IFP'S "FIRST WEEKEND" SERIES BEGINS WITH LANCE HAMMER'S BALLAST

By Rooftop Films on 09/29/2008

Rooftop's noble partners at the Independent Feature Project (IFP) are, like us, always looking for innovative ways to support emerging filmmakers, from their Market (which helps find funding for works-in-progress), to their Labs (which provide artistic feedback for films at the rough cut stage), and now onto distribution. Their new "First Weekend" Series will help independent filmmakers secure a crucial, successful opening weekend in a New York theater. It's a great program, and Rooftop is proud to be promoting it. And the opening film--Lance Hammer's Ballast--is truly remarkable cinema, a powerfully-restrained drama of working-class tension and violence, reminiscent of Bresson or the Dardenne Brothers.

IFP along with Vera Farmiga, Sarah Jones, Neil LaBute, Jonathan Lethem, Salman Rushdie, Kerry Washington & Adam Yauch invite you to the launch of

IFP's "First Weekend" Series
connecting audiences directly with new independent films

Thursday, October 2 at 8pm
Film Forum (209 W. Houston Street, NYC)

Featuring Lance Hammer's BALLAST
Hosted by Tony Award winner Sarah Jones

$25 gets you:

- a ticket to the Opening Weekend screening at 8pm on Oct 2 at Film Forum
- an invitation to the post-screening Q&A between Lance Hammer and Tony Award-winning playwright/poet/activist/actress Sarah Jones ("Bridge & Tunnel")
- an invitation to the exclusive after-party with the filmmaker and members of NY's arts community, including members of the Host Committee

IFP's "First Weekend" Series is a quarterly program designed to guarantee sold out shows during their Opening Weekend for independent filmmakers self-distributing their work. In purchasing a ticket and supporting the series, audiences are directly supporting truly independent films and filmmakers. The full box-office proceeds will go directly toward the film's theatrical run. (FYI - IFP just sent over the check yesterday to Film Forum to buy out the 8pm screening, so BALLAST now has a sold out show before it even opens!)

IFP and Rooftop Films urge you to support truly independent films in this new manner by supporting the "First Weekend" series.

For additional details, and to purchase your ticket: http://www.ifp.org/content/noncms/ny/newsletters/08dedicated/ballast/