Longest Recovery Event in U.S. Kicks Off in NYC Recovering Addicts and Alcoholics Have Their Own Film Festival REEL Recovery Film Festival & Symposium Begins 7-Day Run at Cinema Village, Friday, October 16, 2015

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Oct 09, 2015, 06:00 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Los Angeles based Writers In Treatment announces an exciting, feature-packed schedule of events for the 4^th Annual REEL Recovery Film Festival - New York Edition 2015. The seven-day festival at Cinema Village (22E. 12^th St.) will present a fascinating line-up of feature-length and short, fictional and factual alcohol and drug addiction themed films that highlight serious substance misuse as well as the hope and opportunity for recovery. There will be insightful conversations with recovery authors, a night with brilliant stand-up comics, and engaging discussions with filmmakers following many of the screenings.

4th Annual REEL Recovery Film Festival, Oct. 16-22, 2015, Cinema Village

"After seven years in Los Angeles, the REEL Recovery Film Festival returns to New York City for the fourth time because the lovely people in this city need and appreciate the power of film to explore a multitude of addiction issues," said Leonard Buschel, founder of Writers In Treatment and the REEL Recovery Film Festival. "They also like a good night out so we expect to entertain, inspire and educate over 2,500 of them with timely films and stimulating discussions. Our aim is to reduce the stigma, and raise public awareness that addiction is not a moral failing but a devastating, often-fatal illness which requires specialized treatment."

HIGHLIGHTS of this year's film festival and symposium include:

Oct. 16 – 5 PM Opening Night Reception at El Cantinero Restaurant (86 University Pl., NY), honoring Nicole Boxer, award-winning producer/director whose inspiring documentary How I Got Over will screen at 7 PM at Cinema Village. The film follows 15 formerly homeless/and or incarcerated women living in N Street Village - a community for addiction recovery – as they craft an original play based on their harrowing true-life stories. This is a special screening for OASAS.

Oct. 18 – 9 PM Alan Kaufman, critically acclaimed author and poet introduces the screening of Big Sur – a feature film both terrifying and revelatory captures the sudden fame and self-destructive lifestyle taking a toll on Jack Kerouac following the unparalleled success of his groundbreaking novel, On The Road.

Oct. 20 – 5 PM Susan Cheever in a live, spirited conversation with journalist and publisher Maer Roshan, founder of RadarOnline.com and thefix.com. Ms. Cheever, an award-winning writer and author of "My Name Is Bill: His Life and the Creation of Alcoholics Anonymous," will also be reading from her new, groundbreaking work, "Drinking In America: Our Secret History."

Oct. 21 - 3:30 PM ABSTINENCE and/or/vs. HARM REDUCTION - all star panel discussion led by Howard Josepher from Exponents, NYC. Panelists include: Maia Szalavitz, Todd Whitmer, Cindy Feinberg, Luke Nasta, and Lureen McNeil.

Oct 21. – 8 PM Pat Dixon's Comedy Intervention Returns - "One laugh at a time," benefits the Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation. Pat Dixon hosts an evening of comedy and mirth. Come laugh your face off with some of the hottest men in New York's hysterical comedy scene. Hosted by Pat Dixon the lineup thus far includes: Christian Finnegan, Chris Laker, Dustin Chafin, Gilbert Law, Jamie Roberts and Kitty Bruce, Lenny's daughter.

In addition to the above highlights, a treasure trove of 47 other great films will be screened, running nearly non-stop from 1 PM to 11 PM for seven days. Such films as Jay Silverman's Girl On the Edge starring Taylor Spreitler, Gil Bellows, Peter Coyote and Mackenzie Phillips; and D.W. Griffith's classic 1931 film The Struggle will be featured. Documentaries include: Kevin Kerslake's AS I AM: The Life And Times Of DJ AM; Jody Belsher's The Other Side of Cannabis: Negative Effects of Marijuana On Our Youth; and AMY – Asif Kapadia's amazing film that tells the incredible story of six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse - in her own words. For a complete listing of films and special events please go to: www.reelrecoveryfilmfestival.com.

"The 4^th Annual REEL Recovery Film Festival New York Edition 2015 presents honest features, shorts and documentaries about the struggles of addiction, and breakthroughs in recovery," stated Buschel.

Official Sponsors of the 4^th Annual REEL Recovery Film Festival New York Edition 2015 currently include:

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
American Addiction Centers
RecoveryAs.com
Freedom Institute
Balboa Horizons
Alcohol Justice
Newport Academy
Caron
Cindy Feinberg The Recovery Coach NY
Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation
NYSPA
Recovery Emporium, and numerous individuals.

Net proceeds support the work of Writers In Treatment, a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, and the REEL Recovery Film Festival.

Tickets to all films and special sessions are available at the door. It is the policy of the REEL Recovery Film Festival to charge a nominal ticket price for most of the films ($10), and to allow anyone admittance regardless of their ability to pay, if seats are available.

Contact: Leonard Buschel, 310-767-6970

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151005/273937

SOURCE Alcohol Justice