APRIL 7, 2003

MARYLAND FILM FESTIVAL 2003
5th ANNUAL FESTIVAL
ALL NEW DISCOVERIES
UNCOMMON EXPOSURES

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – In a whole new setting, at the top of the Hyatt in downtown Baltimore, the new plans for the Maryland Film Festival 2003, being held May 1-4, 2003, were highlighted today by Festival Director Jed Dietz and a host of unusual participants.

“In four years, we’ve screened over 400 movies of all types, with audiences having had the chance to meet and interact with filmmakers from all over the world, and this year’s programming is thrilling,“ Dietz announced. Dietz said that this year’s films represent the “broadest possible spectrum of the filmmaker’s art” and that this year filmmakers attending the Festival will include an array of talent ranging from legendary filmmakers John Waters, Barry Levinson, and Melvin Van Peebles to some film artists not yet out of school.

Dietz then introduced Ken Crooks, the Vice President and General Manager of Comcast in Baltimore City, who presented checks to both the Film Festival and to a group of teenagers from the Woodbourne Center, who are using film as part of their educational experience. “Comcast is thrilled to be supporting the exciting Maryland Film Festival for the second year,” said Crooks. He continued by saying “with the Festival’s support, and at the suggestion of Councilwoman Catherine Pugh, it is especially gratifying to be leaving something behind in the form of this check for the video program at Woodbourne. The Festival team tells us that a teacher at Woodbourne, Patrice Martin, has very successfully used film as a learning and therapy tool and that they hope to use the donation from Comcast to help elevate their editing programs, with Festival staff help,” Crooks announced.

Continuing to underline the uniquely broad appeal that the Maryland Film Festival represents, Dietz introduced Chicago Bears legendary linebacker, Hall of Famer and Ravens new Defensive Coach Mike Singletary, who will be one of the Maryland Film Festival’s Guest Hosts this year. Coach Singletary said that “movies have been so important to me throughout my life and in my wildest dreams I never thought I’d be part of a film festival!” He then announced that both Sixty Minutes II journalist Vicki Mabrey and CNN and Time magazine correspondent Margaret Carlson would be part of the Maryland Film Festival’s pioneering Guest Host program this year. When asked what movie each one of them had chosen, Coach Singletary said "stay tuned, and watch for more Host announcements, too." Started at the first Maryland Film Festival, the Guest Host Program invites well-known people from non-filmmaking careers to choose a movie that has been important to them and to host a screening of it. Past Guest Hosts have included designer Alexander Julian, artist Donald Sultan, Survivor’s Colleen Haskell, both Mayors Schmoke and O’Malley, journalist Robert Novak, and legendary investment manager Bill Miller, among many others. “No other festivals celebrate the importance of movies in our culture in this fun and engaging way,” Dietz said.

While highlighting classic films, Dietz also announced a North American Premiere of a short film, BALTIMORE, made by filmmaker Isaac Julien (Badasss Cinema), and starring Melvin Van Peebles and his double. Dietz said “this film comes from an exciting collaboration between the Walters Art Museum and the Contemporary Art Museum,” both of which were represented at the press conference by Lesley Schaeffer from the Contemporary and Melinda Evasius from the Walters. “This film had its World Premiere at the new video and film center in Liverpool, England and we will premiere in North America at the Walters during this year’s Festival. There will be a discussion with both filmmakers afterward and then it will receive a major installation in Baltimore in the fall,” Dietz explained. “Melvin is one of the giants of the film industry, and it is a great privilege to have him back at this year’s Festival.”

Acknowledging that John Waters and Barry Levinson would appear at this year’s Festival, as they did at the very first Maryland Film Festival five years ago, Dietz commented “so much of what has happened in the film industry in our state has come from these two; it is a privilege to welcome them back. John’s picks have always been a favorite of the Festival, and this year’s pick, Gaspar Noe’s I STAND ALONE, is an important film that will jolt audiences.” Dietz also said that the Festival is excited to host the area premiere of Noe’s newest and most controversial work, IRREVERSIBLE.

Dietz ended the press conference by showing a sample of the Festival TV commercials that will be running throughout the Comcast region starting today. The commercials were designed, as was the poster, by MGH Advertising, and feature one of Baltimore’s famous Hon’s and “another famous citizen.” “We run an unusually fun and welcoming film festival that is very much like this great city,” Dietz said, “and these posters and commercials really reflect some of the spirit we share with Baltimore.”

Dietz reminded everyone that the programming highlights announced were just a sampling of the Festival 2003 programming. “Keep watching the Festival’s website, www.mdfilmfest.com, because we have lots more coming.” A partial list of films being shown is enclosed, representing about half of the eventual screenings. Additional films will be listed on the website as they are added, including the opening night film. Please check the website frequently, as it will be updated regularly.

Comcast Cable serves more than 1.5 million customers in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and The District of Columbia. Comcast, whose Mid-Atlantic Division offices are located in White Marsh, Maryland, employs more than 4,000 people in the Mid-Atlantic Division.

Comcast Corporation (www.comcast.com) is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks, and in the provision of electronic commerce and programming content. Comcast Cable is the third largest cable company in the United States serving more than 8.4 million cable subscribers. Comcast’s commerce and content businesses include majority ownership of QVC, Comcast-Spectacor, Comcast SportsNet, The Golf Channel and Outdoor Life Network, a controlling interest in E! Networks, and other programming investments.