Les Blank - WHFF



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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: The Woods Hole Film Festival
(508) 495-3456
attn: Judy Laster
info@woodsholefilmfestival.org

LES BLANK SELECTED 2007 WOODS HOLE FILM FESTIVAL
FILMMAKER IN RESIDENCE

Internationally Acclaimed Documentarian to Spend 8 days Interacting with Festival Patrons and Filmmakers

WOODS HOLE, MA – June 5, 2007 – The 16th Woods Hole Film Festival, which will be held from Saturday, July 28th through Saturday, August 4th, today announced that world-renowned documentary filmmaker Les Blank (The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins, Burden of Dreams, All In This Tea) will be the 2007 Filmmaker in Residence, joining a distinguished list of past fellows including Jon Jost (WHFF 2006) and Kidlat Tahimik (WHFF 2005).

Blank's first independent films began a series of intimate glimpses into the lives and music of passionate people who live at the periphery of American society. Vincent Canby of the New York Times describes Les Blank as “a master of movies about the American Idiom...one of our most original filmmakers.” Blank will screen his most recent film “All In This Tea” , made with Gina Leibrecht, on Sunday July 29th. The film takes us across the world to some of the most remote regions of China in search of the best handmade teas in the world, guided by world-renowned tea expert David Lee Hoffman.

Additionally Blank, who has made more than 30 films, 2 of which are in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, will give a master class, participate in panel discussions and informal festival networking events throughout the 8-day Festival.

Executive Judy Laster said, “We’re thrilled to bring yet another filmmaking legend to the Woods Hole Film Festival. Our invited filmmakers and patrons truly appreciate the invaluable time spent with film greats like Les and we are fortunate that he will be able to offer his understanding and wisdom to emerging filmmakers and the public as our third filmmaker in residence.”

Among Blank's numerous awards are the British Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary, 1982, (Burden of Dreams); the Golden Gate Award "Best of Festival", San Francisco Film Festival, 1982 (Burden of Dreams); Grand Prize, Melbourne Film Festival,1985 (In Heaven There Is No Beer?); Special Jury Award U.S. (Sundance) Film Festival, 1985 (In Heaven There Is No Beer?); Grand Award, Houston Film Festival, 1983 (Burden of Dreams); Golden Hugo, Chicago Film Festival, 1969 (The Blues Accordin' To Lightnin' Hopkins); Blue Ribbon, American Film and Video Festival (Dry Wood, Hot Pepper, Always For Pleasure, Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers, Burden of Dreams, Gap-Toothed Women, The Best of Blank, J'ai Ete Au Bal, Yum,Yum,Yum! and Marc and Ann.) "Best of Festival", Sinking Creek (Nashville) 1996 (The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists).

Interested parties can hear a discussion of Blank’s work including “All This in Tea” for free by visiting the iTunes Music Store’s Podcast section and searching “Woods Hole Film Festival”. The three part series is also available from the festival website.

Credentialed press can request interviews and register for the Woods Hole Film Festival VIP event scheduled for 4:00 PM on Saturday July 28th at the Fishmonger in Woods Hole by emailing md@woodsholefilmfestival.org.

The schedule for the 2007 Woods Hole Film Festival will be announced on June 15th, 2007.

For more information about the Woods Hole Film Festival please visit www.woodsholefilmfestival.org or call (508) 495 - 3456.

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	© 2007 Woods Hole Film Festival. All Rights Reserved.