New York, NY – Entering its 12th year, the CMJ Film Festival presents 17 cutting-edge films, covering topics from rock star has-beens to climate change to Middle East conflict to punk pioneers The Clash, for five days this month, October 16-20. With a host of special appearances by acclaimed filmmakers and actors such as Vince Vaughn, Oscar-winner Murray Lerner and director Julien Temple (Joe Strummer:The Future is Unwritten); as well as CNN’s Anderson Cooper and NPR’s Ira Glass, CMJ Film Festival 2007 brings an up-close look at some of the most innovative films and documentaries around. This year’s films, which include several New York premieres, will be screened at Tribeca Cinemas, Tribeca Grand and IFC Center. CMJ Film Festival Badges are $50 for access to all screenings and Film Festival events. Tickets for individual screenings are $13.

For Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland, show creator and emcee Vaughn hand-picked four up-and-coming comics, and took them on a 30-city, 30-day, 30-show comedy tour across the western United States. The October 19th screening is followed by a Q&A with Vaughn and actor Justin Long, who also appears in the film.

CNN documentary, Planet in Peril, discusses hot button issues of climate change, deforestation, species loss and overpopulation with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Animal Planet host and wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin at IFC Center on Friday, October 19th. A Q&A with Cooper follows, moderated by film producer and activist Katie Carpenter.

On Saturday, October 20th, the CMJ Film Festival will present The Clash Film Marathon with screenings of three Clash-themed pictures – Julien Temple’s new biography Joe Strummer: the Future is Unwritten, The Clash: Westway to the World, and Rude Boy. Temple will be on hand for a Q&A after his film is shown.

Academy award-winner Murray Lerner produced and directed The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan Live At The Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965, to be presented Thursday, October 18th at IFC Center. The film includes many never-before-seen live performances by Bob Dylan from three remarkable years in the artist’s career. A post-screening Q&A with Lerner follows, moderated by veteran documentary producer Bob Frye.

On Tuesday, October 16th, CMJ is proud to present a special Museum of Modern Art screening of Frank & Cindy, in conjunction with MoMA/P.S.1’s PopRally programming. This American Life’s Ira Glass moderates a post-screening Q&A with the film’s director and stars.

On Wednesday, October 17th, CMJ will screen a film by Oscar winner Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs), Jimmy Carter Man From Plains, which follows the path of the former president’s recent controversial book tour for Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. The film will be followed by an open-forum debate on the Israeli/Palestinian peace conflict.

Paul Sorvino, One Live to Live’s David Fumero, and Jay O. Sanders (currently on Broadway in George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion) star in the New York premiere of Greetings From the Shore, presented Wednesday October 17th at IFC Center. A post-screening Q&A with director Greg Chwerchak and cast members Fumero and Kim Shaw follows.

Legendary singer-songwriter Tom Waits co-stars with Patrick Fugit and Will Arnett in Wristcutters: A Love Story, an unlikely comedy about suicide and afterlife, which will be presented on, Thursday, October 18th. Cast members Patrick Fugit and Shannyn Sossamon join director Goran Dukic for a post-screening Q&A.

David Schwimmer’s directorial debut Run, Fat Boy, Run, starring Simon Pegg, Hank Azaria and Thandie Newton is the festival’s closing night selection.

Other CMJ Film Festival selections include: the New York premiere of roller derby documentary Hell on Wheels; the New York premiere of Flesh and Blood, a film about body modification artist Steve Howarth; Darius Goes West about a 15-year-old boy’s attempts to get MTV to Pimp His Ride (a wheelchair); and Before the Music Dies, a documentary that explores the current state of the pop music industry.

CMJ Film Festival badge holders are invited to attend the Official CMJ Film Festival Party, where filmmakers and film buffs will face off on the bowling lanes of 300 New York at Chelsea Piers. The VIP bowling party, sponsored by 300 New York, happens Wednesday, October 17th at 7p.m.

For screening times, full film synopses, and info on how to purchase a CMJ Film Festival pass or CMJ Music Marathon Badge, please see http://www.cmj.com/marathon/film.php

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CMJ Music Marathon: 27 Years of the Biggest Names in Music and Pop Culture
For 27 years, artists including: Arcade Fire, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Lady Sovereign, The Hold Steady, Feist, Hot Chip, She Wants Revenge, We Are Scientists, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M, Run-DMC, The Killers, Modest Mouse, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Green Day, Black Eyed Peas, The Mars Volta, Jet, My Chemical Romance, Hot Hot Heat, and Foo Fighters have performed at CMJ Music Marathon way ahead of topping the charts. CMJ speakers have included David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Brian Wilson, Al Franken, Yoko Ono, Johnny Rotten, Tori Amos, Abbie Hoffman, Moby, Chuck D, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Janeane Garafalo, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Queen Latifah. From 1994's Pulp Fiction to 2006's Borat, CMJ FilmFest has screened titles such as Walk The Line, A History of Violence, Martin Scorsese’s Bob Dylan: No Direction Home, Boogie Nights, American History X, Deconstructing Harry, Kids, Swingers, Fight Club, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Basquiat. Leading filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Michael Moore, Harmony Korine, Wim Wenders, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, David Cronenberg, and Mike Mills have presented their films and participated in face-to-face sessions before the CMJ crowd.

About CMJ Network Inc.
CMJ Network connects music fans and music industry professionals with the best in new music through interactive media, live events and print. CMJ.com offers a digital music discovery service, information resources, and community to new music fans, professionals, and artists. CMJ Events produces the legendary CMJ Music Marathon, the largest and longest-running music industry event of its kind, and CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest, produced in partnership with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. CMJ New Music Monthly, the first consumer magazine to include a bound-in CD sampler, is the leading publication for the emerging music enthusiast. The weekly music business trade magazine CMJ New Music Report is the primary source for exclusive charts of non-commercial and college radio airplay and independent and trend-forward retail sales. CMJ Access is an integrated marketing agency specializing in providing its clients unparalleled access to the college and young adult demographic and emerging music world. Log on to www.cmj.com <http://www.cmj.com/> for more information about all of CMJ’s products and services.