CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival

CMJ FILM FESTIVAL 2008 ANNOUNCES
INITIAL LINE UP

Director Kevin Smith Hosts
The New York City Premiere Of
ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO

Inaugural CMJ Cinemini’s Contest Kicks Off With Judges
David Picker & Lydia Dean Pilcher

September 30, 2008 - New York, NY – The CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival, New York’s largest music event and one of the world’s most eclectic showcases of new films, announced its initial slate of films for this year’s festival this morning with the New York City premiere of Kevin Smith’s new film Zack And Miri Make A Porno. Directed by Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy), Zack and Miri Make a Porno stars Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Pineapple Express) and Elizabeth Banks (40 Year Old Virgin, W.).

“We are thrilled to announce our initial line up for this year’s CMJ Film Festival,” commented CMJ Film Festival Director Rachel Klein. “As we continue to grow the festival, this year brings us a diverse roster of cutting edge films. The talented actor/director Kevin Smith and his NYC premiere of Zack And Miri Make A Porno, our first ever Cinemini Short Film Contest, and our first theater partnership with Spring Awakening promise to make 2008’s festival one to remember.”

This year, CMJ Film Festival is also proud to announce its inaugural Cinemini Short Film Contest in search of the freshest new voices in short narrative and documentary films. Winners from each category will be selected to receive a prize package with essentials for their next shoot from partners JVC, Avid, Entertainment Partners and more. Legendary film producer David Picker (The Jerk, The Crucible, A Hard Day’s Night) will chair the narrative jury alongside Emmy winning documentarian Mark Marabella (FBI Files, Grounded on 9/11) who will chair the documentary jury.

They will be joined by Producer Lydia Dean Pilcher (Darjeeling Limited); feature film producer Brian Peter Falk (The Loomis Gang, Embassy Row Pictures); Vice President, Non Fiction and Alternative Programming for A&E Elaine Frontain Bryant; documentary and feature film Executive Producer John Schwally (Frontline, Dateline NBC, Nature); Executive in Charge of Production for BBC Shirley Escott; and international documentary producer Tanja Medding (Sally Gross: the pleasure of stillness, The Gates).

The CMJ Film Festival has grown to become a leading event among tastemaker movie fans, having hosted over the last decade a slew of premieres and advance screenings. This year the film festival will also feature the NYC Premiere of Johnny Cash: Live at Folsum Prison – featuring an appearance by John Carter Cash, NY Premieres of American Swing, What About Me?, Pressure Cooker, US Premiere of AC/DC: No Bull, and Israeli film For My Father. The comedy act The Raspberry Brothers will make their debut appearance at CMJ with a show that mixes comedy with movies. Badge holders can attend the Broadway rock musical Spring Awakening as they join forces with the CMJFF for the first ever theater partnership.

This year’s CMJ 2008 screenings will be held at Tribeca Cinemas, Regal Cinemas Union Square, and the Cantor Film Center. Further details on all of the upcoming films, events and artists visit www.cmj.com/marathon.