Filmmaker to Join Good Morning America's Joel Siegel, Richard Dreyfuss, Other Notable Personalities

Reggae Band CULTURE to Play Gala Reception

The Third Annual SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival begins Tuesday, June 14 at 7 p.m. with the North American Premiere of MIDNIGHT MOVIES: FROM THE MARGINS TO THE MAINSTREAM a documentary by Stuart Samuels at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center.

The film explores the phenomenon of 1970s cult films like PINK FLAMINGOS, ERASERHEAD, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, which broke subject taboos.

Following the film, GOOD MORNING AMERICA film critic Joel Siegel talks with director Stuart Samuels about the lasting impact of cult films on pop culture. Special guests in attendance include: THE HARDER THEY COME Director Perry Henzell, MIDNIGHT MOVIES Producer Ben Barenholz, also the former Elgin Theatre owner, where the genre launched, actor and documentarian Richard Dreyfuss, and THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION Director Penelope Spheeris will be among the evenings special guests.

The evening will conclude with a freedom of expression themed gala reception with music by Culture, a "conscious reggae" band at Discovery Communications World Headquarters at One Discovery Place, across the street from the AFI Silver.

   What:     Opening Night for MIDNIGHT MOVIES

   Who:      Stuart Samuels, Director
             Perry Henzell, Director of THE HARDER THEY COME
             Ben Barenholz, Producer & Elgin Theatre Owner
             Joel Siegel, GOOD MORNING AMERICA film critic
             Richard Dreyfuss, Actor and Documentarian
             Penelope Spheeris, Director THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION
             Jean Picker Firstenberg, CEO, American Film Institute
             Judith McHale, President & CEO, Discovery Communications
             Donald Baer, Senior Executive Vice President, Discovery
              Communications
             Patricia Finneran, Festival Director, SILVERDOCS

   When:     Tuesday, June 14, 2005
             6:00 VIP Reception (Open to the Press)
             6:30 Red Carpet Arrival
             7:00 film
             8:45 Q&A with the Director
             9:15 Gala reception

   Where:    AFI Silver Theatre
             8633 Colesville Road
             Silver Spring, MD

Space is extremely limited for the film screening and Q&A. Media wishing to attend this event should RSVP to Jody Arlington at 301.495.6759 or jarlington@afi.com.

Source: SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival

CONTACT: Jody Arlington of SILVERDOCS, +1-301-495-6759,
jarlington@AFI.com; or Katie Stack of Discovery, +1-240-662-3705,
Katie_Stack@discovery.com