Sat, 5 Aug 2000 23:22:59 EDT

Veronica Mixon

The Shooting Gallery Film Series at Loews Cineplex Entertainment is set to launch once again with its sophomore series of critically acclaimed films. Building on the Spring 2000 debut season's critical and box office success, the new season begins September 1.

A breakthrough for filmmakers and consumers, the Film Series joins multimedia company Shooting Gallery and Loews Cineplex Entertainment, the nation's largest theatrical exhibitor, to continue this unique exhibition program of first-rate independent motion pictures. A re-creation of the film festival experience held every Spring and Fall, the Series showcases six highly praised, but underexposed, indie movies over a 12-week period in 16 markets across the country.

The Film Series was conceived by Shooting Gallery Chairman and CEO Larry Meistrich and its President of Worldwide Entertainment Paul Speaker as a way to introduce quality independent films to an audience beyond the traditional markets.

"Following our overall corporate mission of providing opportunities for artists, we developed this program to give filmmakers without previous distribution the chance to reach the consumer, whether in New York or Chicago or even Tucson," Meistrich said. "We are thrilled, for example, that Americans have fallen in love with Mike Hodges' Croupier - they never would have seen it without the Film Series."

Loews Cineplex Entertainment will screen and promote the films in all of its theatres in the participating cities. Robert Lenihan, the exhibitor's Executive Vice President stated, "The Shooting Gallery Film Series has been an exciting addition to our film programming, providing many of our patrons with access to movies that they may have never been able to see on the big screen. The line-up for the Fall Series again promises a provocative, eclectic program and we look forward to its success in our theaters."

The Spring films' successes were not limited strictly to the Series. Without exception, each of the six featured films rolled out beyond its original two-week run, especially breakouts Eric Mendelsohn's JUDY BERLIN and Mike Hodges' CROUPIER, which quickly approaches $4 million in its 14th smash week.

Chosen based on their positive receptions at film festivals, exceptional critical praise and proven audience appeal, the movies that make up the Fall 2000 season of the Shooting Gallery Film Series at Loews Cineplex Entertainment are:

TITANIC TOWN - Roger Michell's (Persuasion, Notting Hill) true-life chronicle of a mother's single-handed crusade to protect her family from the brutal effects of the war in Northern Ireland in the 1970s. Academy Award nominee Julie Walters gives a bravura performance as the woman who, in her determined efforts to bring peace to her country, develops a deeper connection with her family. Opens September 1.

HUMAN RESOURCES - Laurent Cantet's emotional story of a Parisian business school student who returns home for an internship at the factory where his father has worked for the past 30 years. Working in the Human Resources department, he finds his efforts to better the company leads to the firing of many employees, including his father. Opens September 15.

BARENAKED IN AMERICA - Jason Priestley's entertaining rockumentary look at life on the road with Canadian pop group The Barenaked Ladies on their U.S. tour as they achieve their first #1 hit single for the song "One Week." Opens September 29.

ONE - Tony Barbieri's striking feature debut charts the deterioration of the friendship between two young men as their lives turn in different directions. One discovers his inherent self-worth while the other descends to frustration and failure. Opens October 13.

A TIME FOR DRUNKEN HORSES - Bahman Ghobadi (first assistant director, Abbas Kiarostami's The Wind Will Carry Us) directs his first feature, with stunning simplicity and command, about an Iranian family forced into the perilous trade of smuggling goods through harsh mountain terrain to the Iraqi border. When the youngest child desperately needs an operation, the family is pushed to the limits of love and loyalty. Opens October 27.

NON-STOP - Sabu's delightful comedy on the run is about three losers who fate brings together with disastrous results. The Yakuza and our hapless heroes cross paths, and a race develops in which none of them knows any longer from what or to where he is running-and no one can stop them. Opens November 10.

Eamonn Bowles, President of Shooting Gallery Films, and Ryan Werner, Shooting Gallery's Director of Acquisitions & Distribution, acquired the films and program the Series.

"The current landscape for releasing complex, challenging films is an extremely tough one," Bowles remarked. "With this groundbreaking program, we are able to take chances on brilliant films of substance that don't fall into easily promoted genres. It lets us focus on the quality of the films, not just the marketability."

The Film Series has already garnered the wholehearted support of the film community and critics across the country. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says "Hallelujah!" to the idea of the Film Series, and critic Roger Ebert hails the program as "a godsend for film lovers." New York Press included three of the Spring films in its mid-year assessment of the best movies of 2000.

Another highlight of the Film Series is the original Shooting Gallery Premiere Club. Offered in select national markets,The Shooting Gallery gives subscribers a sneak preview of featured films and the chance to interact with cast members, filmmakers and distinguished film critics. A screening of each movie is held for Premiere Club members two days prior to its national release. Shooting Gallery, local film organizations and affiliated talent host a post-screening discussion facilitated by a moderator such as a local critic or educator. This provides the rare opportunity for filmgoers to share their feelings and opinions about the films with experts and other dedicated film fans.

An interactive component will further enhance the Shooting Gallery Film Series at Loews Cineplex Entertainment. The official web site, www.movies.yahoo.com/sgfilmseries is designed by Shooting Gallery Interactive and launches early August to serve as an information resource for the independent film community. It will provide a calendar of events, background on the films, interactive message boards and chats with film principals, among other features.