Mammoth Film Festival

Mammoth Lakes, CA–Organizers of the 2008 Mammoth Film Festival are pleased to announce the world premiere screening of the documentary film State of Rock, from New York filmmaker Anthony Arkin. The film will screen Friday, November 21, at 7pm, as part of the closing weekend festivities at the annual event in Mammoth Lakes, California.

State of Rock was conceived when Arkin moved in next door to Brooklyn-based hard metal rockers, Girls Of Porn. As a longtime punk and metal enthusiast, Arkin quickly became a fan of their raucous live shows, and suddenly found himself in the midst of a burgeoning local rock scene. Finding the day-to-day grind of these working rockers a fascinating and neglected topic, he took up the challenge to document it.

“We’re used to seeing the glossed-over, MTV-sanctioned stuff. Stuff about over-hyped, over-bloated rock dinosaurs that cling to relevance by a thread, but still have a greed for attention,” says Arkin. “This is for the real rock stars. The ones who haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be hungry. The ones who aren’t famous. Yet.”

Produced by Arkin, Robert Reames and David Carlson for N7Films, State of Rock takes you on a gut-level behind-the-scenes tour of this raw, hard rock world, following the band through a four-year journey on its rollercoaster quest, driven by a motley crew of unsung dreamers: a roadie who wants to be in the band, a “suit” who used to be, and two lead singers who almost get their shot (including a pre-American Idol Constantine Maroulis).

“State of Rock is a gritty, touching, absurd filmmaking debut which continues to resonate in my brain,” says acclaimed film director Robert Downey Sr. “If I were wearing a hat, I’d tip it to Mr. Arkin.” Red Hot Chili Peppers and Soundgarden producer/engineer Ron St. Germain describes Arkin’s film as “a voyeuristic inside view…unique, compelling and long overdue.”

In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Arkin has acted in numerous projects, including the Woody Allen films Hollywood Ending and Anything Else, Sidney Lumet’s 100 Centre Street, I’m Not Rappaport on Broadway, and Elaine May’s off-Broadway hit, Power Plays. His novel Captain Hawaii was published by Harper Collins. Arkin is the son of Academy Award-winning actor Alan Arkin, and actress and writer Barbara Dana.

The 2008 Mammoth Film Festival takes place November 13-23, in Mammoth Lakes, California. Features and shorts compete in two separate contests, with the feature film contest culminating in MFF’s traditional elimination-style tournament. Winners will be announced at the Festival Awards Party on November 22.

About Mammoth Film Festival

Mammoth Film Festival is an annual winter film festival in Mammoth Lakes, California, home of the Mammoth Mountain ski resort. The Festival includes two film competitions, and accepts a broad range of entries for both the short and feature film categories. The main competition for feature films is a trademark elimination-style tournament.

With over 1.5 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain is currently the third most frequented resort in the United States. Along with world-class skiing, the town of Mammoth Lakes also offers premiere dining, accommodations, and resort activities.

www.mammothfilmfestival.com