Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

BARCELONA, Spain--In a surprise move, the organizers of the prestigious Sitges Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Terror film festival here announced today that "Murder-Set-Pieces," the controversial new film from writer-producer-director Nick Palumbo (Variety, Nov 1-7) will make its world premiere tonight as the kickoff film of the festival's "Midnite Madness" celebration.

When Nick Palumbo set out a year-and-a-half ago to make "Murder-Set-Pieces," his controversial new look at the mind of a serial killer, he knew it wouldn't be easy. But little did he guess just how controversial it would prove -- banned from the three top labs in Hollywood and New York (Technicolor, Duart and DeLuxe), the only film in history (of any genre) to be banned from all three major labs in the United States. At one point he even felt he would have to finish post-production in another country.

Over the years, Sitges, previously known as the International Fantasy and Horror Festival, has premiered such films as Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" (last year's European Premiere), "Red Dragon" in 2002, "Ghosts of Mars" in 2001, "The Fisher King" in 1991 and "Aliens" in 1986. Invited guests over the years have included such prominent filmmakers as Tarantino, "Aliens" director James Cameron, David Lynch and Vin Diesel.

"I'm honored to be in their company," says Palumbo of his selection. "More importantly, given that we were banned by the top three film labs in America from even developing our film, I'm pleased to see that the international community, at least, understands that this is a serious movie attempting to take an artistic look into the mind of the serial killer."

Palumbo, whose first film, "Nutbag," has achieved cult status on the internet, went on to say "I'm happy, too, that the organizers recognized that 'Murder-Set-Pieces' is not just a jumping thrill ride on its own, but also pays homage to the masters of the genre that I grew up admiring, from Tobe Hooper's 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' to Stuart Gordon's 'Re-Animator.'"

"Murder-Set-Pieces," which is set and was shot in Palumbo's native Las Vegas, stars soap opera star Sven Garrett in his major motion picture debut as the serial killer. In his spirit of homage to the horror masters, Palumbo coaxed cameo performances from such legends as Gunnar Hansen (the original "Leatherface" of the "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"), Ed Neal of "Massacre," Tony Todd of "Candyman" and, more recently, Cerina Vincent of last year's hit, "Cabin Fever."

"Murder-Set-Pieces" makes its American premiere in New York and Los Angeles on Christmas Eve.