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Patricia Neal to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at RIIFF

Academy Award winning actress to receive first ever RIIFF Lifetime Achievement Award at Festival Gala Opening. August 9, 2000; Festival Scholarship Fund to be named after Ms. Neal

PROVIDENCE, RI: Patricia Neal: She is a legend in the entertainment business and one of the most respected members of the Hollywood community. On Wednesday, August 9, she will be in Rhode Island for the World Premiere of her most recent film, “For the Love of May,” at the Gala Opening of the Brooks Pharmacy Providence/Rhode Island International Festival (RIIFF). The film marks the directing debut of Mary McDonough who played Erin on the long-running hit television series, “The Waltons.” As part of a tribute to Ms. Neal, the Festival will present her with a special Lifetime Achievement Aw ard that acknowledges her body of cinematic work. The film screening and Award presentation are open to the general public.

The story of Patricia Neal reads like the script of a movie, and indeed, a film version was made in 1981 starring Glenda Jackson. Born January 20, 1926; as Helen Koford of Packard, KY, Ms. Neal continues to be an accomplished leading actress of the American stage and screen. She studied drama at Northwestern University and worked as a model before making her Broadway debut in “The Voice of the Turtle” in 1946. Her success in “Another Part of the Forest” led to a film career that started in 1949 with “John Loves Mary.” She made a strong impression that same year in “The Fountainhead,” opposite Gary Cooper, and for the next few years performed in productions of Warner Bros. and other studios.

In 1953 she married British writer Roald Dahl (“Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”) and for several years was absent from the screen. She returned in excellent form in 1957, with “A Face in the Crowd.” In 1963 she won an Academy Award for her memorable performance in “Hud,” with Paul Newman. Two years later she suffered a series of massive strokes that damaged her nervous system and left her confined to a wheelchair in a state of semiparalysis with severely impaired speech. But she fought back courageously and made a remarkable recovery, returning to screen work in 1968 in “The Subject Was Roses,” with a performance that brought her another Oscar nomination. President Johnson presented her that year with the Heart of the Year Award. Her courage carried her through other personal tragedies. One of her five children, a boy, was hit by a cab as a baby and survived eight brain operations, and another, a girl, died at 13 of measles.

Her Filmography is impressive and features work that is now classic: John Loves Mary; The Fountainhead; It’s a Great Feeling, 1949; The Hasty Heart (US/UK), Bright Leaf, Three Secrets, the Breaking Point, 1950; Operation Pacific, Baton Pass, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Weekend with Father, 1951; Diplomatic Courier, Something for the Birds, Washington Story, 1952; La Tua Donna, Immediate Disaster (16mm, UK), Stranger from Venus (UK). 1954; A Face in the Crowd, 1957; Breakfast at Tiffany’s 1961 Hud, 1963; Psyche 59 (UK) 1964; In Harm’s Way, 1965; The Subject was Roses, 1968; The Road Builder/The Night Digger (UK) 1971; Homecoming: A Christmas Story, The (1971) (TV); Baxter (UK) 1972; Happy Mother’s Day-Love George, 1973; Things in Their Season (1974) (TV); Eric (1975) (TV); Widow’s Nest, 1977; Tail Gunner Joe (1977) (TV); Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story, A (1978) (TV); Nido de Viudas (Sp) 1978; Bastard, The (1978) (TV) aka Kent Chronicles, The (1978) (TV); The Passage, 1979; All Quiet on the Western Front, 1980 (1979) (TV); Ghost Story (1981); Shattered Vows (1984) (TV); Glitter (1984) (TV); Love Leads the Way (1984) (TV); Unremarkable Life, An (1989); Caroline? (1990) (TV); Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story, A (1992) (TV) ... aka Shattered Silence (1992) (TV); Heidi (1993) (TV); Cookie's Fortune (1999)

In 1988, she published her autobiography "As I am" written with Richard Deneut and published by Simon & Schuster 1988.

“We are deeply honored to have Patricia Neal participate in our Festival, “ said George T. Marshall, the Festival Executive Director. “She is a lady that defines the word ‘courage,” and has been an inspiration to all of us. She knows how to weather and survive adversity and turn that into an advantage rather than a handicap. She defines the meaning of truth and integrity!”

“There is no one who deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award more than Patricia Neal, stated Betty N. Galligan, RIIFF Managing Director. “We were speechless when we learned that she would be attending our Festival and very profoundly honored. We created the Award in honor of Ms. Neal and intend over the next year to run a series of retrospectives of her work.”

“We also intend to name our Scholarship Program after her,” added Marshall. “The Patricia Neal Scholarship Program which we are implementing this year will provide underwriting to students from the region who will be studying film, communication, musical composition, animation or other elements of the film arts.”

Festival organizers promise that this year’s the Brooks Pharmacy Providence/R hode Island International Festival will be its largest event ever as it runs August 9-13. It will be presenting 15 World Premieres and 33 United States Premieres culled from the 544 entries received this year in competition and 75 out of competition. These represented 35 countries and 32 states in the US. In the end, 170 titles have been chosen as finalists for this year’s RIIFF and will be screened.

Also playing with “For the Love of May” that premieres at the Opening Night Gala, on August 9 are Todd Robinson’s acclaimed documentary, “Amargosa,” and the short “There Once Was a Man from Pawtucket” by Ted Page. Closing the Fest on August 13th will be the East Coast Premiere of “Poor White Trash” directed Michael Addis and starring Sean Young, Jason London, Jaime Pressly and William DeVane. Shorts include “Amy Stiller’s Breast,” directed by Becky Neiman and produced by Henry Joseph; and “Hate* (*a comedy),” directed by Drew Daywalt and David Schneider.

The Fest will screen 42 features during it’s five day run including “The Divine Ryans” from Canada’ directed by Stephen Reynold; “Silverman,” from Canada, directed by Peter Foldy; “East of A,” directed by Amy Goldstein; “Seven Girlfriends,” starring Providence resident Tim Daly and directed by Paul Lazarus; “21,” directed by Eli Frankel; “The Last Late Night,” directed by Rick & Scott Barlow; “Last Chance,” marking the directing debut of actor Bryan Cranston; “Rockford,” from India, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor; “Growing Down In Brooklyn,” directed by Robert Santoli and edited by Ron Kalish; “Gentleman Bandit,” directed by Jordan Alan and produced by Fred Joyal; “The Accountant,” directed by Glenn Gers; “Carlo’s Wake” directed by Mike Valerio; “The Same Side of Rejection Street,” directed by S.G. Collins; and “Urban Ghost Story,” from England, directed by Genevieve Jolliffe. Most of the filmmakers are expected to attend.

Rounding out the Festival will be three educational programs dealing with scripting, film production and an introductory summer film camp for kids. Morning panel discussions called “Between Takes,” will feature visiting filmmakers and industry representatives.

The Festival’s Honorary Millennial Chair is Governor Lincoln Almond with actress, Concetta Tomei of the hit TV series “Providence,” and writer/director, Bobby Farrelly. The President/Chairman of the Festival is Michel Coutu, CEO of Brooks Pharmacy. George T. Marshall is the Festival Executive Director with Elisabeth N. Galligan, the Managing Director.

For more information, visit the Festival website at www.film-festival.org or call/write: Brooks Pharmacy Providence/Rhode Island International Film Festival, 55 Bradford Street, Suite 300, Providence, RI 02903. Telephone: 401-861-4445.

Updated: 08/07/2000

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