from june 2-8, nyc's ifc center celebrates...

FROMJUNE2-8, NYC'SIFCCENTERCELEBRATESTHEARTOFTELEVISION

WITHSTAR-STUDDEDSPLITSCREENSFESTIVAL

InauguralWeek-LongEvent,ProgrammedByCritic/AuthorMattZollerSeitz, ToFeatureExclusiveScreeningsandPanelsSpotlightingCritically-AcclaimedScriptedSeries

WorldPremiereScreeningofHBO’sHighlyAnticipatedDrama

'TheDeuce'KicksOffCuratedLineupOnFriday,June2nd;FeaturedContentToInclude:'BetterCallSaul,''Billions,'‘Brockmire,’‘DifficultPeople,’'TheGetDown,''TheGirlfriendExperience,''Mr.Robot,'‘OrphanBlack,’‘SearchParty,’‘Underground’PlusOtherSpecial

EventsToBeAnnounced

SpecialsGuestsIncludeHankAzaria,SarahVioletBliss,LillyBurns,AsiaKateDillon,JohnFawcett,NelsonGeorge,StephenAdlyGuirgis,MaggieGyllenhaal,AnthonyHemingway,

AishaHinds,LodgeKerrigan,JulieKlausner,BrianKoppelman,RamiMalek,TatianaMaslany,MichelleMacLaren,GraemeManson,MichaelMcKean,AmandaPeet,GeorgePelecanos,

CharlesRogers,AmySeimetzandMore

TicketsonSaleBeginningMay11 [NewYork,May11,2017]–IFCCentertodayannouncedthefirstportionofitsimpressivelineupfortheinauguralSplitScreensFestivaltakingplaceFriday,June2throughThursday,June8,2017,attheIFCCenterinNewYorkCity.Throughouttheweek,thefestivalwillhostaseriesofspecialeventscelebratingtheartandcraftofTVwithexclusivescreeningsandvibrantpanelconversationsfeaturingthebiggestandboldestnamesinscriptedcontent.TicketstothepublicgoonsalebeginningThursday,May11.Curatedbyoneoftelevision'sbiggestfans,authorandcriticMattZollerSeitz,thefestivalwillbeanchoredbyfoursignaturecategories:PREMIERES,anopportunityforaudiencestobeamongthefirsttoscreenananticipatednewseries;CLOSE-UP,focusedprimarilyontheworkofoneortwocelebratedactorsinaseries;SHOWCASE,whichwilltakeadeeperlookataseriesthroughthelensofitscreators,producersandstars;andREWIND,revisitinganiconicepisodeoftelevisionviaascreeningandconversationwiththecreativeswhohavebroughttheirvisiontolife. Thefestival'sopeningnightwillkick-offwithaworldPREMIEREofHBO’shighlyanticipatednewNYCperioddrama,“TheDeuce”followedbyaQ&Awithseriesproducerandco-starMaggieGyllenhaal,pilotdirectorMichelleMacLarenandseriesco-creatorGeorgePelecanos.Additionalhighlightsthroughouttheweek

include:SHOWCASEeventsonacclaimedseries“DifficultPeople”(Hulu),“TheGetDown”(Netflix),“OrphanBlack”(BBCAMERICA),and“SearchParty”(TBS);REWINDpanelson“TheGirlfriendExperience”(STARZ),and“Underground”(WGNAmerica);CLOSE-UPconversationsfeaturingAsiaKateDillonof“Billions"(Showtime),HankAzariaandAmandaPeetof“Brockmire”(IFC),RamiMalek,starof“Mr.Robot”(USANetwork),andthemanyfacesofMichaelMcKeanwhocurrentlystarsasChuckMcGillon“BetterCallSaul”(AMC). Additionalfestivalprogramsandspecialevents,includingawardspresentations,willbeannouncedinthecomingdays. MostfestivalscreeningsandpaneldiscussionswillbehostedandmoderatedbySplitScreensartisticdirectorMattZollerSeitz.AsEditor-in-ChiefofRogerEbert.com,TVcriticforNewYorkMagazineandVulture.com,afinalistforthePulitzerPrizeincriticism,andtheauthorofTV(TheBook)andstudiesonWesAnderson,OliverStoneandMadMen,Seitz,theultimateTVfan,knowsthataudiencescan'tgetenoughofgoodtelevisioncontent. Seitzsaid:"Firstandforemost,Iamafan--sostudyingthegreatworkofthesecastsandcreatorshasbeenanhonor.WhatwehavedoneinthisinauguralSplitScreensFestivalistocullwhatwebelievetobethebestofthebestintoday'scontentlandscapeandithasbeenthrillingandasacreativemyself,incrediblyhumbling.IlookforwardtohavingbothpowerfulandmeaningfuldialoguethroughouttheweekandamexcitedabouttheopportunitytoshareartandcraftoftheseprogramswithpassionateandenthusiasticTVfansfromNYandbeyond." “Wearethrilledtowelcomethefirst-everSplitScreensFestivaltoNewYorkCitynextmonth,”saidMayor’sOfficeofMediaandEntertainmentCommissioner,JulieMenin.“Ourcity’stelevisionproductionindustryisboominglikeneverbefore,andtheFestivalisanidealvenuetocelebrateandreflectuponthegroundbreakingcontentbeingcreatedinthisincreasinglypopularmedium.IthanktheIFCCenterfortheirpartnershipandencourageNewYorkerstoexperiencethiscelebrationofcreativityintheentertainmentworld.” Ticketinformation:

