IndependentFilm.com

PARK CITY, UTAH -- American Fork, a narrative film about an earnest dreamer whose awkward aims to be somebody spin off a series of tragicomic adventures, has been selected for a world premiere at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The annual festival, now in its 13th year, focuses on nurturing and showcasing films by first-time directors working with limited budgets. This year, Slamdance received a record 3,600 submissions for fewer than 100 slots. American Fork will debut Saturday, Jan. 20, in the Narrative Feature Competition.

American Fork screenwriter Hubbel Palmer, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, plays the lead role of Tracy Orbison, an overweight grocery clerk whose hopes for a meaningful life lead to unusual and sometimes dangerous situations. Palmer previously appeared in The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang, winner of the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2006 Slamdance Festival.

Also featured in American Fork’s cast are William Baldwin (The Squid and the Whale) as slick Z-list actor Truman Hope; Mary Lynn Rajskub (“24,” Mysterious Skin) as Tracy’s lovelorn sister; and Kathleen Quinlan (Apollo 13, Civil Action) as his domineering mother. The film marks the directorial debut of Chris Bowman, author and director of the award-winning short The Wrong Brother. Producer Jeremy Coon made his feature-length producing and editing debut with Napoleon Dynamite.

“American Fork marks the third film I've been lucky enough to have premiere at Slamdance,” says Coon. “We couldn't be happier to be a part of a festival where filmmakers like Christopher Nolan and Marc Forster were first discovered."

American Fork’s distribution rights are represented by Submarine and CAA.

American Fork screens in Slamdance’s Main Screening Room at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24. A press-only viewing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 22, in the Gallery Screening Room.

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