North American Fantastic Festival Alliance Expands!

NORTH AMERICAN FANTASTIC FESTIVAL ALLIANCE EXPANDS!
ADDS NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, TORONTO AND PHILADELPHIA TO THE MIX!

(June 20, 2008) The NORTH AMERICAN FANTASTIC FESTIVAL ALLIANCE (NAFFA) is pleased to announce the addition of 4 fantastic film festival partners to its organization; New York Asian Film Festival, Toronto After Dark, Danger After Dark in Philadelphia, and ScreamFest L.A. NAAFA was founded by Montreal’s Fantasia, Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest in Austin and Dead Channels: the San Francisco Festival of Fantastic Film.

NAFFA is comprised of professional North American festivals dedicated to presenting the best new independent and international fantasy, science fiction, horror, animation, exploitation, experimental and cult movies, as well as selected retrospective programs, with a dedication to quality and respect for the filmmaker’s work. The Alliance’s mission is to assist neophyte filmmakers in navigating the chaotic, and overwhelming, film festival submission process by providing useful information and invaluable networking opportunities.

NAFFA’s official website, www.FantasticAlliance.org, aims to provide emerging and established imaginative artists with access to an Alliance of acclaimed festivals that actively support the discovery and promotion of thrillingly unique independent film from all over the world. NAFFA is recognized by the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation: www.melies.org

The following is a list of upcoming events of partners of the NAFFA

New York Asian Film Festival
June 20 – July 6, 2008
www.subwaycinema.com

Fantasia
July 3 – 21, 2008
Montreal, Canada
www.fantasiafest.com

Fantastic Fest
September 18-25, 2008
Austin, TX
www.fantasticfest.com

Dead Channels
October 2-5, 2008
San Francisco, CA
www.deadchannels.com

ScreamFest LA
October 17-24, 2008 (Check dates)
Los Angeles, CA
www.screamfestla.com

Toronto After Dark
October 17 – 24, 2008
Toronto, Canada
www.torontoafterdark.com

Danger After Dark
March 26 – April 7, 2009
Philadelphia, PA
www.phillyfests.com

Find more information about NAAFA, events and festivals, visit: www.FantasticAlliance.org

Fantastic Fest Fave Big Man Japan to open in Austin

BIG MAN JAPAN is a mockumentary built on the premise that the monsters that occasionally drop out of the sky and invade Tokyo and that the men who grow to giant size to battle them are real. Only now, the military can handle the job much better, and the only "big man" left (the subject of the mockumentary) is really bad at his job.

The film had it's U.S. premiere as part of Fantastic Fest last September and was listed on Alamo founder Tim League's official "top 10 movie experiences of 2007."

Magnolia Pictures, encouraged by the response to the film at Fantastic Fest has chosen a unique release strategy. The film opens in Austin first, and then New York and Los Angeles. This is the first non-Texas film that has adopted such a strategy.

Big Man Japan opens at the Alamo South Lamar on April 25, 2008.

Press for Big Man Japan:
"Dai Nipponjin (Big Man Japan)" has to be, hands down, the strangest picture in Cannes this year. Decidedly odd, even by Japanese standards, this mockumentary about an electrically charged, skyscraper-high superhero saddled with misfortune, bad press and even worse TV ratings is tears-down-the-face funny and a genuine, jaw-dropping oddity. A must for midnight madness slots as well as Asia and fantasy-themed fests, pic will astound auds of all stripes." - Variety

"Matumoto has, quite possibly, the most incredibly deadpan approach to absurdist humor in the history of the world. Nobody cracks a smile. Nobody winks at the camera. The whole thing plays out with a sort of ho-hum, another day at the office vibe that heightens the ridiculousness of it all to even further heights." Twitchfilm

"The major prize for originality as far as genre is concerned belongs to a Directors' Fortnight title, Hitoshi Matumoto's "Dai Nipponjin". The film has more than a few surprises to offer and a clear directorial vision unlike stronger than almost any other seen in Cannes this year, genre or otherwise."- Indiewire

Screeners and hi-res stills are available upon request.

Jet Pack Man at Iron Man premiere!

Jet Pack International will be staging a demonstration of their Jet Pack Technology at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on April 28, 2008 at 2 PM. All press is welcome at this event. The man with the jet pack will take off from the front parking lot, make loops above the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and return safely to earth.

Jet Pack International was flown in to the Alamo to celebrate the sneak preview premiere of IRON MAN presented by Ain't It Cool News and Fantastic Fest. The Jet Pack will be demonstrated for the public at the 7:00 PM screening on APril 28, 2008. Iron Man opens at all three Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas (Village, Lamar and the Ritz) on May 2, 2008.

For media inquiries, please contact zack@originalalamo.com or call Zack at 512-921-0529.