Film Festival selections announced
Director Robert Benton to be honored with screenwriter's award; Film selections include "Son of Rambow: A Home Movie," "Rocket Science" and "Evening," with Streep, Close and Redgrave
By Marli Guzzetta + Independent Arts Editor
The Nantucket Film Festival has begun to drive in the organizational tent pegs, announcing Academy award-winning writer and director Robert Benton ("Kramer vs. Kramer," "Bonnie and Clyde," "The Human Stain") as the NBC Universal for the 2007 Festival.

RTS Left: A scene from "Son of Rambow: A Home Movie," about two boys who spend a 1980s summer growing up and making home movies with one of those inordinately large VHS cameras.

"We've wanted to honor Robert for the longest time, and I'm proud to announce that this year is our opportunity to do so," said NFF Executive Director Jill Burkhart.

Benton recently completed directing "The Feast of Love," an exploration of love in its various forms, as shared by a group of friends in Oregon.

"Very few writers have a talent of incorporating genuine human drama into such a wide array of films that invoke a variety of feelings in audiences, leaving viewers with a rich and fulfilling experience as they walk away," added NFF Artistic Director Mystelle Brabbée.

"It is a great honor to receive the NBC Universal Screenwriters Award, especially when I think of the past recipients; screenwriters of the stature of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Walter Bernstein, or Ring Lardner Jr.; writers who are as innovative as Charlie Kaufman, or James Schamus, or Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor. It is indeed a privilege to be standing in their company," said Benton, who will appear at the NBC Universal Screenwriter's Tribute on June 16.

Filmmaker Robert Benton

Directed by Lajos Koltai, "Evening" opens the festival with a stacked cast: Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Vanessa Redgrave, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy, Natasha Richardson, Mamie Gummer, Eileen Atkins, Meryl Streep and Glenn Close. (According to the NFF organizers, several of the actors will attend the showing.) Adapted by Susan Minot and Pulitzer-winner Michael Cunningham ("The Hours") from Minot's best-selling novel, "Evening" is the story of a dying, reminiscent mother and the two daughters trying to reconcile themselves with their impending, tragic loss.

For the 12th year of the festival, Brabbée and Burkhart are also unveiling the Adrienne Shelly Excellence in Filmmaking Award - newly established by the late filmmaker's husband to honor her and applaud the successes of female writers. The recipient will receive a cash prize made possible by The Adrienne Shelly Foundation. Members of the Foundation's advisory board include Rosanna Arquette, Hal Hartley, Ted Hope, Bennett Miller, Peter Newman, Paul Rudd and Keri Russell.

A stuttering boy joins the debate team to impress a girl in the film "Rocket Science."

"The Adrienne Shelly Foundation represents a great cause and a great person," said Jill Burkhart. "We're pleased to be working with this organization to support their wonderful purpose while honoring Adrienne at the same time."

The high school comedy "Rocket Science," written and directed by Jeffrey Blitz, will close the festival. Also a Sundance nominee, "Rocket Science" is the story of a stuttering teenager who joins the high school debate team to win the girl.

Other highlighted films include Garth Jennings' excellent and comedic "Son of Rambow: A Home Movie" - about two little boys and one big video camera during a 1980s summer - and the Saturday Night Spotlight feature "I Am An Animal."

Several actors from the star-studded "Evening" will attend the Nantucket Film Festival in June.

The festival will run from June 13 - 17. For more, go to www.nantucketfilmfestival. org, which will be updated

regularly until the festival. I