Santa Cruz Film Festival 2009

OPENING NIGHT

Giancarlo Esposito’s stunning directorial debut stars Angela Bassett and Danny Glover with Samuel Jackson, Julia Stiles and Adam Baldwin.

In the town of Julia, the neighborhood citizens of Gospel Hill are being forced out of their homes to make way for a multimillion-dollar development. Dr. Ron Palmer (Giancarlo Esposito, Do the Right Thing, The Usual Suspects), an influential black community leader who runs the local health clinic blindly supports the development. The good doctor’s desire for wealth and status awakens the racially divided community town. John Malcolm (Danny Glover, The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon), withdrew following his brother Peter’s (Samuel Jackson, Pulp Fiction, Eve’s Bayou) assassination thirty years ago, and is still haunted by the pain of the unsolved murder. He is detached from his wife and the society he once fought for.

John’s wife, Sarah (Angela Bassett, What’s Love Got To Do With It, How Stella Got Her Groove Back) takes it upon herself to battle Dr. Palmer and reveal his profiteering to the whole town. Meanwhile, the towns bigoted, ex-sheriff (Tom Bower, Appaloosa, North Country), who was responsible for letting the investigation of Peter’s murder go unresolved, is facing his own mortality and twisted choices.

Each of these characters’ lives intertwine to create a gripping, revealing and dramatic tale touching on issues of race, imminent domain, and the power of the human spirit to overcome the pain and hatred of division. Gospel Hill is overflowing with the deep emotions of greed, transformation, racism, redemption, forgiveness, and hope.

----------------------------------------

Opening Night Party
Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History
705 Front Street
9:30 PM - 12:00 Midnight
Join us following the screening to celebrate the opening of our 8th year!
Bring your film festival pass or ticket stub for admission.

Scrumptious Food by Blackboard Catering Southern-style Soul Food and Organic Wine from Hallcrest Vineyards, Beer from the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, and EX Drinks will be available for the celebration of the year.

Music by Gary Green will make this an evening to remember!

Dinner sponsored by Clouds Downtown