Ann Arbor's Cinetopia International Film Festival Presents Foreign Film Line-Up, Now thru 6/3

The Cinetopia International Film Festival presented by AT&T, previously announced the foreign feature films selected for this year's inaugural festival, taking place today May 31 through June 3 at three Ann Arbor landmark locations: the Michigan Theater, the State Theater, and Angell Hall at the University of Michigan. Of the more than 30 films that will screen over the four days of the event, the eight foreign features include a British inter-faith comedy, European crime thrillers and domestic dramas, colorful musicals from Australia and Russia, and a Cuban zombie movie.

BRAN NUE DAE
Australia
Destined to become your favorite Aboriginal musical road movie, Bran Nue Dae is a foot stomping tour-de-force. Young Willie rebels against his Catholic boarding school in Perth and heads for his homeland in Broome, 1500 miles away. Father Benedictus (the exuberantly deranged Geoffrey Rush) follows in hot pursuit. Playing Friday, June 1 at 4:30 PM at the State Theater.

BULLHEAD
Belgium
Domineering cattle farmer Jacky, pumped on steroids and hormones, initiates a shady deal with a notorious Mafioso meat trader. When an investigating federal agent is assassinated and a woman from his traumatic past resurfaces, Jacky must confront his demons. A visceral saga bursting with rage. Playing Saturday, June 2 at 11:59 PM at the Michigan Theater and Sunday, June 3 at 7:30 PM at the State Theater.

ELENA
Russia
Elena, a former nurse from a modest background, is married to older, wealthy Vladimir. Each has adult children from previous marriages. As his health declines and Vladimir makes plans to leave everything to his daughter, Elena must decide whether her loyalty lies with her husband or her kin. Part domestic thriller and part morality play, with a striking score by Philip Glass. Playing Friday, June 1 at 2:00 PM at the State Theater.

HEADHUNTERS
Norway
Roger Brown, a corporate recruiter with an expensive wife, gets into a little art theft, using information from job candidates to rob them of their masterpieces. But when he tries to steal a Rubens from a suave Dane who turns out to be a former mercenary, Roger meets his match. What starts off as a run-of-the-mill heist escalates into a ferocious game of cat and mouse. Playing Friday, June 1 at 8 PM at Angell Hall and Sunday, June 3 at 5:00 PM at the State Theater.

HIPSTERS
Russia
Hipsters is a candy-colored musical set in the drab Soviet Union of the 1950s. The movie sets to music the story of a young Communist party member who falls for an adorable poodle skirt-wearing Hipster. Casting caution and his grey uniform to the wind, he buys a saxophone and a snappy checkered suit. But as the Hipsters start growing up, they realize life isn't always a song and dance. Playing Sunday, June 3 at 11:30 AM at the State Theater.

THE INFIDEL
United Kingdom
Omid Djalili is hilarious as Mahmud, a "relaxed" British Muslim who listens to rock music and sometimes drinks alcohol. Mahmud finds an adoption certificate and learns that his birth parents are Jewish. Shocked, he conceals this information from his family, who wonders what's gone wrong with him. A warm comedy that avoids ham-fistedness as it breaks down stereotypes. Featuring Richard Schiff and ARCHIE PANJABI. Playing Sunday, June 3 at 8:00 PM at Angell Hall.

JUAN OF THE DEAD
Spain/Cuba
50 years after Castro's Revolution, the citizens of Havana have been turned into shuffling, mindless zombies...but who can tell the difference? While officials insist the zombie epidemic consists of isolated incidents incited by US government-backed dissidents, Juan and his pals beat back hordes of flesh-eaters. Mayhem has never been this funny, this gory, or this political. Playing Friday, June 1 at 11:59 PM at the State Theater.

TEDDY BEAR
Denmark
A touching story about a gentle giant's search for love. Bodybuilder Dennis is a gruff, tatooed man-mountain who has yet to leave his mama's controlling grasp. He travels to Thailand and begins a hesitant flirtation with the widowed owner of a gym. But when he tells his mother, she responds with emotional blackmail. Playing Saturday, June 2 at 7:15 PM at the State Theater.

The Michigan Theater presents the first-ever Cinetopia International Film Festival, presented by AT&T, featuring specially selected independent and foreign cinema from the festival circuit and across the globe. Themes of the festival include 3D filmmaking, Michigan screenwriters, and a diverse selection of celebrated contemporary comedies, documentaries and dramas.
With screenings of more than 30 films over four days, Cinetopia will take place at the Michigan Theater's historic auditorium, as well as screens at the State Theater and the University of Michigan's Angell Hall. More information coming soon at michtheater.org/cinetopia, facebook.com/CinetopiaInternational, Twitter.com/CinetopiaA2

Tickets: $15.00 ($12.00 members) for individual films; Cinetopia Voucher Book: $120.00 ($96 members) for a book of 10 vouchers = buy 8, get 2 FREE; Gold Card Cinetopia pass: $100.00 – only available to current Michigan Theater Gold Card members; Cinetopia Mogul pass: $500.00 Gold Card and Mogul passes includes admission to ALL screenings, including the opening night party and access to the Cinetopia Hospitality Pavilion.

Tickets go on sale to Michigan Theater Gold Card members and members of the Towsley Society starting May 3rd, with ticket sales to all other levels of Michigan Theater members starting May 7th. Sales to the General Public begin May 10th. For more information on ticket sales please visit http://www.michtheater.org/cinetopia

Now celebrating its 85th year, the Michigan Theater is Ann Arbor's not-for-profit historic center for fine film and performing arts. Winner of the 2006 Outstanding Historic Theater award, it was designated as an official venue of the Sundance Film Festival for the past three years. The theater is located in downtown Ann Arbor at 603 East Liberty Street. Please visit www.michtheater.org for more info. The 24-hour information line is (734) 668-TIME.

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