"Universalove" - 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF2) Centerpiece Film May 17, 2009

SJIFF2 Centerpiece "Universalove" is a global love story. Six episodes in six different places of the world are told in a symbiosis of modern story-telling and popular music..

The 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF2) of the San Joaquin Film Society, is proud to announce that its Centerpiece film will be the West Coast USA premiere of "Universalove," directed by Austrian filmmaker Thomas Woschitz, featuring original music by Austrian indie rock band Naked Lunch. At the heart of the festival, the film selected for the Centerpiece program, is a cinematic story that captures the essence of humanity, power of expression, and universality of cinema arts. "Universalove" will screen at 3:30PM on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at the Stockton Empire Theatre (1825 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, California 95204).

Film details: www.sjiff.org/sjiff09/f-universalove.html

ABOUT "UNIVERSALOVE"

"Universalove" is a global love story. Six episodes in six different places of the world are told in a symbiosis of modern story-telling and popular music. "Universalove" is an experiment - a global love story. The interwoven storylines are located in Brooklyn, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Belgrade, Marseille and Luxembourg. The laconic narrative style captures moments that set the viewer on a journey around the globe and deep into the emotional worlds of very different characters affiliated with different cultural spheres and languages. In Marseille, Julie's heart beats wildly when thinking of Rashid. In Tokyo, Satoshi dreams about his adored one who works in a soup restaurant but who doesn't even know who he is. In Rio de Janeiro, Maria falls for a Telenovela star. In Belgrade, a couple fight for their very existence. In Brooklyn, the thoughts of a black taxi driver lead him into the emotional abyss of jealous love. In Luxembourg, a well-settled gentleman finally comes around to showing his true feelings for a young man... Love happens. Love takes place. Strange love. True love. Crazy love. Desperate Love. Everywhere, every moment.

According to Director Thomas Woschitz: "Universalove is a love story. It's a journey around the world with all kinds of people, sharing the same feelings. Everything is possible everywhere at the same moment. But, after all, it’s a musical for people who would never watch a musical.“ (source: www.kgp.co.at)

"Universalove" held its World Premiere in the Vanguard program of the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. In January 2009, it screened at the Berlin International Film Festival. In February 2009, it was awarded the prestigious Max-Ophüls Preis at the 30th Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis in Saarbrücken, Germany - a festival regarded as "the most important forum for promoting new talents from Germany, Austria and Switzerland." Recently, "Universalove" made its USA Premiere at the 2009 Miami International Film Festival. The Centerpiece screening of "Universalove" at SJIFF2 is the film's western America debut.

Admission for the Centerpiece Film program is $15.00 General and $12.00 Student / Seniors 65+ / Disabled Person. Tickets: www.sjiff.org/tickets

ABOUT THOMAS WOSCHITZ

Born in Klagenfurt, Thomas Woschitz studied at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome, Italy. He directed several short films, such as “People’s Pockets and Bleeding Noses” (1995) and “Blindgänger - Duds” (1996) and the medium-length film “Girls and Cars (2004), which have all been shown at numerous festivals, including Venice, Locarno and the Festival de Cannes. He also realized experimental film installations like “Oil Film” (1994) and “Loop’s End” (2003), or the imaginative sound film “moving landscape©“ (2002). In 2005, in collaboration with the band Naked Lunch, the music film “Closing Time” was created. Woschitz has also worked as a film editor on “La Capa Gira” and "Mio Cognato“, both by Alessandro Piva. After “Universalove”, he is now working on the feature film "The Robbers – Reloaded."

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ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF2), the flagship annual exhibition of the San Joaquin Film Society taking place May 14 to 23, 2009 - is a glorious world showcase of new and innovative works from emerging talents and seasoned international artists, presented in various venues across the city of Stockton in the heart of California's Central Valley. SJIFF2 will feature: red carpet premieres; new independent American and world films; Animania - a cinematic spotlight on animated cinema; tributes to celebrated and rising filmmakers; an exhilarating collection of the world's top short-length films from new and accomplished directors; educational programs, panels, interactive discussions; family events and programmes; a cultural family day at the museum; guest celebrities, entertainment and industry luminaries, and filmmakers from around the nation and the world; world-class galas and festive parties; and diverse programs for all ages.

Official Festival Website: www.sjiff.org/sjiff09
Films: www.sjiff.org/sjiff09/films.html
Tickets: www.sjiff.org/tickets

ABOUT THE SAN JOAQUIN FILM SOCIETY
The San Joaquin Film Society, Inc. (SJFS), home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival, celebrates cinema arts, multi-cultural appreciation, and global outreach through year-round productions of festivals, films, and educational programs. For 2009, in addition to the international film festival in May, SJFS launched an ambitious year of events that includes the 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival in January, the 1st California International Documentary Film Festival in the Fall, year-round cinema programs, special events, and educational programs. SJFS is dedicated to celebrating the artistry, diversity, and power of filmmaking; and to bringing the world of cinema to the culturally-rich Central Valley audiences.

Official Website: www.sjiff.org

Official Website: http://www.sjiff.org/sjiff09