Alumnus Tom Fontana Presents Film Screening: Friday, October 7

Emmy award-winning writer, producer, and Buffalo State alumnus Tom Fontana, '73, will present his 2004 film Strip Search, Friday, October 7, at 7:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

Created by five-time Oscar nominated director Sidney Lumet and Fontana, '73, the political drama stars Glenn Close, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dean Winters, and Ken Leung.

Strip Search follows several parallel stories examining personal freedoms versus national security in the aftermath of 9/11. Two main subplots involve graduate students. One is an American, played by Gyllenhall, who is detained in China for questioning, while the other is an Arab man, portrayed by Bruno Lastra, detained in New York City by the FBI. Both are being held with no hard evidence and interrogated about unspecified activities which may or may not be related to terrorist plots. Both are subjected to withstand the horrors and embarrassment of questioning, all for the sake of maintaining the respective country’s national security.

Fontana will present a tribute to Lumet (the director of 72 films), who passed away in April, during this special screening of the film. 

Produced by HBO, this rare, special screening is part of this year’s Buffalo International Film Festival.

Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for seniors and film society members, and $5 for Buffalo State students.