Monday, December 01, 2003

By: Kenneth Luck, PR Intern

WILMINGTON, NC –The University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Department of Film Studies, in celebration of its new departmental status will host the fifth annual It’s A Wonderful Life gala at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 in the Warwick Center Ballroom. Frank Capra Jr. presents this free holiday screening of his personal 35 mm print of his father’s 1946 classic starring James Stewart.

Following the screening, Capra will be joined by moderator Dave Monahan, UNCW film studies professor, and Tim Palmer, UNCW film studies professor and Capra scholar, to discuss the movie and answer audience questions. Free popcorn and soft drinks will be available during the screening, and a complimentary catered reception will follow.

Sponsors of the gala event include: EUE/Screen Gems Studios, UNCW Office of the Chancellor, WAAV 980 AM and the Italian Heritage Society.

The annual holiday screening It’s A Wonderful Life is the result of a collaborative relationship between EUE/Screen Gems Studios and UNCW. Film studies began at UNCW as a small interdisciplinary program that sought to combine academic study of film taught by UNCW faculty with applied film production skills taught by area industry professionals. Frank Capra Jr. and EUE/Screen Gems Studios were instrumental in conceiving and supporting this joint educational effort. Five years later, film studies is now among UNCW’s fastest growing majors and the program has grown into an academic department with its own faculty, equipment and facilities. The community and university cooperation that brought film studies to UNCW remains the focus of the emerging department.

For more information, visit the Film Studies Department Web site at www.uncw.edu/filmstudies/ or call 910/962-7502.

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