The Briefing Room

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, July 6, 2009 – The Evil City Film Fest initially founded in 2005, is now the Royal Flush Festival (RFF), a brand new force in the independent film, art and music scenes that will rock its way from New York City’s East Village with a program of over 100 independent films, music videos, live music performances, and underground art openings from October 15-18, 2009. RFF’s main venue will be the Anthology Film Archives, located at 32 Second Avenue.

RFF is named after its new partner, Royal Flush Magazine, a nationally-distributed killer rag that celebrates underground music, art, video games, pop-culture and indie movies with a strict, no-fluff stance. A logical pairing of allied organizations, equally impassioned in their commitment to awesome content and a shared obsession for the media and culture, The Royal Flush Festival will work extensively to showcase the best in art, film and music while giving its filmmakers, artists and musicians greater exposure.

RFF also announces some highly anticipated films selected for early acceptance, INCLUDING the New York Premieres of Merle Becker’s American Artifact, Harrod Blank’s Automorphosis, and the NYC Festival Premiere of Kevin Chapados’ Abraham Obama.

American Artifact chronicles the rise of American rock poster art since its birth in the ’60s featuring interviews with renown artists Stanley Mouse, Victor Moscoso, Frank Kozik, Art Chantry, EMEK, Tara McPherson, Derek Hess, COOP, Jay Ryan and more. Director Merle Becker and artist Tara McPherson will be in attendance for the film and Q&A.

Automorphosis looks into the minds and hearts of an inspiring collection of eccentrics, visionaries, and just plain folks who have transformed their autos into artworks. On a humorous and touching journey, we discover what drives the creative process for these unconventional characters. And in the end, we find that an art car has the power to change us — to alter our view of our increasingly homogeneous world. Director Harrod Blank will be in attendance for the film and Q&A. RFF will also have selected Art Cars at the festival throughout the weekend, including Blanks’ Camera Van.

Abraham Obama is a humorous and provocative look at an unprecedented political art movement. Street artist Ron English gathers a crew of professional pranksters and hits the road on a grassroots campaign to make public art and promote Obama’s campaign for the Presidency. Director Kevin Chapados and artist Ron English will be in attendance for the film and Q&A.

In addition to its eclectic line-up of film, art and music, RFF will also function as a networking component through its original and informative panel discussions, as well as kick-ass after parties. “We are certainly indie film snobs but we also happen to take our debauchery very seriously,” says RFF Film Director Jim Muscarella.

Alumni of the Evil City Film Fest who have gone onto greater success include Daryl Wein, 2006 Best Drama Short Skullie Winner for “Unlocked” (current films include Breaking Upwards and Sex Positive), Leah Meyerhoff, 2007 Best Music Video Skullie Winner for “Team Queen” (upcoming feature film Unicorns, Student Academy Award Nominee for Twitch), and Kevin Booth, 2007 Best Documentary Skullie Winner for American Drug War (ADR continues to play on Showtime and Booth is producing a new show with Thom Beers & Original Productions).

The full line-up of film, music and art at The Royal Flush Festival will be announced this August. For more information, visit www.royalflushfestival.com.