Ashley Kate Adams & Jim Kierstead To Premiere ACE at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

The producing team of Broadway Actress/Indie Producer Ashley Kate Adams (La Cage Au Folles, The Anthem) and Broadway Producer Jim Kierstead (Kinky Boots, Indecent) will premieretheir new movie ACE at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival on Saturday, February 24th. This short drama about sexual identity, first love and social norms that takes place among college friends, was written and directed by newcomer Jordan Gear and stars Jonathan Lipnicki, the former child actor from Jerry Maguire.

Lipnicki will join the film's producers and writer/director for a Q&A with the audience following the screening. The event will benefit Latinos en Acción/High Impacto, a coalition and non-profit dedicated to HIV/AIDS outreach and prevention among Hispanics in Broward County. A reception with food and drink will follow the 6 p.m. screening and Q&A at Savor Cinema, 503 SE 6th St., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $10, including the reception. For more information call 954-525-3456 or visit www.fliff.com.

Set within the embrace of an intimate group of friends in college, ACE follows the emotional journey of a shy newcomer who discovers an attraction to longstanding group-member Z, that he can neither ignore nor fully accept. As the connection between Ace and Z intensifies, so too does the silence that both illuminates their fears and fuels their insecurities. Though the attraction between them appears unmistakable, their inability to acknowledge and express their feelings for each other openly threatens to sever the powerful bond that draws them instinctively to each other.

BIOS

Jonathan Lipnicki (Russ), born October 22, 1990, has been a serious actor since his award-winning breakout role at the age of six in the Academy Award nominated Jerry Maguire, alongside Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger. Following the success of Jerry Maguire, Lipnicki took on leading roles in a string of other hit movies, including The Little Vampire, Like Mike and both Stuart Little films, as well as gathering numerous TV credits, perhaps most notably in "The Jeff Foxworthy Show," "Meego" and the popular teen-drama "Dawson's Creek." After dedicating his time to a number of independent films - particularly impressing critics in the coming-of-age drama When Zachary Beaver Came to Town - and taking time out for school, Lipnicki focused on live theater, with roles in the Tony Award nominated The Lieutenant of Inishmore and Eric Edwards' A Mixed Tape, as well as taking on guest spots on top TV shows such as "Family Guy" and "Monk." 2012 saw the release of three movies - For the Love of Money, the true story of an Israeli immigrant searching for his piece of the American dream; Edge of Salvation, a documentary-style movie following the downward spiral of a family on the verge of losing everything; and Lipnicki's first project as executive producer, Broken Roads. Lipnicki also took on a leading role in the award-winning indie short Born Yesterday alongside Heather Morris. Last year Lipnicki returned to the stage in acclaimed writer John Pollono's Lost Girls at L.A.'s Rogue Machine Theatre; as well as shooting Tag, a dark indie film about a group of teenagers living in a homeless shelter; Beast of the Bering Sea, a Syfy channel exclusive; and Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses with Danny Trejo and Danny Glover, released in 2014. Lipnicki recently finished work on the short film Someone I Know and the movie Boone: The Bounty Hunter; released in 2015.

Jordan Gear (Writer & Director) Scholar, Athlete, Writer, Director, Photographer, Jordan Gear, born New York City, September 4th, 1992, grew up in Potomac, Maryland where he attended all-boys prep school, Landon. It was this 10-year experience that inspired his fascination with constructs of gender and sexual identity. In 2015 he graduated Magna Cum Laude from The University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. While at USC he served as Captain of the Men's Diving Team for three consecutive years and earned degrees in both Film and the French Language. After graduation, Jordan wrote his first film, ACE, on a journey abroad. Upon returning to the United States, Jordan worked at Talent & Literary Agency ICM Partners in Los Angeles, California. His script for ACE was discovered by friend and cinematographer, Karina Silva who connected him to Ashley-Kate Adams who would go on to produce the film. It was this connection to Adams that led to Jim Kierstead's involvement as the first investor in the project. After a short time at ICM, Jordan left to produce and direct his first film. After shooting ACE, he was hired by cinematographer Tobias Schliessler to assist him on Disney's A Wrinkle in Time, his first major production (release date March 9, 2018).

Ashley Kate Adams (Producer) is a Broadway/Film Actress & Producer. Credits include: Broadway & 1st National Tour: Colette in La Cage Aux Folles, Off - Broadway: Athena in The Anthem, the title role in Gay Bride of Frankenstein, Claire in Love. TV & Film: "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (NETFLIX), "Pitching Tents" (Meritage Pictures), "Rules of Cool" (FULLSCREEN), "Royal Pains" (USA), "MULLIGAN" (AKA Studio Productions). VO: "Logan Lucky," "True Detective "(HBO), "Michael J. FOX Show" (NBC). Regional Highlights: Miss Dorothy in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Paper Mill Playhouse & Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Young Edie in Regional Premiere of Grey Gardens & Pippi in Great American Trailer Park (ETC). Proud Owner of AKA Studio Productions: "photo op", "Rules of Cool", "ACE", "Mulligan", "Absent Mind" and the play, The Dodgers. She also inspired & co-produced the film Beauty Mark which debuted at the 2017 LA Film Festival. BFA: CCM @ashleykateadams www.ashleykateadams.com

Jim Kierstead (Producer) is a two-time 2013 Tony Award-winning producer of the Broadway, touring, Toronto, and London productions of Kinky Boots and the revival of Pippin. He also is involved with the international hit musical Matilda on Broadway and on tour and is a co-producer of the 2016 Broadway musicals Waitress and Natasha & Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 and the 2018 musical Pretty Woman. He has been a co-producer of 15 Broadway productions including The Visit (Tony nominated), You Can't Take It With You (Tony nominated), Side Show, It Shoulda Been You, M. Butterfly, Indecent, and Rocky. Jim has worked in New York theatre since 2000 investing and raising money for shows including Something Rotten, The Glass Menagerie, the revival of Hair (Best Revival), American Idiot, The Addams Family, Catch Me If You Can, among others. Jim began his career by developing and producing the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway premiere of Thrill Me - The Leopold & Loeb Story (nominated for Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical in 2005) and produced its original New York production in 2003. He founded his production company Kierstead Productions, Inc. in 2004. In 2010, he produced the Off-Broadway premiere of Yank! - A World War II Love Story. Jim has been an Executive Producer on the films Between Love and Goodbye, Kiss Me, Kill Me, and Wakefield starring Bryan Cranston and Jennifer Garner. Currently, Jim is presenting a new musical entitled UNEXPECTED Joy with book & lyrics by Bill Russell (two-time Tony nominated for Side Show) this Spring Off-Broadway, a play entitled Cover by Bill McMahon. Jim is on the Board of Directors of The York Theatre Company, The Abingdon Theatre Company, and The New York Theatre Barn.

www.fliff.com

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