Screening, Q&A with Filmmaker and 9/11 Responder, "VITO AFTER" award-winning documentary

LOCAL DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER, 9/11 RESPONDER APPEARING AT SCREENINGS ON LONG ISLAND AND IN NYC

 Award-winning Film Makes International Premiere in London on September 11^th as it Screens in Director's Hometown of Syosset on Same Day

August 27, 2010 (Syosset, NY) – VITO AFTER (aka: Vito After: A 9/11 Responder Copes in the Aftermath) will have several screenings on Long Island and in NYC in commemoration of the upcoming 9/11 anniversary.  Director/producer/writer Maria Pusateri and former NYPD detective Vito Friscia—the main subject of the film and Pusateri's brother-in-law—will be attending Q&A sessions following the film.

Pusateri is thrilled that Vito will be speaking with her at the screenings: "Vito hasn't attended many screenings in the past. This will be the first time he'll be at Long Island showings, which is great since he lives here and local audiences look forward to meeting him. Now that there has been some distance from his 9/11 rescue and recovery experiences, I think he feels more comfortable speaking about it," she says. "The film remains as relevant today as it was when it began screening at film festivals in 2005—perhaps even more so—unfortunately, because of the ongoing health crisis from World Trade Center toxic dust exposures."

Maria is cautiously optimistic that President Obama will, finally, be making an effort to push for the 9/11 Health Bill to be passed, as recently reported, but has been frustrated—like so many others, at the incomprehensibility of why it has taken this long. "The responders deserve better; it's a disgrace that they've had to fight for the past nine years to get the help they need," she says.  "Thankfully, Vito isn't as ill as those suffering from devastating illnesses; but like thousands of people like him who have 9/11-related ailments, it's like 'waiting for the other shoe to drop' – wondering whether they may eventually develop a life-threatening illness, or even die."

VITO AFTER takes a vital look at the emotional impact of 9/11 and the emerging health crisis by going beyond the headlines and focusing on one NYPD detective's personal struggle. Vito Friscia, a dedicated homicide detective and devoted family man, selflessly helped others on September 11th, and then spent months sifting through toxic rubble hoping to bring closure to victims' families. The film follows Friscia for almost two years as he copes in the aftermath, with the support of loved ones and colleagues. This intimate portrait of an everyday hero reveals a powerful renewal of the human spirit and insight into the lives of thousands of responders who are paying an emotional and physical price for their bravery.

The award-winning documentary was recently selected to screen at the FD4W Film Festival (Film Directing For Women) in London on September 11th, marking the film's International Premiere; and on the same day, the film will also be shown in director Pusateri's hometown of Syosset.

FilmCritic.com rated the film four stars, calling it, "An intriguing and powerful documentary that uses one man's story to personalize the devastating aftermath from [9/11]."  Vito After was chosen to be part of the 9/11 film collection in the library of the USS NEW YORK, the battleship forged with steel from the World Trade Center. The film has been an official selection at numerous film festivals since 2005, including Rochester High Falls and Vermont International (2008), receiving the Best Documentary Award at the Long Island Film Expo in 2006. Vito After has also had many local screenings, including at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington where co-director Dylan Skolnick called it "A beautiful, thoughtful, and moving portrait of a regular guy…who just stepped forward and did the right thing. An excellent movie that every American should see."

For additional information about the film, and to view trailers, visit www.vitoafter.com.

VITO AFTER September & October Screenings (all with Filmmaker Maria Pusateri & Vito Friscia attending unless otherwise noted):

 Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library:     Tuesday, September 7^th, 2:00pm

Syosset Public Library:                        Saturday, September 11^th, 2:00pm

Long Beach Public Library:                 Monday, September 13^th, 2:00pm* (no Q&A - Pusateri & Friscia not attending)

Long Beach Public Library:                 Monday, September 20^th, 7:00pm 

Anthology Film Archives, NYC:           Tuesday, September 28^th, 7:00pm  (sponsored by NYWIFT)

Port Washington Public Library:          Thursday, October 14, 3:00pm  

*Ms. Pusateri and Mr. Friscia are available for interviews. DVD available upon request.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER

Maria Pusateri is the writer/director/producer/executive producer of Vito After. Maria has worked in various aspects of television and film production and publicity; and she has also performed as an actress.  Pusateri's passion and vision for filmmaking—exploration of people's intimate worlds through the social issues impacting their lives, was inspired by witnessing her brother-in-law's emotional trauma and health issues, and wanting to bring greater awareness to the problems faced by 9/11 rescue and recovery workers.

Prior to creating her debut documentary, Vito After, Maria was an associate producer at Cablevision for MetroTV's Unblinking Eye, where she earned several Omni and Communicator Awards, plus a New York Emmy nomination for Programming About the Arts. The nomination was for Food For Thought, a play reading series featuring Elaine Stritch, Judith Light and John Shea, among others. Pusateri created over 40 shows for Unblinking Eye, covering cultural arts events in and around New York City, from literary arts to music and film. Her work included producing, directing and conducting interviews, ranging from man-on-the street to celebrities, such as Harrison Ford, Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Pusateri also directed and produced lifestyle segments, shopping tips and film reviews for the channel. Maria's film production credits include wearing many hats on the sets of the short "Kung Fu Granny," and "Split Ends," a feature film directed by Dorothy Lyman.

Ms. Pusateri is a programmer for New York Women in Film and Television's (NYWIFT) film series and has served on their documentary committee. Pusateri is developing her next documentary project and works freelance in TV production and P/R.

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