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CENSORSHIP BATTLE OVER ABEL FERRARA'S WELCOME TO NEW YORK Distributor Edits Film Inspired By the Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case To Achieve "ethically neutered" Version "appropriate for U.S. Audiences New York, NY March 17th IMMEDIATE RELEASE As a filmmaker and a human being I detest the destruction of my film WELCOME TO NEW YORK -- Abel Ferrara Iconic independent filmmaker Abel Ferrara's latest film WELCOME TO NEW YORK is at the center of a censorship lawsuit on the eve of its U.S. release March 27th. Ferrara wrote and directed this story, inspired by the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case, of a French politician on trial for sexually assaulting a chambermaid in his New York hotel room. The film stars Gerard Depardieu, Jacqueline Bisset and is based on a screenplay by Abel Ferrara and C.L. Zois. The original director's cut of WELCOME TO NEW YORK was screened in Cannes and has already opened in France, Italy and the U.K. Ferrara has gotten some of his best reviews: "....a startling accont of sex and power ... a work of ragged glory .. Depardieu is the best he's been in year," Xan Brooks, The Guardian; "an important movie," MaryAnn Johansson, The Flick Filosopher; "Geniune, worthwhile attempt to understand the darkest mysteries of manhood and power," Trevor Johnston, Time Out London. However, IFC Films, the U.S. distributor, is not releasing that acclaimed version. Their version has been re-cut and re-edited without Ferrara's participation or permission. The film is now substantially different from th film that Ferrara made. One of the most egregious changes affects the entire naure of the rape in the film. Originally it was depicted as occurring between the two main characters. Now it is depicted as a flashback, a memory of the chambermaid. Ferrara is outraged: " The version being released in the U.S. may lead views to think that maybe she imagined it. It does not respect the woman who was raped at all and the fact that my name is on this film is a crime." Ferrara has released the following statement: "As a filmmaker and a human being, I detest the destruction of my film WELCOME TO NEW YORK now being distributed by IFC and Wild Bunch and exhibited on Showtime and in IFC Theatres. Behind all these entities are individuals, in this case Arianna Bocco, Jonathan Sehring and Vicente Maraval, who feel they can deny my contractual right of final cut, which is simply my freedom of expression. Some people wear hoods and carry automatic weapons, others sit behind their desks but the attack and attempted suppression of the rights of the individual are the same. I will defend the right of free speech till the end and I ask all who believe, as I do, that they not support the showing of this film, on their networks, in their theatres, or wherever." Risky, audacious but always honest, Abel Ferrara has been directing since 1979. Among hi many film credits are King of New York (New York Film selection 1990,) Bad Lieutenant (one of Martin Scorsese's top 10 films of the 90's) and Mary (winner of the Grand Jury Prize, Venice Film Festival 2005.) Regarding WELCOME TO NEW YORK Ferrara's official biographer, Brad Stevens, asks "How can it stand that an accomplished director can have his work re-cut and released without his permission? The producer and distributor have demonstrated a flagrant disregard for Ferrara's artistic rights. They should not have undertaken this project if they weren't prepared to respect the integrity of the director. If this is allowed to happen, no filmmaker can be certain that their work will not be censored. That is at the crux of this isuue: censorship." Abel Ferrara is available for interviews. Contact: Dianne E. Collins 917 442-3972 dianne_e_coll...@hotmail.com Dianne E. Collins 917 442-3972 dianne_e_coll...@hotmail.com
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