Midwest Independent Film Festival sneak peek of Hannah Free August 4, 2009

First Tuesdays with the Midwest Independent Film Festival:
Special sneak preview of Hannah Free!
Filmmakers and Chicago cast in attendance for post-screening Q&A

Chicago, IL – First Tuesdays with The Midwest Independent Film Festival continue with a special sneak preview of the highly anticipated dramatic feature Hannah Free, starring Sharon Gless (Cagney and Lacey, Burn Notice), screening on Tuesday, August 4th at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark beginning at 6 p.m. This tour-de-force of female filmmakers is directed by Wendy Jo Carlton, produced by Tracy Baim and Sharon Zurek and features a superb screenplay from award-winning Chicago playwright Claudia Allen. Hannah Free was the Closing Night film for this summer’s prestigious Frameline Film Festival and will have a theatrical run in Chicago later this summer. Filmmakers will be in attendance along with representative cast and crew for a post-screening discussion with the audience.





Film Synopsis: Hannah and Rachel grew up as little girls in the same small Midwest town, where traditional gender expectations eventually challenge their deep love for one another. Hannah becomes an adventurous, unapologetic lesbian and Rachel a strong but quiet homemaker. Weaving back and forth between past and present, the film reveals how the women maintained their love affair despite a marriage, a world war, infidelities, and family denial. Starring Sharon Gless (Cagney and Lacey, Burn Notice) and a talented collective of Chicago actresses, including Maureen Gallagher, Jacqui Jackson and Ann Hagemann. Hannah Free is now heading to film festivals around the world; it will have a short run in Chicago later this summer, check the Web site www.hannahfree.com for details soon.





Screening Information: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 -- screening begins with a Pre-Show Cocktail Reception (sponsored by GUINNESS Draught) at Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 North Clark) at 6 p.m. Our popular Producers Panel at 6:30 p.m. in the theater. Hannah Free screens promptly at 7:30 p.m. A post-screening reception will be held immediately following the film at Forno Diablo, 433 West Diversey. For more information, please visit www.MidwestFilm.org.



ABOUT THE MIDWEST INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL



The Midwest Independent Film Festival is the nation's only film festival solely dedicated to the Midwest filmmaker, presenting audiences with regionally produced independent cinema every first Tuesday of the month at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark in Chicago. This year-round film festival sits proudly at the center of the independent film scene in Chicago and the Midwest and is dedicated to celebrating and strengthening that community. More information can be found on the Festival website: www.MidwestFilm.org.



This year's festival sponsors include Resolution Digital Studios, O'Connor Casting, Fletcher Camera, Hard Rock Hotel Chicago, Reverse Momentum Foundation, Our Children's Homestead, Screen Magazine, McDermott Will & Emery, Zacuto, Illinois Institute of Art, Flashpoint Academy, Zipcar, Crunch Fitness, Macprofessionals, Zaroban Design, Big Teeth Productions, Left Brain Right Brain Productions, The Illinois and Chicago Film Offices, Movietrax.tv, Pixel Brothers, Kodak, D'Absolute Catering, Mimi Productions, Visions of Light, Saper Law and Orbit Media Studios.