The new home of the Palm Beach International Film Festival, the Palm Beaches Theatre (formerly The Plaza Theatre) in Manalapan, will kick-off its new mission of creating a year-round festival celebrating film with a mini-film festival focusing on cancer awareness for Cancer Awareness Weekend, June 4-7. In partnership with the American Cancer Society, the four-day festival will feature four films, each focusing on the possible causes of cancer, and the people living with the disease. Following the film screenings, panel discussions and Q&A sessions will involve guests to discuss the films and their themes, while information tables will be setup at the theater manned by top cancer organizations will offer information and answer any questions guests may have.
“Cancer, especially breast cancer, is so prevalent in our society today,” said Jeff Davis, President/CEO of The Palm Beaches Theatre and the Palm Beach International Film Festival. “This event will not only create awareness about the disease, but will also provide an opportunity for candid and open conversations about working to eliminate this disease while educating the community about the signs and treatment options. We encourage everyone to come out for one the screenings.”
- Tickets for film screenings cost $15 each, with portion of each ticket sold benefitting The Pap Corps and the American Cancer Society. For more information about the festival, visit
Below, we highlight the four films that will make up the
A Woman Like Me
Directed by Elizabeth Giamatti and Alex Sichel
Screening: Thursday, June 4 at 7 p.m.
The festival’s opening night film, A Woman Like Me, an East Coast Premiere, won the Special Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature at the SXSW Film Festival this past March. The film follows co-director Alex Sichel, who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2011, as she confronts the terminal disease while living her everyday life as a mother and wife, and her dealing with faith, death, and rebirth, while interweaving the fictional character Anna Seashell, who is also coping with the same diagnosis. Co-director Elizabeth Giamatti will be in attendance for the premiere.
The Human Experiment
Directed by Don Hardy. Jr. and Dana Nachman
Executive Producer and Narrated by Sean Penn
Screening: Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m.
Sean Penn joins Emmy-winning journalists Dana Nachman and Don Hardy to tell the story of people who believe their lives have been affected by chemicals. The Human Experiment takes viewers to the forefront of the battle, where activists head off with the well funded and politically protected chemical industry, exposing the corrupt system that has put the public’s health at risk.
Decoding Annie Parker
Directed by Steven Bernstein
Starring Helen Hunt
Screening: Saturday, June 6 at 7 p.m.
The Palm Beach International Film Festival’s 2013 opening night film, Decoding Annie Parker follows title character Annie Parker as she deals with her diagnosis of breast cancer, a disease that killed both her mother and sister. With an off-kilter sense of humor, Parker keeps her family from unraveling, while geneticist Mary-Claie King (Hunt), explores the link between DNA and cancer, leading to a ground-breaking cancer research study.
My Big Fat Cancer Wedding
Directed by Sivan Mor Goldman
From Israel (in Hebrew with English subtitles)
Screening: Sunday, June 7 at 7 p.m.
Making its International Premiere, My Big Fat Cancer Wedding follows director Sivan Mor Goldman and her fiancé Ronen as they plan their wedding amid the turmoil of undergoing cancer treatment for breast cancer. With the help of family and friends, the film documents the juxtaposition of chemotherapy and radiation sessions paired against ring shopping, dress fittings, floral appointments, faith, and more in an emotional and uplifting journey.
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