DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER MARY HARRON TO RECEIVE THE "FILMMAKER ON THE EDGE" AWARD
AT THE PROVINCETOWN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Provincetown International Film Festival, scheduled for June 15-19, enters its seventh year with the announcement of the 2005 recipient of the annual Filmmaker on the Edge award. This year the Festival honors director/writer Mary Harron, whose 1996 debut feature I Shot Andy Warhol immediately launched her into the spotlight as a maverick filmmaker to watch. The film is an unabashed but sympathetic depiction of real-life separatist lesbian feminist Valerie Solanas who notoriously shot and wounded '60s pop artist icon Andy Warhol. Upon its release it received wide critical acclaim and won star Lili Taylor a Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Harron's second feature, the internationally successful (and equally provocative) American Psycho, was adapted from Brett Easton Ellis' controversial bestseller. Released in 2000, Harron was nominated for "Director of the Year" by the London Film Critics Circle.

Harron's forthcoming The Notorious Bettie Page (2005) stars Gretchen Mol, Lili Taylor and Jared Harris and is produced by Christine Vachon. The much-anticipated bio-op on the legendary 1950's pinup model is slated for release in 2005 by HBO Films. Harron is currently in pre-production for her next film Please Kill Me, based on Legs McNeil's best-selling book. In addition, she has directed some of televisions edgiest shows, including "The L Word," "Six Feet Under," and "Oz". Raised in Toronto, educated at England's Oxford University and currently residing in New York City, Harron began her filmmaking career creating documentaries for British television. Before working in film, she was a journalist in the rock music industry and helped launch the first punk magazine, Punk. She was the first writer to interview The Sex Pistols for an American publication.

Previous recipients of the "Filmmaker on the Edge" award at the Provincetown International Film Festival are director/writer Jim Jarmusch (2004), director Todd Haynes (2003), director Gus Van Sant (2002), producers Ted Hope and James Schamus (2001), producer Christine Vachon (2000), and filmmaker John Waters (1999).

In addition to the Filmmaker on the Edge Award Ceremony, the Festival premieres over 50 films from around the world and continues many established special programs. Included in the 2005 line-up will be the Breakfast with... series (providing opportunities for the public to dine with industry professionals to discuss aspects of their craft), the Youth and Diversity Film Program (showcasing films that encourage young adults to discuss the concerns of today's world), A Night at the Drive-In (hosted at the Wellfleet Cinemas - home of one of the world's few remaining outdoor drive-in movie screens), a special screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the Clambake and Pool Party (hosted by the historic waterfront Crown and Anchor Inn).

The line-up of films, special events, ticket information, venues, and travel/ accommodation suggestions will be on the Festival website at www.ptownfilmfest.org. The seventh annual Provincetown International Film Festival is made possible by the generous support of the Festival's Presenting Sponsors including HBO, Bacardi Big Apple, Premiere Magazine, The Advocate, The New Art Cinemas, The Provincetown Banner, The Boston Phoenix and The Provincetown Visitors Service Board. Additional growing support comes from numerous community-based businesses. For more information on the Festival visit www.ptownfilmfest.org or call 508-487-FILM