For Immediate Release                                                                                   
Contact: Kristin Tutino, WXXI, (585) 258-0253
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"BROOKLYN CASTLE" KICKS OFF A WHOLE NEW SEASON OF THE LITTLE THEATRE'S "ONE TAKE: STORIES THROUGH THE LENS" SERIES

(Rochester, New York) December 24, 2012 – The Little Theatre’s “One Take: Stories Through the Lens,” a monthly series that features a unique mix of documentaries followed by group discussions, kicks off a whole new season on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 when series programmer Linda Moroney presents “Brooklyn Castle”.  The film shares the story of a chess team from a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that wins more national championships than any other in the country. “Brooklyn Castle” screens Tuesday, January 22 at 7 p.m. followed by a group discussion. Tickets are available at the door and are $10.

Winner of six audience awards, “Brooklyn Castle” is the remarkable and improbable true story of I.S. 318 in Brooklyn - an inner-city school where more than 65% of students are from homes with incomes below the federal poverty level - that also happens to have the best, most winning junior high school chess team in the country. In fact, if Albert Einstein, who was rated 1800, were to join the team, he'd only rank fifth best. Chess has transformed the school from a "school in need of improvement" to one of New York City's best. But a series of recession-driven pubic school budget cuts now threaten to undermine those hard-won successes.  To view the trailer, visit: http://bit.ly/P4RPf9 .

About the “One Take: Stories through the Lens” series:
Hosted by Linda Moroney, this monthly series presents a unique mix of documentaries—ranging from film festival favorites to unheralded gems—followed by talkback discussions. The films are held at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month and tickets are $10, unless otherwise noted.

About the series programmer, Linda Moroney:
Linda Moroney has been active in the independent film community for over 15 years. Films she’s produced have shown theatrically, been broadcast nationally, and screened at numerous film festivals worldwide. She is the Greentopia | FILM Director, the Founder of the Rochester Documentary Group, and programmer for “One Take: Stories Through the Lens,” a monthly documentary series at the historic Little Theatre. Currently, she is producing and directing the feature-length documentary, THE STORYBOOK PROJECT (working title), with Crystal Pix.  She was the Managing Director/Programmer for the 360 | 365 Film Festival (2010 and 2011 editions).  In 2007, Linda was the curator for Animated Jazz Shorts from The Hubley Studio, which was a co-presentation by the Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester/High Falls Film Festival, and George Eastman House.  Linda cut her filmmaking teeth working with Academy Award winner, Faith Hubley, on six of her animated films.  In addition, Linda was the Associate Producer on the independent feature-length documentary, RAM DASS FIERCE GRACE named by Newsweek  magazine as one of the five best non-fiction films of 2002, and broadcast nationally on PBS (Independent Lens) in 2004.  She has produced several other short films including Emily Hubley’s award-winning SET SET SPIKE (2001), which was an official selection in the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. She is the Co-Founder of the Rochester Teen Film Festival and the Rochester Teen Film Camp.

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The Little Theatre opened in 1929 and established not-for-profit status in 1998. The non-profit screens more than 100 American independent and foreign films for the greater Rochester community each year. It also hosts a varied slate of art shows, film festivals and series, and music throughout the year. The Little provides filmmakers, local musicians, and fine artists a professional space to share their visions with a diverse audience and to discuss their work through educational talkbacks.