Executive Producer, Alex Lyras, Proudly Announces the Screening of the Independent Feature Film MONA, Showing at the 2008 New York Latino Film Festival July 24 and 26, Presented by HBO

MONA is executive produced by Alex Lyras, directed by Alan Kirschen, and written by Robert McCaskill. This independent film screens on Thursday, July 24th at 4:40pm at The Imaginasian Theater on 239 East 59th St and Saturday, July 26th at 8:30pm at the Helen Mills Theater 37-139 W. 26th St. More information is available at http://nylatinofilm.com/index.html .

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 15, 2008 -- Executive Producer, Alex Lyras, is currently working on numerous projects with MONA being at the forefront as it screens in The New York Latino Film Festival, sponsored by HBO. Shot on location in Manhattan by first-time director Alan Kirschen, this film is capturing audience's hearts. It was selected for the Independent Feature Project's (IFP) Rough Cuts Lab and was guided through post-production by seasoned producer Scott Macauley. Most recently, MONA won Best Picture at the 2008 Malibu Film Festival.

MONA is an evocative comedy that examines the all too fundamental question: what is friendship when love's at stake? The film's talented line up of actors includes Alex Lyras, (What Planet Are You From?, The Common Air, Heterosexuals), Neal Jones (Devil's Advocate, In America, HBO's Generation Kill), Adrian Martinez (Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, The Interpreter, Taking of Pelham 1,2,3) and introducing NYU graduate, Kristen Lewis.

A synopsis of MONA and production information is available at www.monathemovie.com.

Lyras and McCaskill have collaborated several times previously in the New York theater scene. Their plays have received high praise from The New York Times, Daily Variety, The Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, Backstage East and West, among others. Unequalibrium, co-written by Lyras and McCaskill, was produced in New York and Los Angeles, published in Best Plays 2002 and Best Men's Monologues for the 21st Century, and nominated for a Dramalogue Award. Their most recent production, The Common Air, was performed by Lyras in Los Angeles where it was thrice extended at Theatre Asylum. It is now in preparation for an Off Broadway run in New York.

"Lyras, a compact, steel spring of a performer who coils himself around his characters with the tensile energy and unflagging skill in his well-crafted, must-see show." Los Angeles Times Critics Choice (full reviews at www.thecommonair.com).

McCaskill and Lyras are currently in preproduction on McCaskill's second screenplay, Heterosexuals, a thought provoking look at the three forms of modern-day love. This will be McCaskill's directorial debut. Lyras is set to star and co-produce.

Calendar Listing/Facts:

MONA

Executive Producer Alex Lyras

Directed by Alan Kirschen

Screenplay by Robert McCaskill

Thursday, July 24th at 4:40pm

The Imaginasian Theater

239 East 59th St (b/n 2nd & 3rd)

and

Saturday July 26th at 8:30pm

The Helen Mills Theater

37-139 West 26th St (b/n 6th & 7th)

Info at www.monathemovie.com

Tickets available at: http://nylatinofilm.com/films_listing.php?order=3&sort=1

For information on promotions and events connected to MONA the movie contact Pamela Spyrs (INSPYRS) at inspyrs @ yahoo.com.

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