A FILM BENEFIT WITH PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT THE STOCKTON SYMPHONY

DESCRIPTION

THEY CAME TO PLAY chronicles the Fifth International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, hosted by The Van Cliburn Foundation. Players from all over the world, ranging from self-taught to classically-trained, aged thirty-five to almost eighty, convene in Fort Worth, Texas for a week of intense competition, music and camaraderie. The film the film provides an intimate look into the lives of these colorful, multi-faceted competitors as they strive to balance the demands of work and family with their love of music. Years of dedicated preparation culminate in critical performances before a professional jury and discerning audience during three nerve-wracking elimination rounds.

FESTIVALS AND AWARDS

• Lone Star Internatinal Film Festival
• Film Society of Lincln Center
• Winner, Audience Award, 2008 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

ABOUT DIRECTOR ALEX ROTARU

Alex was born in Bucharest, Romania, to playwright Eugen Rotaru and actress Maria Rotaru. After an early career as an award-winning child actor, he fell in love with science, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with highest honors in his class. Inspired by his stint studying film at the Sorbonne, he switched gears again, interrupting his PhD and returning to his first love - cinema. He attended University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television and earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Film/TV Production. Since graduation, he has worked in script development, and most recently in TV documentaries. Recipient of a 2006 Christopher Award. Alex lives in Los Angeles, California.

PRESS KIT for official use only

Click to Download
• Film Still One (Esfir Ross, Piano Performance)
• Film Still Two (Esfir Ross)
• Film Still Three (Esfir Ross)
• Film Still Four (Drew at Home)
• Film Still Five (Drew, Performance)

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SHOWTIMES

WED. 02/24 at 6:30PM
Stockton Empire Theatre

CAST AND CREW

Director: Alex Rotaru
Producer: Lori Miller, Matt Cooper, Ronnie Planalp
Cinematographer: Brian O'Connell, Adrian Popescu
Editor: Harrison Engle, Drew Kilcoin
Principal Cast: Henri Robert Delbeau, Mark Fuller, Clark Griffith, Ken Lisaka, Slava Levin, Drew Mays, Suzanna Perez, Richard Rodzinski, Esfir Ross, Kathy Trafton

PRINT SOURCE

Area23a
www.area23a.com

FILM CO-PRESENTER AND EVENT BENEFICIARY

PRESENTATION SUPPORTED BY

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