• Ticketsfortheopeningnightpremiereof“TheDeuce”are$30($25IFCCentermembers)• Ticketsforindividualeventsare$12-$19($10-$16IFCCentermembers)• Afestivalpass,providingadmissiontoallfestivalprograms,isavailablefor$125($95IFCCenter

members)Ticketsandfestivalpassesareavailableonlineatsplitscreensfestival.com,orinpersonattheIFCCenterboxofficeat323SixthAve.(atWest3rdSt.),opendaily10:30am-10:00pm Eventdetailsandadditionalprogramannouncementsareavailableatsplitscreensfestival.com

SPLITSCREENSFESTIVALSCHEDULE FRIDAY,JUNE2 7:00PM-“THEDEUCE”(HBO)OPENINGNIGHTPREMIERE In person: Series producer and co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal, pilot director Michelle MacLaren and series co-creatorGeorgePelecanos

TodownloadimageclickHERE SplitScreenspremieresthepilotepisodeofHBO’seagerlyanticipatedNewYorkperioddramafromexecutiveproducersDavidSimonandGeorgePelecanos(TheWire),abouttheriseofthepornindustry inandaroundTimesSquareinthe1970s.ThecastincludesMaggieGyllenhaalasanentrepreneurialsexworkerandJamesFrancoastwinbrotherswhoserveasfrontsfortheMafia.TruetoformforaproducingteamthatshepherdedThe Wire and Treme into existence, The Deuce is a beating-heart-of-the-city drama that explores theinterconnectednessofcharactersfromdifferentsocialclassesandethnicities,someofwhomfindthemselvesatoddsovermoney,honorandtheobligationtoupholdthelaw. SATURDAY,JUNE3 4:30PM–“MR.ROBOT”(USANetwork)CLOSE-UPwithRamiMalek Inperson:ActorRamiMalek

TodownloadimageclickHERE It’strickyenoughtobetheleadactoronaTVdrama,moresowhenyou’reinalmosteveryscene,andtrickierstillwhenyourcharacternarratestheshow.USANetwork’sGoldenGlobe®awardwinnerMr.Robottasksitsstar,RamiMalek,withalltheseresponsibilities,thenaddsmore:It’soneofthemostrelentlesslyinteriorshows,invitingyouintotheheadspaceofitsleadcharacter—computerexpertandsecretvigilantehackerElliotAlderson—andshowingyoutheworldasheseesit.

Throughclipsanddiscussion,theeventtakesadeepdivewithMalekintohisperformanceastheshow’stitlecharacter.Playinganintrovertturnedundergroundrevolutionary,Malekshapeshisrolethroughresearchandprepwork,postureandgestures,andeventhewayhemodulateshisvoicebetweenElliot’sdialoguewithdifferentcharactersandhisvoiceovernarrationdirectlytotheaudience.

