Getting MIFFF’d in Seattle

A new fantasy film showcase, the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival (MIFFF), debuts in Seattle this September 18-20.

Full press release appears after the jump.

MIFFF Debuts the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival
Seattle Genre Film Festival To Open This September

Seattle, March 31, 2009 – The Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival(MIFFF), a three day international showcase of animation, fantasy, horror, and science fiction cinema, is pleased to announce its inaugural launch September 18-20th, 2009 at the SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington USA.

As a genre film festival in Seattle, MIFFF(www.mifff.org ) is a unique entity. The Seattle Metropolitan Area is home to one of the largest film attending populations in the country. MIFFF is a venue that gives a voice to genre film fans through a wide spectrum of films and related programming.

Festival Co-Founder and current President Gabe de los Angeles sees a great opportunity for MIFFF: “We are thrilled to give Seattle and the Pacific Northwest audience something special in the film festival community, a showcase of international genre cinema. It’s incredible that we’re going to be able to host on this event on the historic grounds of Seattle Center”.

The first annual MIFFF plans to screen a variety of animation, fantasy, horror, and science fiction films over three days. The festival will include feature length films, short films, and genre specific documentaries. In addition to the film screenings, MIFFF plans to have panel discussions, Q & A’s with filmmakers, and after parties.

Eric Morgret, Festival Director of Programming and Co-Founder, comments: “There are genre films produced every year that are not shown in mainstream movie theaters. Many international genre films remain unseen or get very limited exposure in this part of the country. For three nights MIFFF will bring a strong slate of these titles to audiences here in Seattle. MIFFF wants to present films of the imagination the best way they can be: on a large screen with fantastic sound, and in front of an audience full of energy.”

Isaac Alexander, Festival Director of Publicity and Co-Founder, comments: “Seattle has a great history of supporting genre films with Poltergeist, The Empire Strikes Back, & Return of the Jedi having had their World or American premieres in the city. Also Seattle has a diverse local genre fandom community, as well as it hosts the Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame. We will be able to promote this city and offer a venue to gather and celebrate this unique form of entertainment, and join film festivals of the fantastic across the globe in celebrating this form of cinema.”

Attendees, Press and Industry Members are encouraged to join our event on other social media websites.

Blogspot – http://maelstromfestival.blogspot.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=584266240&ref=ts#/group.php?gid=18959875871&ref=ts
Film Community – http://www.filmcommunity.com/profile/MaelstromInternationalFantasticFIlmFestival
Myspace – http://www.myspace.com/maelstromfestival
Twitter – http://twitter.com/mifff

For more information about the MIFFF, including organizers’ bios, film profiles, film submissions, and ticketing details, please visit the festival website at: www.mifff.org

ABOUT MIFFF
The First Annual Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival runs September 18 through 20th, 2009. The complete Festival schedule will be announced in August. Tickets will be made available online as well as in designated ticket venues. For more information on the Festival, including descriptions of films and events, please visit www.mifff.org . Members of the press can find and download more information, including press kits, photos, press releases, and full film descriptions in the press section of the website.

MIFFF produces the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival, the premier Pacific Northwest weekend long event devoted towards independent and international genre film making. The event was created to offer exposure to films that traditionally are overlooked by the festival circuit from genres including animation, fantasy, horror, and science fiction. The festival will feature an amazing selection of fantastic cinema from around the globe – with the possibility of artists presenting the works themselves. U.S. and world premieres will play alongside global festival favorites and select retrospective titles.

MIFFF is registered as a Washington State non-profit. MIFFF’s mission is to create experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary genre movies from across the globe.

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Organization cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause MIFFF’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions. The Organization may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the Organization’s assumptions or otherwise. The Organizations undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.