Friday, February 23----Excitement is building as the Miami International Film Festival prepares for its Opening Night Gala on Friday evening, March 2nd, with the premiere screening of BLACK BOOK, the latest cinema milestone from celebrated director Paul Verhoeven. The director will attend, along with the film’s star Carice van Houten, producer Teun Hilte and the film’s distributor, Sony Pictures Classics co-President Michael Barker.

Director Paul Verhoeven is one of the most provocative, daring, challenging and controversial storytellers working in film today. In his native Holland, he directed four of the most successful Dutch films ever made, single handedly putting the Dutch industry on the international map.

Since coming to Hollywood over twenty years ago, Verhoeven has relished his reputation as an intrepid film artist, known for pushing the envelope when it comes to the depiction of sex and violence on the screen. After a succession of commercial super-hits (ROBOCOP, BASIC INSTINCT, TOTAL RECALL, STARSHIP TROOPERS) and one notorious howler (SHOWGIRLS), Verhoeven revisits themes he first explored in his acclaimed SOLDIER OF ORANGE, in his newest film BLACK BOOK. Telling the story of a brave Jewish resistance fighter who uses her wits, her wiles and her brazen sexuality to  survive in Nazi-occupied Holland, the film has been widely hailed as a return to form for the veteran director.

BLACK BOOK was Holland’s choice for the Best Foreign Language Oscar and was screened to great acclaim at the Venice Film Festival (where it won the Young Cinema Award) and the recent Berlin Film Festival. In his native Holland, Verhoeven’s film was the big winner for the Golden Calf (the Dutch Oscar), winning Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Director honors.  

Following the gala screening, audience members will be shuttled to the historic Freedom Tower on Biscayne Boulevard for the Gala Black Tie Opening Night Party. This year’s theme is White and Black, with the stunningly decorated 2nd floor of the Freedom Tower provided courteosy of Pedro Martin and David Martin of the Terra Group. Dancing, dining, drinking and schmoozing will be the order of the evening as visiting guests from the world of cinema mix and mingle with movers-and-shakers from Miami’s vibrant cultural, political and social set.
 

Sandy Mandelberger, Miami Online Dailies Editor