May 3, 2005, New York, NY – The opening film of the 18th Annual NewFest will be the New York premiere of Paul Dinello’s “Strangers with Candy" as announced today by Basil Tsiokos, Director of NewFest, New York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival.  

“Strangers with Candy” stars Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello and was written by Paul Dinello and Stephen Colbert, directed by Paul Dinello.  “Strangers with Candy” also stars Greg Hollimon, Deborah Rush, Dan Hedaya, Allison Janney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kristen Johnston, Justin Theroux, Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker and Sir Ian Holm.  The film was produced by ThinkFilm and will be released June 28. 

"NewFest is thrilled to work with ThinkFilm to bring the eagerly-awaited comedy “Strangers with Candy” to New York City audiences for the first time.  As NewFest enters its 18th year, we can think of no one better to celebrate with than Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert and the rest of Paul Dinello's hilarious ensemble," said Tsiokos. 

“Strangers with Candy” is a daring leap backwards.  A prequel to the critically acclaimed Comedy Central series of the same name, it is the tale of Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris), a forty-seven year old ex-con, junky whore who decides to return home after thirty-two years as a runaway.  Jerri decides to turn her life around by picking it up exactly where she left off – as a high school freshman.  She's going to start her life over, only this time she's going to do the wrong things the right way.