ANNOUNCES NEXT NATIONAL IN-THEATER SCREENING SERIES JANUARY 2015 TO FEATURE “CAKE” WITH EXCLUSIVE CAPTURED LIVE APPEARANCE BY JENNIFER ANISTON
New York, NY – The New York Film Critics Series® (NYFCS®), one of the leading word-of-mouth screening companies, has partnered with the nation’s leading independent cinemas to present live, national, in-theater screenings. The events are moderated by Peter Travers, film critic for Rolling Stone Magazine and ABC’s Popcorn, along with additional coverage by Alison Bailes of BBC, More Magazine, WOR Radio, and The Charlie Rose Show. The series presents live, interactive, in-theater; pre-release movies and big screen HD simulcast with the stars and filmmakers. www.nyfilmcriticsseries.com
We’re excited to announce our next NYFCS film screening will be Cinelou Releasing’s “CAKE”. The pre-release screening and event will take place captured live throughout the country on Tuesday January 20th, 2015. The film stars Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza Anna Kendrick, Sam Worthington, Mamie Gummer, Felicity Huffman, and William H. Macy. Jennifer Anniston has just recently been nominated for the following best actress awards: Golden Globe, SAG and Critics Choice. She is also well positioned for an Oscar® nomination. Citi® is the Official Card of this event. Citi cardmembers can purchase presale tickets January 6th at 10am EST through January 9th at 9:59am EST at www.citiprivatepass.com
Claire Simmons (Jennifer Aniston) is in pain. Her physical pain is evident in the scars that line her body and the way she carries herself, wincing with each tentative step. She’s no good at hiding her emotional pain either. Blunt to the point of searing insult, Claire’s anger seethes out of her with nearly every interaction. She has driven away her husband, her friends – even her chronic-pain support group has kicked her out. The only one left in Claire’s otherwise solitary existence is her housekeeper-cum-caretaker, Silvana (Academy Award nominee Adriana Barraza), who barely tolerates her boss’ need for liquor and prescription pills.
The NYFCS® event will include an exclusive, live, interactive, HD Simulcast to 50 U.S. locations. The series takes place exclusively in theaters and is never available on TV or the internet.
Up until now, live talent has only been accessible to the public in NY, LA and at festivals. Now everyone throughout the country can enjoy up close and personal moments from major movie stars, producers, writers and directors in the comfort of their own neighborhood theaters. Regional preview screenings are happening all the time, but never with a live, talent conversation component. This is a comprehensive, industry wide turn-key marketing tool complete with robust media and in-theater assets to 400+ screens.
A regular series of ongoing preview screenings is established in 50 select major markets. Audiences experience all of the excitement of live Q&A sessions, hosted by Peter Travers. The big screen events deliver 9-13 curated pre-release films per year to discerning audiences on a monthly basis. Each film in the screening series is introduced live by Peter Travers. Audiences then see the best films prior to their release followed by live, HD Q&A between Travers, audiences and talent from the films. Each piece brings the energy and VIP nature of prestigious, NYC screenings for nationwide audiences to interact with stars and directors via two-way simulcast.
This is the first ever live national in-theater screening series which will entertain, educate, surprise, and refresh the spirit of true independent and foreign language filmmaking through provocative story-telling. The NYFCS® is dedicated to producing inspiring events in a collaborative environment and to nurturing the long-term success of movies. Featuring an energetic, creative, and experienced team, the NYFCS® exhibits socially and culturally relevant films with live world-class talent in the best independent theaters throughout the US. Citi® is the Official Card of this NYFCS® event. This relationship was arranged by The Erlick Group (https://www.erlick-group.com), a leading NYC-based entertainment sponsorship agency that has represented leading properties in film, music, theatre and venues for the past 22 years.
The NYFCS® screening series has included these guests & films: Oscar® Winners Juliette Binoche, Shirley MacLaine, GONE GIRL, AND SO IT GOES (starring Michael Douglas & Diane Keaton) with a live visit by director Rob Reiner; CHILD OF GOD with live appearances by James Franco & Scott Haze; HECTOR AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS with star Simon Pegg and filmmaker Peter Chelsom on hand, WHAT IF with live appearances by stars Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan; CHEF with filmmaker & star Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Elf, Made, Swingers) in attendance; and LOCKE with live appearances by star Tom Hardy and writer / director Steven Knight (Eastern Promises & Dirty Pretty Things). Other recent films screened at NYFCS® include: NEBRASKA, AMERICAN HUSTLE, AT MIDDLETON and BREATHE IN.
About The New York Film Critics Series®:
Peter Travers, Host: Peter is an American film critic, who has written for, in turn, People and Rolling Stone. Travers also hosts a celebrity interview show called Popcorn on ABC News Now and ABCNews.com. Travers joined Rolling Stone in 1989 after a four-year stint with People. He’s best known for his basic writing style that eschews a more sophisticated analysis for an easy-to-read and often very opinionated form. According to efilmcritic.com, Travers is the nation’s most blurbed film critic. Peter has hosted the NYFCS for over 10 years. In addition to Rolling Stone Magazine, ABC-TV, Peter appears regularly on Newsweek & The Daily Beast, The Soho Apple Store, and CNN.
Alison Bailes, Co-Host: Alison is the film critic for BBC, More Magazine and a contributing critic for “Ebert Presents at the Movies” on PBS. She appears on NBC’s Today Show as a film critic and industry reporter. Alison also appears regularly on Charlie Rose along with A.O. Scott of the NY times and others. She guest hosts the New York Film Critics Series® and maintains her own film website: www.alisonbailes.com From 2005-2009 Alison co-hosted the NBC Universal weekly movie review show “Lyons & Bailes Reel Talk”. She and Jeffrey Lyons shared their different perspectives on the latest film and DVD releases, gave viewers the latest news from the box office and reported on industry trends. “Reel Talk” also featured celebrity interviews. Prior to joining WNBC, Alison created “At The Angelika” for the Independent Film Channel. She wrote, produced and hosted this monthly look at the independent film scene, which later became known as “At The IFC Center.” Previously, Alison was a senior producer of the weekly film magazine show, “Flix” on VH1. She began her career at CNN, working for their daily entertainment news show “Showbiz Today.” A UK native, Alison has lived in the United States since 1989. She graduated from Oxford University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and German Literature.
Independent Theaters: The NYFCS® network of U.S. theaters are independent partners that are dedicated to presenting the finest films available. These are exhibitors who take great pride in their shows and provide patrons with state-of-the-art, live HD experiences in the comfort of their convenient locations. Each location has been carefully chosen to ensure the best possible experience that is available in domestic, independent cinema today. https://nyfilmcriticsseries.com/Locations.html
Cinelou: In 2014 Cinelou Films’ Producers Mark Canton and Courtney Solomon announced the launch of Cinelou Releasing – a new prestige label with plans to release up to four films over the next year. Cinelou Releasing has a pact with Warner Bros. Pictures to handle international distribution for six of the Cinelou releases over the next three years. “We congratulate Mark Canton and Courtney Solomon on their new company, Cinelou Releasing,” said Warner Bros. President of International Distribution, Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, “we look forward to our upcoming international collaborations with them beginning next year with CAKE.
CONTACT: Mark Ehrenkranz marke@nyfilmcriticsseries.com www.nyfilmcriticsseries.com
