart of Fire
Despite the chaos and turbulence of Eritrea's war of independence against Ethiopia, bright little Awet grows up peacefully in an orphanage in Asmara, lovingly cared for by Italian nuns. Then, one day, Awet learns that her father, a freedom fighter, is still alive and demands her return. Amidst her new family, Awet finds not warmth and security but poverty and hard work. The father ultimately gives her and her sister away to one of the rival liberation armies as "daughters of Eritrea." There, Awet makes friends and sees how one can be inspired by the ideals of freedom. However, she also experiences the numbing madness of war as she comes face to face with death and fanaticism. But her "heart of fire," her courage, and her conscience finally show her a way out.

Last week, it was announced from the Cannes Film Festival that Heart Of Fire was picked up for U.S. distribution by Seventh Art Releasing and for U.K. distribution by Metrodome.

About the 5th Annual Jackson Hole Film Festival
The 5th annual Jackson Hole Film Festival, presented by the Jackson Hole Film Institute will take place June 5-9, 2008, and will screen 100 independent films with 83 competing in seven program categories including: Features; Documentaries; Global Insight; World Program: Spotlight Latin America; Sports Action; Shorts; and Student Voices. Representing more than 30 countries, the Festival is committed to creating a platform for global inspiration and change.

In addition to its film programs, the Festival is also recognized for its extraordinary evening events and high profile forums that enrich the Festival and give festival-goers the opportunity to interact with filmmakers in a casual setting. Joining the Jackson Hole Film Institute presenting the 5th annual Festival are the following sponsors: Adobe, Amangani, American Express, Aspen Travel, Bresnan Communications, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Cloudveil, Entertainment Partners, MovieHatch.com, Panasonic, Panavision, Pepsi, Premium Films, Technicolor, Redwood Creek, Spring Creek Ranch, Stella Artois, Terra Resort, Timbuk2, Tommy Bahama Rum, United Nations Foundation and Wexler.

In conjunction with the 5th annual Festival and together with the United Nations, the Jackson Hole Film Institute will present the first Global Insight Summit, an international gathering where entertainment leaders and U.N. officials come together to explore how film and television can be leveraged to highlight critical international concerns.

For more information on the Jackson Hole Film Festival or to purchase festival passes visit www.jacksonholefilmfestival.org.

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