Saturday/Sunday, October 21/22-----THE ARCHITECT is a sophisticated urban drama about a Chicago architect (played by Anthony LaPaglia) confronted by an outspoken female activist (Viola Davis) living in a dangerous housing project of his design. LaPaglia plays Leo Waters, an idealistic architect and patriarch of an affluent, suburban Chicago family. Viola Davis is Tonya Neeley, a pragmatic activist who is trying to keep her family together while living in one of the city’s most drug and crime-infested public housing projects. As part of her ongoing campaign to have the projects torn down and decent housing built in its place, Tonya decides that the one signature she needs more than any other on her petition is that of the projects’ original architect, Leo Waters. This creates a crisis of morality and integrity for the architect and his wife, played by actress Isabella Rossellini.

Based on the stage play by David Greig, the film is written and directed by Matt Tauber, founder of Chicago’s Kitchen Theatre Company, where for three years he served as the nation’s youngest Artistic Director of a professional theatre. Matt most recently produced THE GREAT NEW WONDERFUL, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tony Shaloub, Olympia Dukakis, Judy Greer and Edie Falco , which was directed by Danny Leiner, whose credits include HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE. Danny Leiner produced THE ARCHITECT along with HDNet Films’ Jason Kliot and Joana Vicente.

HDNet Films, a high-definition production company, was founded by entrepreneurs Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban in 2003. The company finances and produces narrative and documentary features to be shot on high-definition video. HDNet Films utilises an unprecedented distribution strategy. Each film is distributed theatrically nationwide by Magnolia Pictures , is shown at theaters in the Landmark Theaters chain (also owned by Cuban and Wagner), and simultaneously released on the company's high definition cable and satellite channel HDNet, and on DVD. This "day and date" release in theaters, on television and in video stores is a revolutionary new approach that has tremendous implications for the future of independent film distribution.

Mark Cuban

Anthony LaPaglia is an “actor’s actor”, best known to television viewers for his Golden Globe winning role on the hit series WITHOUT A TRACE. Born and raised in Australia, he has become one of the most respected actors of his generation, with a resume that includes both cinema and the stage. He won the Australian Critics Circle prize as Best Actor for his role in the arthouse hit LANTANA (2001) and has been a prolific acting presence in such recent films as WINTER SOLSTICE (2004), ANALYZE THAT (2002) and THE GUYS (2002). The actor received the Golden Starfish Award for Career Achievement at the 2004 Hamptons International Film Festival for his impressive body of work.

Anthony LaPaglia

Viola Davis is one of the most exciting black actresses working today. A graduate of the famed Julliard School of the Performing Arts, she won the coveted Tony Award in 2001 as Best Featured Actress in a Play for August Wilson’s KING HEDLEY II. She had previously been nominated in the same category in 1996 for another Wilson play, SEVEN GUITARS. She has also been a formidable presence on the big screen, having been nominated for a Black Reel award for SOLARIS (2002) and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her role in ANTWONE FISHER (2002). Other film credits include WORLD TRADE CENTER (2006), FAR FROM HEAVEN (2002) and TRAFFIC (2000).

Viola Davis

Isabella Rossellini, the daughter of famed actress Ingrid Bergman and film director Roberto Rossellini, is an accomplished actress in her own right. She made an instant impression as the doomed victim in David Lynch’s controversial BLUE VELVET (1986), for which she won an Independent Spirit Award as Best Actress. In 1998’s LEFT LUGGAGE she played an orthodox Jewish mother, for which she won the top acting prize at the Berlin Film Festival. She is currently getting great notices for her role as the heiress Marella Agnelli in the Truman Capote biopic INFAMOUS. Other notable films in her career include HEIGHTS (2004), THE SADDEST MUSIC IN THE WORLD (2003) and THE TULSE LUPER SUITCASE films of Peter Greenaway.

Isabella Rossellini

Director Matt Tauber will be present to greet the audience at the premiere screening of THE ARCHITECT on Sunday, October 22 at 3:00pm at the Cinema Paradiso. Repeat screenings of the film will be held on Saturday, October 28 at 8:00pm and Monday, October 30 at 6:00pm, also at the Cinema Paradiso.

Sandy Mandelberger
Festivals Editor