Happy Valley by Amir Bar-Lev (My Kid Could Paint That, The Fighter, The Tillman Story) will be the opening film for the 2014 Little Rock Film Festival.

The screening takes place tonight at 7:30 pm at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater.  Filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev will be in attendance.

The town of State College, home to Penn State University, lies at the heart of an area known as Happy Valley. Its iconic figure for more than 40 years Joe Paterno, the head coach of the school’s football team, took on mythic national stature as ‘Saint Joe.’ But in November 2011, everything came crashing down when former Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky was charged with child sex abuse. Filmed over the course of the year after Sandusky’s arrest, Amir Bar-Lev creates a parable of guilt, responsibility, and identity for a small town caught in the glare of the national spotlight.
Free to Gold Pass Holders. All other pass holders (Silver and Bronze) need a seperate ticket to this event. A limited number of individual tickets available.

Following the film, in and around the CALS Ron Robinson Theater, the Little Rock Film Festival 2014 Kickoff Party will take place. Gold, Sponsor and Filmmaker Passes will be admitted. Food by The Fold and music by Trey Johnson.

The Little Rock Film Festival runs through Sunday, May 18 in downtown Little Rock. For more information and tickets, visit their website.