9:00PM–“SEARCHPARTY”(TBS)-SHOWCASE

Inperson:Seriescreators,co-directorsandexecutiveproducersSarah-VioletBlissandCharlesRogers,andExecutiveProducerLillyBurns

TodownloadimageclickHERE It’sraretoencounteraTVseriesthatcouldaccuratelybedescribedasasatire,muchlessanunsparingone,butSearchPartyabsolutelyqualifies.It’samysteryaboutpeopletryingtogettothebottomofayoungwoman’sdisappearance,butthat’sjustwhat’shappeningonthesurface.Themysteryisthegimmickthatdrawsyouinsothatthisexceptionalandsurprisingshow—creditedtoarogue’sgalleryofexecutiveproducers,includingMichaelShowalter,Sarah-VioletBliss,andCharlesRogers,LillyBurnsandTonyHernandez—canworkitsdarkmagic.Chantal’svanishingisadevicethattheshowusestoexploreDory’s(AliaShawkat)worldandmakeuncomfortableobservationsaboutmodernlife,inparticularthetendencytoconfusetheego-strokingvirtualbusyworkofthetext-andsocialmedia-driveneraforactual,meaningfulaction.There’sanevendeeperleveltothisseries,somethingontheorderofanexistentialquest,alongjourneyintotheheroine’semotionalinterior.Theconditionofbelievingoneselfsensitivewhilefeelingverylittlehasrarelybeenexaminedwithsuchexactness. SUNDAY,JUNE4 2:30PM-“THEGETDOWN”(Netflix)-SHOWCASE Inperson:Seriesco-executiveproducerStephenAdlyGuirgis,supervisingproducerNelsonGeorge

TodownloadimageclickHERE “Unfoldyourownmyth,”blaresagraffititagontheskinofasubwaycarinTheGetDown.BazLuhrmannandStephenAdlyGuirgis’s1970smusicalmelodramaaboutthebirthofhip-hopandthefallofdirty-gloriousGothamisforevercharacterizingitselfthisway:likearappernimblyreframingastoryashetellsit.It’samultimediawork—television,cinema,anovel,ascrapbook;collage,decoupage,amontagebarrage.Thesheer,shamelessentertainmentvalueofTheGetDowncamouflageshowformallyinventiveitis.Thegleefulwaythattheimagetexturechangesfromshottoshot(1970sTVnewsvideo,16mm,whatlookslikeenhanced

YouTubefootage)suggeststhefilmmakersaregloryinginacrazy-quiltaestheticinsteadofknockingthemselvesouttryingtomakeeverypieceseemlikepartofaseamlesswhole.Theshowissamplingpopculturehistory,NewYorkCityhistoryandmusichistorytocreateitsownsound. 4:30PM–“DIFFICULTPEOPLE”(Hulu)-SHOWCASE Inperson:Seriescreator,executiveproducer,writerandstarJulieKlausner

TodownloadimageclickHERE JulieKlausner’sseriesaboutbrilliant,acerbic,self-defeatingbestbudsonthefringesofstardomistailor-madefortheYouTubeera,whenartistsandentertainersactastheirownagents,publicistsandmanagersandwatchtheircolleagues’successesandfailuresunfoldinrealtime,withenvyorglee,depending. Julie(Klausner)andBilly(BillyEichner)keephatchingschemeslikeacoupleofLucyRicardos,eventhoughtheirquestismotivatedlessbyaburningurgetoexpressthemselvesthanalustforfameandcomfort.Theypopothers’delusionsandpreservetheirown,butevenattheirpettiest,therearemomentswhentheyspeakthetruth,andsomeoftheirmostpenetratinginsightshavetodowiththeshowyou’rewatchingandthemediumthatspawnedit.OneofDifficultPeople’sfiercestconvictionsisthatasitcom’sfirstobligationistobefunnyandengaging,asurprisinglycontrarianpointofviewnowthateveryformofscriptedentertainmentisstrivingtosubvertratherthanembraceprovenformulas.“Whendidcomediesbecome30-minutedramas?”Billyasks,withanaghasttonethatsuggestsDifficultPeopleisnotinterestedinbecomingone.TheupcomingthirdseasonofDifficultPeoplepremieresTuesday,August8onHulu. 6:15PM–“BETTERCALLSAUL”(AMC)-CLOSE-UPwithMichaelMcKean Inperson:MichaelMcKeanandseriesco-creatorandco-executiveproducerPeterGould

