Three major independent motion picture releases will have their Arizona debut at the 2004 Phoenix Film Festival, April 1-4.
These presentations are in addition to the feature and short films shown as part of the competition.

Festival executive director Chris LaMont says, “It’s great when the studios give our audience the opportunity to screen the latest premiers first, films that will be coming soon to multiplexes across the country”.

The 2004 Phoenix Film Festival Showcase films are:

“Saved” (MGM): Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin. A “Good girl” high school student (Malone) becomes pregnant, is shunned by her clique of popular kids, and learns what true friendship is after banding together with other outcasts.

“A Slipping Down Life” (Lions Gate Films): Guy Pearce, Lili Taylor, Bruno Kirby, John Hawkes. A painfully timid young woman (Taylor) becomes obsessed with a charismatic singer/songwriter (Pearce), and, through their relationship, becomes more self-assured.

“Swimming Upstream” (MGM): Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis, Jesse Spencer. The true story of a young Australian man (Spencer) who beats the odds to become a champion swimmer despite his overbearing, alcoholic father (Rush) and long-suffering mother (Davis).

The 2004 program also will screen 12 selected features from the best of up-and-coming independent filmmakers and a series of short film programs. Selection titles and synopses, and additional information about the festival are available at www.phoenixfilmfestival.com. Festival partner The Sundance Channel will sponsor a tribute to actor/director Peter Fonda, who will appear in person Saturday evening, April 3rd, for a clip show, conversation and screening of his restored 1971 film “The Hired Hand”.