• The Merger, Cinema Australia 2018 Audience Award winner, has US Premiere at SRFF
• Refugee-focused opening night program also includes It Will Be Chaos Doc
[NEW YORK, NY] SR Socially Relevant Film Festival 2019(SRFF 2019) marks its Sixth Edition opening night with Mark Grentell's critically acclaimed feature film, The Merger. The Australian production follows a struggling football club that recruits local refugees, finding new players and new purpose. The Merger, a US premiere, shows at Cinema Village on March 15, 2019, at 7:00 pm. Tickets via Eventcombo.
The film, adapted from Damian Callinan's solo stage production, is the winner of the Cinema Australia 2018 Audience Award. The uplifting comedy tells a story of a small town that is waging an ideological battle over inclusiveness versus xenophobia. As bonds are formed and memories are made with the new members, the quirky club shows the town how much good can come from helping others. Watch the trailer here.
Also showing on opening night is the NY premiere of Lorena Luciano and Filippo Piscopo's documentary, It Will Be Chaos, with a following Q&A. In the film we are introduced to the Eritrean refugee, Aregai, as he guides us through Italy's faltering immigration system. After the evening's screenings, SRFF 2019 will host an after party at Le Midi Bar & Restaurant, a limited number of tickets are available here.
SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival NY 's 6th edition is scheduled to run March 15-21, 2019, at Cinema Village and neighboring venues. Watch the festival trailer here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n29IoJOXZsg).
Highlights of SRFF 2019 include a documentary feature film on 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege, called The Man Who Mends Women directed by Thierry Michel, followed by a panel on Women and Children in Conflict Zones, presided over by UN UnderSecretary General special representative for Sexual Violence, Pramila Patten, and with the participation of other distinguished panelists CSW chair Susan O'Malley, The Children of Panzi director Cathleen de Kerchove and more. The film screening is preceded by a reception.
The narrative film slate offers six titles, the documentary feature slate has 14 films, and there are 32 shorts that complete the balance of 52 highly select films on offer. Industry workshops, panels and networking opportunities, not to forget parties and happy hours, make SRFF 2019 another unforgettable year.
Visit www.ratedsrfilms.org for schedule, synopses, bios, and sponsors.
ABOUT SR SOCIALLY RELEVANT FILM FESTIVAL NY
SR Socially Relevant ™ Film Festival New York is a 501(c) 3 non-profit film festival founded by actress Nora Armani. The Mission of the SR Film Festival is to shine the spotlight on filmmakers who tell compelling, socially relevant™, human interest stories dealing with social issues. SR™ believes in the power of cinema in raising awareness and promoting positive social change. Submissions re-open May 2019.
The mission of SRFF is the promotion of films and filmmakers that deal with socially relevant film content. In its first five years, the festival has successfully served as a platform for 287 films from 35 countries, has offered industry panels covering such topics as distribution, storytelling, diversity casting, funding, marketing, low budget filmmaking, filming in New York, and scriptwriting, and has presented over 40 awards to deserving talented filmmakers from all over the world and has helped them reach larger audiences year after year. SRFF believes that positive social change can happen through the impact of Socially Relevant™ films on people.
