'Decoding Annie Parker' Makes NJ Premiere at Madison Theater

The New Jersey premiere of a the film, "Decoding Annie Parker," starring Samantha Morton and Helen Hunt, will be held next month in Madison.

The Male Breast Cancer Coalition announced last week the premiere of the film will be Thursday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Madison Cinema 4 on Lincoln Place.

The film starring Morton, an Academy Award nominee, and Hunt, an Academy Award winner, tells the life-affirming story of two women whose paths serendipitously cross: the irrepressible Annie Parker (Morton), a three-time cancer survivor who lost her mother and sister to breast cancer, and the geneticist Dr. Mary Claire King (Hunt).

The fact-based story of the film, which was awarded the 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the Hamptons International Film Festival, focuses on medical science, personal tragedy—and perseverance. 

After losing her mother and sister to breast cancer, Parker discovers she too must confront the disease. The film tracks the title character from her Toronto childhood in the early ’1960s to the 1990s and the landmark discovery by a team of researchers, headed by Mary Claire King, of the gene BRCA1 gene mutation that causes an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

"This film is a must-see for anyone, male or female, who has had breast cancer, or knows someone who’s a survivor. Many people have heard of the BRCA gene, but don’t know much about it," said Cheri Ambrose, the founder of the Male Breast Cancer Coalition, which is partnering to present the screening.

"We hear about breast cancer and presume it’s mostly a female disease often passed from the mother’s side of the family on to the daughter. But the American Cancer Society says there will be 2,240 new cases of male breast cancer this year alone and 410 men will die from the disease. We also know the BRCA gene is passed from generation to generation from the father's side. We have partnered on this project because we passionately believe that increased awareness about breast cancer, on every level, will help to save lives."

Those behind "Decoding Annie Parker" are hoping it will inspire even more to take a closer look at their family trees, even if they haven't seen signs of breast cancer. The film is written, produced and directed by Steven Bernstein, whose diverse projects include the multi-award winning feature “Like Water for Chocolate” and the Oscar Winning Film “Monster,” staring Charlize Theron.

Bernstein designed the unique distribution model used for the launch of “Decoding Annie Parker,” trying to find additional ways to use his film as a force for good, raising money for charities, research groups and institutions, while also repaying the loans necessary to make the film. (A portion of the night’s proceeds will go to help fund the further distribution of "Decoding Annie Parker" to get this emotionally-moving film into more theaters.)

Attendees of the premiere will also get a “first look” at an extended clip of “Stepping Out of the Pink Shadow: A Male Breast Cancer Story,” Ambrose said. This new documentary by Black Water Creek Productions reveals the fears and taboos experienced by real-life male breast cancer survivors and the lack of attention that is given to men who suffer from the disease. 

The film, which is still in production, also chronicles the incredible story of a father and daughter who discover they are both carriers of the BRCA2 gene, are diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time, and endure their battle with the disease together.

Following the screening, a panel of survivors and medical experts (still in formation) will lead a Q & A session.

Tickets are $17 (plus a $1 handling fee), and all attendees will receive a gift bag for their support of this project. To purchase tickets, visit http://bit.ly/1rpnUUV

To learn more about this important film and view trailers, visit http://decodingannieparkerfilm.com/aboutthefilm/

For more information about the screening, contact Cheri Ambrose at 973-224-0634.