49TH THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ATHENS, Greece: November 14-23, 2008
THE WRESTLER - OPENING FILM

Daren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, winner of this year’s Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, will open the 49th TIFF on Friday, November 14th. An evocative drama that has justifiably been hailed as Mickey Rourke’s triumphant (and somewhat autobiographical) comeback to the big screen, The Wrestler will be presented in Thessaloniki by Evan Rachel Wood. The young actress, who has been an art house sensation since her first role in the film Thirteen, holds the role of Rourke’s daughter. Director Aronofsky has been a Thessaloniki Festival staple since 1998, when his first film, π, won the FIPRESCI Award in the International Competition section.