TodownloadimageclickHERE

Better Call Saul, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould’s improbably just-as-good prequel to Breaking Bad, is ashowcase for ace character actors, none as sneakily great asMichaelMcKean,who costars as the slipperyhero’sstraight-arrowolderbrother,ChuckMcGill.Chuck isa fearedtrial lawyerata topAlbuquerque,NewMexico lawfirmwhoclaimstobehypersensitivetoelectricity,and isequallyallergic to lazinessandethicalshortcuts.Inlesserhands,hecouldhavebeenanamusingifone-notefoil.ButMcKean,awizardlycomicactorwith the soul of a Method chameleon, imbues him with so many layers of personality, all operatingsimultaneously,thatyoucan’thelpfeelingforhimandunderstandingChuckevenwhenthecharactergratesonyou.Thisclose-uppanelwillexploreMcKean’scollaborationwiththecharacter’screator,writer-producerPeter Gould, and delve into McKean’s long and varied history as a dramatic and comedic actor andimprovisationalcomic. TUESDAY,JUNE6 6:30PM–“ORPHANBLACK”(BBCAMERICA)-SHOWCASE In person: Actors TatianaMaslany, Jordan Gavaris, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Kristian Bruun, Kevin Hanchard,EvelyneBrochuandAriMillen,andExecutiveProducersGraemeMansonandJohnFawcett

TodownloadimageclickHERE BBCAMERICA’scloneconspiracythrillerstarsEmmy®awardwinnerTatianaMaslanyasmultiplegeneticallyidenticalwomen.Butthisisnotmerelyaseriesaboutclones;it’sacontinuousstudyinnatureversusnurturethatroutinelyputsMaslanyinconversationswithiterationsofherself,andeachiterationfeelslikeadistincthumanbeingratherthanasketch-comedycaricature.GraemeMansonandJohnFawcettcreateamaze-likeworldwherethereflectionscannotonlytalk,buthavetheirownopinions.Theresultissorcery,andMaslanyisatthecenter,playingasmanyasfourpersonalitiesatoncewhileaconstellationofgiftedsupportingplayers,including,JordanGavaris,KristianBruun,MariaDoyleKennedy,KevinHanchard,EvelynBrochu,andothersswirlaroundher.Theshow’sbottomlessinventivenessandpersistentsenseoffunareinfectious.Inadditiontothesuspensegeneratedbythestoryitself,there’sasecondarythrillfromwatchingthecastandcrewstruggletotopthemselvesinsheeroutrageousness. 8:45PM-“BILLIONS”(Showtime)CLOSE-UPwithAsiaKateDillon Inperson:ActorAsiaKateDillonandcreatorsDavidLevienandBrianKoppelman

TodownloadimageclickHERE Initssecondseason,Showtime’shitdramaseriesBillionsmadehistorybyintroducingTV’sfirstgendernon-binarymajorcharacter,TaylorMason,aninternatAxeCapital(playedbyAsiaKateDillon)whounexpectedlybecomesafavoriteofmachohedgefunderBobbyAxelrod(DamianLewis).Dillon,whousesthesingulartheypronoun, auditioned for the role shortly after playing the racist skinheadBrandyonNetflix’sOrange is theNewBlack.SharingthestagewithseriescreatorsandexecutiveproducersBrianKoppelmanandDavidLevien,they will discuss the second season of Billions and the fine points of playing a trailblazing character in amediumwherestarklydefinedgenderrolesstillruletheperceptionsofcastingdirectorsandviewersalike. WEDNESDAY,JUNE7 7:00PM–“BROCKMIRE”(IFC)CLOSE-UPwithHankAzariaandAmandaPeet Inperson:SeriesexecutiveproducerandstarHankAzariaandstarAmandaPeet

TodownloadimageclickHERE Althoughhe’sperhapsbestknownasoneoftheversatilerepertoryactorsonTheSimpsons,HankAzariaisalsoaformidablelive-actionperformerwhocanadjusthisbodytosuittheneedsofaroleasdeftlyashecanhisvoice.JimBrockmire,aminor-leaguesportscasterstrugglingwithalcoholismandhisownmonstrousego,givestheactorarareopportunitytoholdthespotlightfortheentirerunningtimeofaseries,asacharacterhe’sbeendevelopingforyears.Theresultsaredazzling.

