The festival’s primary aim is to celebrate recovery through film
(PRWEB) September 08, 2014
The Reel Recovery Film Festival, the only worldwide film festival that examines addiction while celebrating recovery, returns to New York City, September 26 – October 2, 2014. The seven-day festival takes place at the historic Quad Cinema and will feature over 33 films from more than five countries.
Festival director, Leonard Buschel, who first launched the festival six years ago in Los Angeles to benefit Writers In Treatment, the nonprofit organization he founded to help those suffering from addiction, said, “The festival’s primary aim is to celebrate recovery through film and expand the dialogue between artists, treatment industry professionals and a public eager to learn more about America’s number one health crisis – addiction.”
Showcasing an eclectic and compelling array of features, documentaries and shorts about addiction, alcoholism, behavioral disorders, treatment and recovery, the festival provides a platform for filmmakers to connect to a NY audience that would not otherwise be aware of their remarkable stories.
“It’s so exciting for us to be back in New York, where passionate audiences ask vital questions to the distinguished industry professionals and filmmakers there in person,” says Buschel.
“The film festival isn’t just for addicts and their loved ones who have been impacted by the disease of addiction,” says television personality and musician Bob Forrest. ”It provides a fascinating window into an underrepresented, challenging slice of life, in a safe and entertaining environment,”
Patrick Haggerson of the Hazelden/Betty Ford Foundation says, “The Reel Recovery Film Festival has shown itself to be of great value. The idea of capitalizing on this potent media to tell the story of addiction and its devastation is critical. The potential for the use of this media in altering public opinion regarding alcoholism and recovery has barely been tapped."
Schedule highlights:
Friday, September 26
- The Festival opens with a free screening of D.W. Griffith’s 1931 class, The Struggle. 1:00 p.m.
- Grace (2014): New York premiere, with an appearance by producer-director Sylvia Caminer; 8:00 p.m.
- Hong Kong-made Stories Forlorn (2014); New York premier; 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 27
- Shorts on a Saturday Afternoon: A program of entertaining, imaginative and relevant, dealing with today’s headlines. Beginning at 1:00 p.m.
- The Wisdom to Know the Difference (2014); Daniel Baldwin’s charming and offbeat story of the strangest intervention performed. In person: Director Marc Cerutti and special guests. 7:30pm
Sunday, September 28
- Philip Seymour Hoffman Tribute Day, hosted by Robert Downey, Sr.: In addition to screenings of Boogie Nights, Owning Mahowny and Capote, the evening ends with Patch Adams, starring Robin Williams and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Beginning at 1:00 p.m
Wednesday, October 1
- Chasing the Muse…stone cold sober. The annual panel discussion moderated by author Susan Cheever, featuring actor Joe Pantoliano, author/agent Bill Cleggactor/author Steve Geng and author/journalist Sacha Scoblic.
Thursday, October 2
- Sober Indian-Dangerous Indian (2014); 6:00 p.m. In person: Director John Maish.
- American Addict 2 (2014); 8:00 p.m. Scathing reportage regarding the state of the pharmaceutical industry and addiction in America. In person: Director Sasha Knezev and Creator/Producer Gregory Smith, MD.