Director Kevin Smith to present 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno' on Oct. 21, 2008 at 44th Chicago International Film Festival

I just received the following press release.

Director Kevin Smith to Present “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” at 44th Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 21, 2008

CHICAGO, October 20, 2008 – The 44th Chicago International Film Festival is pleased to confirm that screenwriter/director/actor Kevin Smith will present his new film, Zack and Miri Make a Porno as a Gala Presentation at this year’s festival, followed by a Q&A Session with the audience. The screening and Q&A will take place at AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois, Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 8:15pm.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is about lifelong friends and roommates, Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks), who are facing hard times and a mountain of debt. When the electricity and plumbing get cut off, they seize upon the idea of making a homegrown porno movie for some quick cash, enlisting the help of their friends. The two vow that having sex will not ruin their friendship. But as filming begins, what started out as a business proposition between friends turns into something much more.

Kevin Smith (Director/Writer/Editor) made his first film, Clerks, for $27,575, in New Jersey back in 1994. Since then, the 38-year-old screenwriter/director/actor has made Clerks, Clerks II, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Jersey Girl, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Dogma. He is currently preparing a horror film, entitled Red State, and an untitled comic book/sci-fi movie.

Smith is also a comic book writer, having written eight issues of “Daredevil” for Marvel Comics, as well as 15 issues of “Green Arrow,” for DC Comics, amongst others. He’s released two lecture tour DVDs entitled “An Evening with Kevin Smith” and remains very active with his multiple Internet sites. Last year he also released a memoir/diary, entitled My Boring Ass Life: The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith.

Tickets for the Gala Presentation of Zack and Miri Make a Porno are now on sale and available via http://www.ticketmaster.com/chicagofilmfestival; by calling 312-902-1500; or by calling the Chicago International Film Festival Hotline: 312-332-FILM, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Ticket prices for the film are $14 members and $16 for non-members.

About the 44th Chicago International Film Festival
As it has for 43 years, the 44th Chicago International Film Festival, October 16 – 29, 2008, presented by Cinema/Chicago, will offer moviegoers the best new films from around the world, with several exciting additions, including a “Festival Village” and the launch of Green Screen, a series celebrating our natural environment, the power and artistry of filmmaking, and the intersection between the two. In its fifth decade, the Festival still brings appearances by legendary international actors and directors and an impressive film line-up for which the Festival is known. Audiences will be captivated by over 150 films from around the world, from full-length features to thoughtful documentaries and vibrant shorts, which showcase both established and promising new filmmakers.

About Cinema/Chicago
Cinema/Chicago is the not for profit, tax exempt cultural and educational organization that presents the annual Chicago International Film Festival, North America’s oldest competitive international film festival, organized to encourage better understanding between cultures and its people and to make a positive contribution to the art form of the moving image. Subscribers to Cinema/Chicago’s membership program form a loyal core audience for the organization and are granted access to more than 15 free film screenings and sneak previews throughout the year. Cinema/Chicago also offers year-round educational programs designed for students and the deaf and hard of hearing to provide new film experiences and offer insight into other cultures, languages, and ideas. These programs include the Educational Outreach Program, the Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Black Perspectives Program. For up-to-date and detailed Festival information, call 312-332-FILM or visit http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com.