JUNE 1-10: The Brooklyn International Film Festival (BiFF), the first international competitive film festival in New York, is proud to announce the 2007 film line up. The competitive, 10-day event will be held in multiple Brooklyn communities. Highlights of the films to be shown are:

MADE IN BROOKLYN / World Premiere
[Dir: Alosio, Angela, Mazzola, Tabb, Palanca, United States, 88 min, 2007, Feature]
The picture captures the essence of Brooklyn, its people, hangouts, smells, life, irony and the comedy of a bunch of wise guys. Made In Brooklyn was shot on location in NYC, Brooklyn and upstate NY. Sopranos Star Sharon Angela (Rosalie Aprile) makes her directorial debut; Other Sopranos cast members include Richard Portnow, Vince Curatola, Michael Rispoli, John Enos and Danny Grimaldi, who join the rest of the cast: Peter Dobson, Joe Tabbanella, John Enos, Costas Mandylor, and Katherine Narducci.
FORFEIT / East Coast Premiere
[Dir: Andrew Brendan Shea, United States, 84 min, 2006, Feature]
FORFEIT explores the human traits of greed, obsession, and revenge. This clever and engaging heist flick tells the story of a man hell-bent on exacting vengeance on the people who have wronged him. Frank O’Neal (played by Billy Burke) appears to be readjusting to life back in his old neighborhood, including reconciliation with his ex-girlfriend. We quickly learn however, that his motives are not entirely what they seem. Andrew Shea’s taut thriller features an impressive cast, including Sherry Stringfield (ER), Gregory Itzin (24) and Wayne Knight (Seinfeld).
ARRANGED / NY Premiere
[Dir: Stefan Schaefer & Diane Crespo, United States, 89 min, 2007, Feature]
Two young women – one an Orthodox Jew, the other Muslim – meet and become friends as first-year teachers at a public school in Brooklyn. Over the course of the year they learn they share much in common, not least of which is that they are both going through arranged marriages.
NICKY’S BIRTHDAY CAMERA / East Coast Premiere
[Dir: Andrew J. Traister, United States, 93 min, 2006, Feature]
This remarkably original little film takes you from a world you think you know so well, into one you hope you never come close to. What if YOUR best home video, became your worst nightmare? 12-year-old Nicky Hanson got a video camera for his birthday, and proceeded to make a little home movie about his family, friends, and his seemingly idyllic life on Little Secret Lake. Where this movie goes and what it uncovers is truly amazing and stunning. This film stars Airplane’s Robert Hays.
HOUNDED / US Premiere
[Dir: Angelina Maccarone, Germany, 87 min, 2006, Feature]
In an obsessive sexual encounter with a sixteen-year-old boy Elsa is exposed to the relentless revelation of her own desires. Elsa Seifert is a successful probation officer, completely immersed in her work. She lives with Raimar, the father of their daughter Daniela. Triggered by the fact of her daughter leaving the parental home, cracks start to appear in Elsa’s daily routine. Compromises, which, for decades, had stood the test of time, no longer seem to occur to her, she is no longer prepared to toe the line.

BODY/ANTIBODY / World Premiere
[Dir: Kerry Douglas Dye & Jordan Hoffman, United States, 98 min, 2007, Feature]
Kip Polyard (Robert Gomes) suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder and hasn’t left his Manhattan apartment in 10 months. When the beautiful Celine (Leslie Kendall) moves in next door, Kip is compelled to finally open his door  to romance. But when Celine’s ex-boyfriend Andy (Frank Deal) shows up, Kip realizes he’s let in more than he bargained for.
WAKE UP WORLD
[Dir: Carlo Nero, England, 31 min, 2006, Documentary]
Includes exclusive interviews with Kofi Annan (Secretary-General of the United Nations); Ann Veneman (UNICEF Executive Director); UNICEF Ambassadors Ralph Fiennes, Angelique Kidjo, Liam Neeson and Vanessa Redgrave; Stephen Lewis, The UN Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa; and Sir Richard Jolly, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. Wake Up World highlights what UNICEF can and must do to meet the desperate needs of children and teenagers all over the world. The film was produced by Vanessa Redgrave who, together with Director Carlo Nero will be available for Q&A after the screening.
SUSAN FOR NOW / East Coast Premiere
[Dir: Robin Franzi, United States, 54 min, 2007, Documentary]
The narrator of this first person documentary is in her forties, a finance professional with a Masters Degree who had been celibate for ten years while raising her only child and working. The husband and child now gone in separate directions; she replaces the empty nest syndrome by reclaiming her sexual freedom. This film seeks to dispel the myth that all forms of BDSM (Bondage, Domination, and Sado-Masochism) and fetishes are inherently deviant.
CHILDREN OF THE WAR / NY Premiere
[Dir: Alexandre Fuchs, England, 81 min, 2006, Documentary]
"Hijos de la Guerra" tells the story of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), an international Hispanic street gang founded by Salvadoran civil war refugees which the U.S government singles out as the fastest-growing and most violent gang in the country. The film explores the root personal reasons for gang membership, the ensuing explosion of fratricidal violence.

VENUES & SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
June 1 / Steiner Studios: 7:30pm (party follows opening night screening)
June 2-10 / Cobble Hill Cinema: 1, 2, 3:30, 4:30, 6, 7, 8:30, 9:30pm
June 5 & 6 / Brooklyn Heights Cinema: 8pm
June 7 & 8 / Galapagos Art Space: 7:30pm (parties follow)
June 3 & 9 / kidsfilmfest at Brooklyn Children’s Museum: 1, 3pm

For more information and screening locations, visit www.brooklynfest.org or contact Lisa King at lisa@wbff.org and Serena Maerna at serena@wbff.org.