Vegas filmmaker opens arthouse movie theater, premieres his directorial debut I.M. Caravaggio

March 2, 2011 - PRLog -- Las Vegas has been in need of a good arthouse theatre for sometime.

After touring Europe in talks with arthouse distributors about his film I.M. Caravaggio, filmmaker and Emmy Award winner Derek Stonebarger came back home inspired to do something about it.

This weekend Stonebarger opens the doors to his own arthouse movie theater, which seats 60-70 people, in the downtown Vegas arts district.

"I just realized this is what Vegas needs," Stonebarger said. "There is a wealth of filmmaking talent in this community, but there is no place for their films to be shown. theatre7 is going to change that."

theatre7 (1406 South 3rd Street, Las Vegas, NV 89104), which will also be an art gallery and host live theatre performances, will screen the city premiere of I.M. Caravaggio on Saturday (March 5) at 7 p.m. Tickets for the screening are $7.

The Vegaswood Studios project, which has an arthouse theatrical deal for Rome that starts in October, was written, produced, and directed by Stonebarger.

Based on artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's true life, I.M. Caravaggio is a non-linear story set in the seedy and rarely photographed ghetto of Las Vegas. The daring tale of identity crisis, follows the rise and fall of a modern day master, Ian Milano, who works and lives as the 17th century Italian painter in order to forge his artistic genius and unlock his sociopathic nature.

"It's going to be great to show this in Las Vegas," Stonebarger said. "Not just for me, but for everyone involved in the film."

I.M. Caravaggio, which played sold out screenings at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival in Argentina and has been called a "thrilling art-house masterpiece" will play nine times this month.

In addition to the Las Vegas premiere, it will screen twice March 6 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and be shown at 7 p.m. on March 11, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 26.

Co-written by Damen Draeko, I.M. Caravaggio touts an entire Las Vegas cast, starring Ryan Eicher, Beverly Lynne, Fletcher Sharp, Alastair Bayardo, Damien Horton, Amanda Ouest, Kent Johns, Kylee Nash, Rusty Meyers, J.R. Thompson, Faouzi Brahimi, Ross Alzina, Randi Sorenson, Robin Leach, Andrew Granken, Howard Shapiro, Reniett Ramirez and Sharon Monroe.

Stonebarger's film isn't the only thing on tap at the new movie theater, which will cater to all independent works of art.

The Vegas film Thor at the Bus Stop, from brothers Jerry and Mike Thompson, and the work of 3 Nevada Artists - Lynne Jordan, Kelly Haugh and Darryl Martin - will also be showcased this month.

theatre7 has its art gallery soft opening on this week's First Friday (March 4). Free art shows of 3 Nevada Artists will then take place March 17-20. April 1 will then be the art gallery's grand opening. Art on display will be mixed media - ranging from fine photo art, gicless, wood sculptures and more.

Thor at the Bus Stop, which world premiered at the 2009 CineVegas Film Festival and was a winner at the 2009 Austin Film Festival,  will screen March 10 at 7 p.m.. It will also show as part of a double feature with I.M. Caravaggio on March 13 at 5 p.m., and play twice at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on March 27.

Stonebarger has plans to showcase other films made by Las Vegas talent in April. Keith Mosher's independent action epic One Long Day will world premiere on April 2. The films of grindhouse legend Ted V. Mikels will also screen during the month.

In addition, Stonebarger is also looking for other independently made features and shorts. Plans are also already in the works for the Second Annual Polly Staffle Grindhouse Fest aka PollyGrind2 to take place at the venue the first week of October.

"I'm excited to be helping local filmmakers and Las Vegas' growing independent fan base, come together at theatre7," Stonebarger said.

As a television producer, writer and advertising director, Stonebarger has won an Emmy award and been involved in a number of Super Bowl commercials. In 2008 he founded the independent production company Vegaswood Studios and directed his first short film Longfellow’s Masterpiece, winner of six awards at the Las Vegas 48 Hour Film Project. I.M. Caravaggio followed shortly after.

theatre7's tickets are planned to always be $7 and include a choice of popcorn, soda or candy. Most screenings at the venue start at 7 p.m.

For more information on the films and artists, and a full schedule of March events, visit http://www.theatre7lv.com/ or call 702-568-9663.

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