West Coast Premiere of THOSE LEFT BEHIND at Dances with Films Festival

Feature Film to Screen 

at Dances with Films Festival 

Two-time Peabody award-winning director Maria Finitzo, whose FilmArts Productions, a new Chicago-based production company, was launched earlier this year is pleased to announce that her debut narrative feature "Those Left Behind" will have its West Coast Premiere at L.A.’s prestigious Dances with Films Festival.

Written and directed by Finitzo and produced by Lije Sarki, Those Left Behind features Daphne Zuniga (The Sure Thing), Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica), Debra Mooney (Dead Poet’s Society) and Jack Griffo (Nickelodeon’s hit series, The Thundermans). 

"Those Left Behind" is a moving portrayal of a family finally moving forward after their son’s suicide 25 years before.

The Dances with Films premiere of "Those Left Behind" will take place on June 12 at 9:30 p.m. at the TLC Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. Finitzo, as well as members of her cast and crew, will be in attendance.

“After a successful career as a documentary filmmaker, moving into fiction filmmaking was a natural evolution of my commitment to exploring different realms of storytelling,” Maria Finites said. “I’m thrilled to have Those Left Behind chosen by Dances with Films and look forward to sharing this film with Los Angeles audiences.”

Finitzo has two new films currently in development at FilmArts. 

"The Passion of Grace" is being adapted by Finitzo from the short story "Passion" by the Nobel-prize winning author Alice Munro. 

Also in the FilmArts pipeline is Finitzo’s newest documentary "The Dilemma of Desire" which will be produced by Kartemquin Films and will explore the complex nature of female sexual desire.

About FilmArts Productions
FilmArts Productions was created to develop and produce independent narrative films, documentaries and other forms of media that feature compelling and thought provoking stories. Formed in 2015 by award-winning filmmaker, Maria Finitzo, and joined later by Diane Quon, the company is dedicated to finding stories that entertain, promote change by giving a voice to the underserved and embraces diversity. FilmArts is also committed to finding projects that will provide opportunities to women and people of color in front of and behind the camera.

For more information about FilmArts Productions, visit filmartsproductions.com or connect Twitter | Facebook

For more information about Dances with Films, visit danceswithfilms.com