Three Nominated Films Boast Star Power Including Peter Fonda, Mare Winningham, Rubén Blades, Salma Hayek, Gena Rowlands, James Caan, Amy Madigan and Lynn Whitfield

 

NEW YORK, NY, April 7, 2004 -- To celebrate its six-year record of receiving more Daytime Emmy® nominations than any other cable network, SHOWTIME will program a special afternoon to showcase this year's nominations.  The films that have made this year's list include: THE MALDONADO MIRACLE, directed and executive produced by Salma Hayek and starring Peter Fonda, Mare Winningham and Rubén Blades; THE INCREDIBLE MRS. RITCHIE, starring Gena Rowlands and James Caan; and A TIME FOR DANCING, based on the beloved book by Davida Wills Hurwin.  The films will air on Sunday, April 11.

Together these three films were nominated for 11 Daytime Emmy® Awards, sweeping the categories outstanding directing, outstanding performer and outstanding writing in a children/youth/family special.

 

The schedule for the films is as follows:

 

Sunday, April 11, 2004
12:00pm  A Time For Dancing
1:35pm  The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie
3:15pm  The Maldonado Miracle

 

ABOUT THE FILMS:

 

THE MALDONADO MIRACLE: Salma Hayek makes her directorial debut and serves as executive producer. The film is an Allegra Films production with the screenplay by Paul W. Cooper, based on the novel by Theodore Taylor.  Eve Silverman and Susan Aronson serve as producers. The faith of a small border town is tested when a statue of Jesus seems to be bleeding real tears of blood.  The windfall from the blessed event thrills the residents, but the town's priest (Peter Fonda) doubts the miracle, and the truth may lie with an 11-year-old Mexican boy who has taken refuge in the church.  Mare Winningham and Rubén Blades also star.

THE INCREDIBLE MRS. RITCHIE:  Gena Rowlands, Kevin Zegers, David Schofield, Leslie Hope, Cameron Daddo and James Caan, star in this film written and directed by and Paul Johansson. Actor/director Nick Cassavetes is the executive producer.  Loosely based on Johansson's own experiences, the film follows a troubled teen who learns about love and forgiveness from an eccentric, elderly widow.  Phil Alberstat, Jana Edelbaum, Walter Josten, Jim Reeve and Steve Robbins also serve as the film's executive producers.    Chad Oakes and Michael Frislev of Nomadic Pictures and U.K-based Vision View Films produced the film, which was filmed on-location in Calgary and Alberta, Canada.  "The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie" is presented in association with Nomadic Pictures Corp. and Visionview Ltd.
 
A TIME FOR DANCING: An East of Doheny Productions' feature debut "A Time For Dancing," directed by Peter Gilbert, is based on a true story retold in the book by Davida Wills Hurwin.  The film is a poignant account of a gifted young ballet dancer who fights to fulfill her dreams despite having been diagnosed with a serious form of cancer.  The film stars Larisa Oleynick, Shiri Appleby, Peter Coyote, Patricia Kalember, Amy Madigan, Anton Yelchin and Lynn Whitfield.

The 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards airs live at 9pm, Friday, May 21 on NBC. The non-televised portion of the Awards takes place on Saturday, May 15.