It is the Holidays with FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES

Coming to theatres and on VOD and Digital in November from writer/director Robert Tinnell,
Allegheny Image Factory, Witty Michaels Entertainment and Shout! Studios is a family you might recognize during the holidays who creates the FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES.

It is 1983 and the Oliverio family is preparing to celebrate Christmas their way. Tony (Skyler
Gisondo) is an artist who works in his father's grocery store and has been accepted into art school. He doesn't want to share the news because he feels his very opinionated Italian family isn't going to go for it. Cousin Angelo (Andrew Schulz) to the rescue talking him into a night out with him, girlfriend Sarah (Jessica Darrow) and her friend Beth (Madison Iseman).

Slick talking Angelo works his magic and Tony begrudgingly agrees. What is happening at home is
Uncle Frankie (Joe Pantoliano), Uncle Carmine (Ray Abruzzo), and Johnny (Paul
Ben-Victor) are preparing to make the holiday dinner. Of course all of this is
happening under the watchful eye of Tony's Nonnie (Lynn Cohen), Mom (Nancy
Telzerow), and Marian (Jean Zarzour).

As the uncles argue about salting with fish, Tony takes off with Angelo and Sarah to pick up Beth.
Almost immediately they hit it off with a few beers and he explains about the
Feast of the Seven Fishes to Beth who is intrigued. Just as the conversation gets
interesting, he hears that ex-girlfriend Katie (Addison Timlin) might be in
trouble. All four jump in the car, rescue the damsel but not before Tony get a
knuckle sandwich for his trouble.

Katie tries to make a move but Tony makes it clear that he's moved on from their relationship and
she isn't at all happy about it. Getting a lecture from his friends, it is Beth
who convinces him to stay out and have a good time. In the meantime, Katie decides
to hang out with Vince and that doesn't go well either. It is Juke (Josh
Helman) who takes the time to really talk to her finding out that Katie just
misses Tony's family and the holiday coming up.

After the nights events, Tony and Beth share some time in his artists shed in the back of his
house. Beth is taken with his work and loves what he has done. He shares a
little about his dream and she thinks whatever he dreams he would do! Falling
asleep overnight, they are discovered by Noonie who can't unsee what she sees
and goes on a little bit of a verbal rant. Back in the house, everyone starts
arriving and Beth is about to meet the craziness of the Oliverio family.

Uncle Frank tells Tony to invite her to dinner to celebrate with the family and truly understand
them. While in the car he also gets from Beth who is responsible for the mayhem
of the night before intending to make it right. Imagine the surprise when Beth
informs her mother that she is going to spend time with the Oliverio family and
the rant that ensues but it isn't going to stop Beth from going.

Arriving, she witnesses the men in the family argue and fuss over the fish dishes that have
to be perfect. Tony is surprised to see her there but thrilled as the family
holidays are officially in full on mode. After eating they go to church and
Beth actually has the chance to get to know Nonnie much better as she explains
that there is a different life between she and Tony.

The funny thing - Tony should never have been worried about his very chaotic family because the
real chaos and heartbreak is about to come from a place he should have
suspected. Seems like perhaps both Tony and Beth might need to come clean about
their lives and feelings.

It's the Feast of the Seven Fishes for their holiday!

Gisondo as Tony is perfection and I loved his reactions when the family was, well, being
themselves. There is an innocence about his character yet he has the same look
we all do when an older relative finds the chink in our embarrassment armor and
exploits it. There is also a knight-ness about this character because he knows
what the right thing is and puts himself before others. Gisondo makes it look
effortless and perhaps it's because he has the face of someone you not only
totally trust but also expect generosity of spirit.

Iseman as Beth is considered a girl from the rich part of town. That isn't relatable for the
Oliveria family but that doesn't mean they don't know how to treat a guest.
Tony is taken with her because she can hold a conversation and isn't afraid to
challenge him and gets along with the family. Well, perhaps all but Nonnie
played by Cohen who I absolutely love. She is almost exactly how I hope to be
as a grandmother some day with anyone who wants to be part of our family, well,
maybe without the slights.

Pantoliano as Uncle Frankie knows just what to do for the holiday feast and also will do anything
to protect the family and those they consider family. Abruzzo as Uncle Carmine
who tackles anyone who tells him how to rinse the fish. He sees what Tony is dealing
with and makes it clear he stands by him no matter what.

Timlin as Katie is a young woman who can't get over Tony and also can't stop making bad decisions because of hurt feelings. Helman as Juke seems to be the only person around
that understands her feelings and isn't afraid to ask her why she doesn't treat
herself well. Schulz as Cousin Angelo is a character unto himself with his
tough talk and big car, Darrow as Sarah is his girlfriend who has an opinion
and isn't afraid to share it. She loves Angelo but wishes he be a bit more like
Tony.

Other cast include Ben Martin as Nunnzio, Jackson Nunn as Sab, Isabella Tinnell as Phyllis, Tony
Bingham as Tony Sr., Allen Williamson as Prentice, Tommy Lafitte as Bernard.

Writer/director Tinnell says, " As a kid, I didn't even know it was called the Feast of
the Seven Fishes. It was just something we did every Christmas Eve and it was
fun and the food was incredible. It wasn't like the food you ate in restaurants
or at school or even at other kids' houses. It was anything but bland, anything
but mass-produced. It was magic."

Owing his love of the holiday to his great-grandmother who prepared the food in an old fashioned
way, it became clear that he holds on to the memories of family and all those
who were around the table. Writing the graphic novel Feast of the Seven Fishes (which won the prestigious Eisner Award at Comic Con in my hometown of San Diego), it also has recipes for the
authentic feast that was brought by wife Shannon Tinnell. The novel and film
represent Christmas, Food, Italian culture and the best part of the film - the
sights and sounds of the 1980's.

When talking to a filmmaker and director, I often ask what they hope people take away from seeing a film they've made. Tinnell has one of the best answers I've ever heard to the
question because it is filled with heart, soul and memories of a time that isn't
coming back any time soon. He says, " I'm really hoping when you watch
this movie you get hungry and maybe you try to fix some of this stuff yourself.
Because like we always say on Christmas Eve - around here everyone is Italian.
I can't make you like this movie but I can promise you one thing, it is
authentic. It is real. It is as it was on Christmas Eve in 1983 in our little
town on the banks of the Monongahela River. When all the people I loved in my
family were still alive. When the food was still a delicious mystery and when
the love of your life was out there, somewhere, maybe listening to Spandau
Ballet on the jukebox just waiting to meet you. Enjoy."

FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES is just a beautifully told story about a family that is loud,
opinionated and knows how they feel about one another - even if an outsider
might not understand. They hold onto traditions like gold and aren't about to
change them for anything and there are still families who believe in
traditions. The world moves so fast now that sometimes traditions get lost in
the shuffle.

I adore the way Tinnell brings each character aboard, almost as if he's giving us a moment to
adjust to them because, and let's be honest, they are a handful. Those
'handfuls' are family and they are loved and respected as such which brings
back so many memories for me personally. The food is made with love, the
yelling is done with love, and the chaos is fueled by love. Who could ask for
anything more than that?

This is a holiday film that can be watched again and again because the Oliverio family are
teachers and reminders of what we hold dear about our own families. Whether we
want to admit it or not, all the craziness in the world can't replace our
Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and extended family who come together even
if for only one meal a year during the most precious time of year.

In the end - it's time for food, family and love!