He’smatchedbyAmandaPeet,whobringsano-nonsensetoughnesstotheroleofJulesJames,theownerofboththeteamandalocalbar.Peetisequallycomfortableasaromanticleadinglady,akitchen-sinkdramaactressandapratfaller,andshegetstocombineallthreeofthosetalentshere.Thisdetailedone-on-onediscussionwilldelveintoPeetandAzaria’svariedcareers,theirchemistryontheshow,andthenepointsofbringingthesetwoeccentriccharacterstolife.

8:45PM–“THEGIRLFRIENDEXPERIENCE”(STARZ)REWINDwith“Separation”episode Inperson:Co-executiveproducersLodgeKerriganandAmySeimetz

TodownloadimageclickHERE ThemostnarrativelycomplexsingleepisodeofanongoingseriessincetheheroofLouiewenttoChina,thisalternatelyunnerving,bafflingandhilarioushalf-hourofTheGirlfriendExperienceworksasapsychologicalX-rayoftheshow’sheroine,escortChristine(RileyKeough);aplaywithinaplay;andameditationonvoyeurism,exhibitionism,sex,andacting.Co-writtenbyseriescreatorsAmySeimetzandLodgeKerrigan,anddirectedbyKerrigan,theepisodedoesn’tjustavoidthetraditionalsortsofclosurethatTVviewerstendtocrave;itthrowsthetotalityoftheshow’sfirstseasonintoquestion,makingusquestiontheintentandsubstanceofeverythingwe’veseen.Assuch,itoweslesstocurrenttrendsinscriptedTV,eventhemostrarifiedkinds,thanto1960sEuropeanartcinemaclassicslikeBlow-Up,LastYearatMarienbadandTheExterminatingAngel. THURSDAY,JUNE8 7:00PM–“UNDERGROUND”(WGNAmerica,producedbySonyPicturesTelevision)-REWINDwith“Minty”episode Inperson:ActorAishaHindsandexecutiveproducer/directorAnthonyHemingway

TodownloadimageclickHERE WGN America’s groundbreaking series “Underground” made television history with the extended episode“Minty” that originally aired April 12. Featuring an hour-long solo, and career-defining performance, AishaHindsbringsHarrietTubmanbacktolife,asshedeliversamonumentalanddefinitivespeechincharacterasthe Underground Railroad'smost famous conductor. Set in 1858 against the backdrop of a nation deeplydividedbyrace,classandgender,Tubmanmakesapassionatepleatoabolitioniststoshifttheirthinkingasshechallengesthemtotakeswiftactionagainstthosewhoaredeterminedtooppressothers.“Minty,”was

writtenbyseriesco-creatorsMishaGreenandJoePokaski,anddirectedbyEmmyandGoldenGlobeAward®winnerAnthonyHemingway. ABOUTSPLITSCREENSFESTIVAL Split Screens Festival is anannual eventproducedandpresentedby IFCCenter,oneofNewYork’s leadingindependentcinemas,andisorganizedbythecoreteamofitssuccessfulDOCNYCdocumentaryfilmfestival,including Executive Director Raphaela Neihausen, Partnerships Director Deborah Rudolph and OperationsDirectorDana Krieger. Collaboratingwith broadcasters, cable networks and streaming services, the festivalwillhighlightgreatcontentfromarangeofplatformstobringtogetherthecreativetalentbehindTV’smostacclaimedshowsandsophisticatedNewYorkaudiences. ABOUTIFCCENTER IFCCenterisafive-screen,state-of-the-artcinemaintheheartofNewYork’sGreenwichVillagethatopenedinJune2005followinganextensiverenovationofthehistoricWaverlyTheater.IFCCenterpresentstheverybestinnewforeign-language,Americanindependentanddocumentaryfeaturestoaudiencesandisalsoknownforits innovative repertory series and festivals, showing short films before its regular features in the ongoing“ShortAttentionSpanCinema”program,andspecialevents suchas theguest-programmed“MovieNights”and frequent in-person appearances by filmmakers. In 2010, IFC Center launched the acclaimed DOC NYCfestival, a high-profile showcase that celebrates nonfiction filmmaking and is now the largest documentaryfestival intheUS.Foradditionaltheater information,currentandupcomingprogramdetailsandmore,visitifccenter.com. PressContacts:FerenCommforSplitScreensFestival SplitScreensPR@ferencomm.com 212-983-9898 Forsponsorshipinformation,pleasecontactsponsorship@splitscreensfestival.com TodownloadSplitScreensFestivallogoclickHERE