Gasparilla International Film Festival 2009

FLORIDA PREMIER! Writer-director Rod Lurie’s new film is the story of Rachel Armstrong (Kate Beckinsale), a young reporter on the national desk of a major Washington, D.C. daily paper. Rachel writes an explosive story that reveals the identity of covert CIA agent, Erica Van Doren (Vera Farmiga), which leads to the government’s furious efforts to uncover the identity of Rachel’s source. With the support of her editor, Bonnie Benjamin (St. Petersburg’s own Angela Bassett), the paper’s in-house attorney, Avril Aaronson (Noah Wyle) and her husband, Ray (David Schwimmer), Rebecca defies the charismatic, career-minded special prosecutor, Patton Dubois (Matt Dillon) and the U.S. District Judge. She is convicted of contempt of court and thrown in jail, until she reveals her source. The story follows the hardships Rachel experiences behind bars as well as the legal struggle played out by her attorney, Albert Burnside (Alan Alda), as he pleads her case on First Amendment grounds — a case he argues all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Everyone is rabid to know: Who is the source and why is Rebecca so committed to sacrificing so much to protect it? As with Lurie’s filmmaking breakout The Contender, for which Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges were nominated for Academy Awards®, Nothing But The Truth, is set in Washington, D.C., staged at the harrowing intersection of governmental power and personal integrity and told from the perspective of two strong women in the middle of a political power struggle. This political thriller packed with gripping performances by Kate Beckinsale, Vera Farmiga, Alan Alda, and Angela Bassett is making its Florida and Southeastern premiere at the Gasparilla International Film Fesival opening night gala. Director Rod Lurie will attend and lead the film chat following the screening.