In Fox Walden’s October 10 release of
CITY OF EMBER, Bill Murray plays the Mayor of Ember, an underground city where the generations have lived for over 200 years to escape a ravaged surface. But on September 25, 2008, this legendary performer, along with CITY OF EMBER director Gil Kenan, traveled a mile and a half underground to announce his “candidacy” for Mayor of Ember and to kick off GET LIT: THE SUBTERRANEAN DANCE PARTY, the closing night event of Fantastic Fest 2008.
Fantastic Fest, teaming with Fox Walden's CITY OF EMBER and Red Bull held GET LIT at the legendary
Longhorn Caverns in Burnett, TX. Following the closing night screening of CITY OF EMBER, hosted by Ain’t It Cool News’ Harry Knowles, 400 festival attendees and special guests were transported via chartered bus to Longhorn Caverns, a Texas state park that previously played host to the Alamo Drafthouse's 2006 premiere of THE DESCENT.
Like the underground city of Ember, Longhorn Caverns became a world unlike any other as party goers were treated to the sounds of such top DJs as Kid Indie, King Louie, Markus with a K and DJ Manny, along with an open bar filled with Red Bull and a CITY OF EMBER milieu to commemorate the upcoming Fox Walden release. It was here that star Bill Murray and director Gil Kenan premiered the “Vote for Cole” national TV campaign for partygoers amidst screams of “Murray for President” from the adoring crowd. Afterwards, they mixed and mingled to promote the film’s release and to celebrate the closing night of Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the U.S., screening over 70 features and 100 shorts from all over the world. Other Fantastic Fest 2008 guests included actors Bill Pullman (SURVEILLANCE), Paul Rudd (ROLE MODELS) and Amy Smart (SEVENTH MOON), along with filmmakers Rain Johnson (THE BROTHERS BLOOM) and David Wain (ROLE MODELS).
In addition to Bill Murray, CITY OF EMBER co-stars 2008 Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan (ATONEMENT) and 2003 Academy Award-winner Tim Robbins. For more information, go to
www.cityofember.com.
CITY OF EMBER Synopsis: For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights - underground. But Ember's once powerful generator is failing . . . and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, in a race against time, the citizens must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city's existence, and escape before the lights go out forever.