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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
JULY 4, 2008
Buffalo Film Festival presents The Western New York Premiere:
Life of Slain Seattle Singer Celebrated
in New Rock Doc 'The Gits'
15 Year Memorial Commemorated with Screenings
"Mia Zapata was on the verge of music stardom." -
CBS News
BUFFALO, NY, North Tonawanda, NY
. The Buffalo International
Film Festival is pleased to present the Western New York Premiere of
"The Gits" a new documentary that celebrates Mia Zapata, slain Seattle
singer and her group. Co-presented with The Historic Riviera Theatre,
the event will take place on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 7PM. Two live
Punk Bands, Prescription Happiness and The Apologies will bookend the
screening at the Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, NY
With an innovative sound that coupled hardcore punk with heartfelt
blues, The Gits were poised to break into the mainstream, but they
would never achieve the success of contemporaries Nirvana or Pearl Jam
because on July 7, 1993 singer Mia Zapata was found murdered –the
apparent victim of a rape/homicide.
It was a crime unsolved when director Kerri O'Kane began shooting
her debut feature. In the interim, however, fans, friends and
celebrities like Joan Jett and Nirvana helped raise money to reopen
what had become a cold case file. Mia's death had reverberated
throughout the music community, and unprecedentedly Mia's killer was
brought to justice as the cameras rolled.
Rumored to have been descended from Mexican revolutionary Emiliano
Zapata, the incredibly magnetic frontwoman had a powerful, soulful
voice that belied her inherent shyness and distinguished The Gits from
other punk bands of that day.
This riveting documentary is part musical history and part murder
mystery, brimming with rare performance footage dating from their
Antioch College days through their subsequent move to Seattle just
before the world's ears suddenly tuned into the emerging northwest
music scene. The Gits would become an integral and influential part of
the milieu if largely unsung in comparison to fellow Seattle bands like
Nirvana and Soundgarden. But just as they were about to make it big,
the band was dealt a mighty blow with the sudden, violent loss of their
friend and band member whose lyrics eerily foreshadowed events to come.
Mia's murder became a rallying point for Seattle music scene, as
the investigation ripped through the community with devastating
results, leaving many female musicians feeling momentarily disempowered
before turning their insecurity into anger and into a statement that
would resonate with women the world over. A celebration of Mia's life
as well as a comprehensive testament to the band's greatness as a
whole. The film's interviews reflect the enormous respect and love
Mia's peers had for her, and also the sadness over her absence that
still haunts them today.
Buffalo International Film Festival, Inc., is a 501c3
not-for-profit charity support by public and private contributions.
BIFF is committed to International cooperation through the sharing of
all forms of moving media. BIFF is pleased to present the regional
premiere of THE GITS which folows our co-sponsorship of the regional
premiere of "The LIfe Of Reilly: a documentary about Charles Nelson
Reilly shown at The Market Arcade Film and Arts Center. BIFF is pleased
to partner with The Historic Riviera Theatre, the only venue in Western
New York properly equipped for historic film exhibition.
HISTORY of THE GITS
The first time Matt Dresdner heard Mia Zapata sing he was certain
she would be the perfect person to front the punk rock band he wanted
to form. This idea came to fruition when Matt, Andy Kessler, Steve
Moriarty and Mia formed The Gits in the fall of 1986. Characterized by
powerful music and poetic lyrics, one local Seattle musician said, "It
was music to start a revolution to."
The Gits quickly became popular in the Seattle music scene of the
early 1990s, distinguishing themselves by their soulful street punk at
a time when "grunge music" was putting Seattle on the map. After the
group's debut album "Frenching the Bully" was released in 1992, fans in
Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and the Pacific Northwest continually
packed their gigs. In the summer of 1993 The Gits began recording their
second full-length album, titled "Enter: The Conquering Chicken." By
all accounts the group was positioned to explode onto the national
underground rock and roll scene. In July 1993, The Gits drove back to
Seattle from a show the previous night and were eager to resume work on
their new album.
On July 7th, however, Mia Zapata was raped and murdered, thus ending the band's career.
THE GITS MOVIE documents the band's journey from
its inception to the tragedy that cut its promise short. The film
contextualizes The Gits as part of a loyal and creative community, and
explores how they were transformed through the experience of having
been a unique and explosive underground rock group for seven years. It
will also explore how members and friends of the group were irrevocably
altered by Mia Zapata's life and death. Efforts made by this same
community in search of Mia's killer, and its response to the recent
arrest of a suspect in the crime will also be detailed. Finally, The
Gits' musical legacy will be examined.
THE GITS MOVIE is a celebration of a rock band that touched many
lives. Driven by pure conviction and the voice of Mia Zapata, The Gits
stood apart from many groups of their time. This film will tell the
story of a band that many referred to as "the band of the people."
QUOTES
"The Gits is a new motion-picture hybrid," observes
Liberation chairman Jay Boberg. "On the surface it's a documentary
about a great rock n roll band at an incredible time in music history,
but it's also a murder mystery. It's got joy and poignancy -it's just
extraordinary."
"There has never been a story like this one, and I am honored to be
involved with such a passionate film about one of rock's geniuses who
was taken from the world far too soon," adds Gold Village Entertainment
President Danny Goldberg.
"It's wonderful that this film, which has been a true labor of love,
has found a home with Liberation," comments producer Jessica Bender.
"So much has happened since we first started filming -the trial, the
sentencing. And we've come across so many people whose lives have been
touched by the music of Mia and The Gits."
The Band. The Music. The Legacy. One tragic night changed it all. The Gits.
INTERVIEWS:
We can arrange phoners with the Producer, Jessica Bender, and the Director, Kerri O'Kane. Please call or e-mail.
SCREENERS:
We have screeners available for qualified journalists. Please request.
PHOTOS: There are 7 hi-rez photos available plus graphics. Please request.
TRAILER
For the trailer and press materials go to: www.thegitsmovie.com
DVD
For DVD info go to: www.libentmusic.com
VENUE and TICKETS
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Doors open: 6:30pm
Show Starts 7:00 with The Apologies (Live)
8:00 Western New York Premiere; THE GITS
9:30: Prescription Happiness (Live)
The Historic Riviera Theatre of Western New York
67 Webster Street
North Tonawanda, NY 14120
716-692-2413
Free Parking Available.
Refreshments available.
TICKETS: $8.00 in advance at Boxoffice or Online
$9.00 at door
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