New Hampshire-made short THE POND invited to inaugural Sofia Independent Film Festival

THE POND, an award-winning narrative short film, screens internationally for the first time today as part of the inaugural Sofia Independent Film Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria.  The film joins an exclusive roster of 14 feature-length films and 15 short films in this invitation-only festival spotlighting the hottest talent coming out of the United States.

Together with America for Bulgaria Foundation, the Sofia Independent Film Festival is proud to present a new, different and fresh festival to the country of Bulgaria - the festival of the American independent cinema.  With this first year, the festival is building a bridge over the Atlantic to immerse Sofia film enthusiasts for one week in the world of independent filmmakers from the United States - classics and beginners.  The inaugural selections include the best from two iconic American festivals - Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival - as well as winners of the Academy Awards and hits from Berlinale.

THE POND is screening within a program of award-winning shorts called "Power of Film," featuring stories that can shape our lives and give a voice to current issues being evoked such as war, natural disasters, 2012, death and the meaning of life.  The program screens November 5th, 6th and 9th in various venues around the city.

"It was an absolute honor to receive the invitation to the first ever Sofia Independent Film Fest," said writer/director Dan Hannon.  "When I first heard about the fest and the other films 'The Pond' would be sharing the screen with, I was ecstatic.  It's such an amazing opportunity and I'm very proud to be apart of it," he added.

THE POND is a moving and surprising story about a young woman distraught over the death of her husband, who sets about scattering his ashes in a place they had both loved and in doing so makes a discovery for which no one could ever be prepared.  The richly cinematic film was shot entirely in the picturesque state of New Hampshire and represents Hannon's directorial debut.

Joining the writer/director are the recognizable onscreen talents of Alicia Witt (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, THE UPSIDE OF ANGER, MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS), David Morse (2010 Academy Award® Best Picture THE HURT LOCKER, THE GREEN MILE, PROOF OF LIFE) and Todd Rotondi (HOWL).  The powerful story also attracted offscreen talents including producer Francine DiChiara, cinematographer Jendra Jarnagin and composer Justin R. Durban.

THE POND world-premiered at the 2010 Palm Springs International ShortFest and recently won the 2010 Directorial Discovery Grand Prize Award at the Rhode Island Film Festival and the 2010 Best Dramatic Short and 2010 Best New Hampshire Short Awards at the New Hampshire Film Festival.

To learn more about the Sofia Independent Film Festival, visit www.soindependentfilmfest.com.

For more information about THE POND, and to view a teaser of the film, visit www.thepondmovie.com.