Three Films Explore Identity in Academy/UCLA Documentary Series Screening
Beverly Hills, CA (rushprnews) May 2nd, 2007— The documentary short subject “Positively Naked,†the Oscar®-nominated documentary short subject “The Mushroom Club†and the documentary feature “Unknown White Male†will be screened on Wednesday, May 23, as the next installment in the 2006–2007 Contemporary Documentaries series, presented by the Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the UCLA Film & Television Archive.
The screenings will begin at 7 p.m. at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Admission is free.
“Positively Naked†looks at 85 HIV-positive strangers who, with an art installation as their focus, find the opportunity to band together as a strong and proud community. Though many members of the group have experienced ostracism at one time or another, all have learned to thrive instead of perish – with strength, humor and heart. The film was directed and produced by Arlene Donnelly Nelson and David Nelson, both of whom will attend the screening and discuss the making of the film; Helen Hood Scheer was also a producer on the film.
At once a personal reflection and a moving portrait of a city and its people, “The Mushroom Club†explores the legacy of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Directed and produced by Steven Okazaki, the Oscar-nominated film looks at the myths surrounding the devastating incident, the lives of the remaining survivors and the city’s monuments to its dead. It reveals how Japan struggles to this day with a fateful moment in its past.
“Unknown White Male†introduces Doug Bruce, a 35-year-old stockbroker-turned-photographer who one day, riding alone on a New York subway train, could not remember his name, where he worked, who his friends were or how much money he had in his bank account. Suffering from one of the rarest forms of amnesia, Bruce embarks on a profound journey to learn who he was and who he will become. The film was directed by Rupert Murray and produced by Beadie Finzi.
All screenings in the series are free and open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Linwood Dunn Theater is located at the Academy’s Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study, 1313 Vine Street, at the northwest corner of Fountain Avenue and Vine Street in Hollywood. Parking is available behind the building through the entrance on Homewood Avenue, one block north of Fountain. For more information, call (310) 247-3600 or (310) 206-FILM.
CONTACT: Leslie Unger — (310) 247-3090
                       lunger@oscars.org
©A.M.P.A.S.®
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
8949 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1972
(310) 247-3000
www.oscars.org
publicity@oscars.org
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