The sixth annual Boston International Festival of Women's Cinema, which runs May 8 - 14, 1998, announced today the opening and closing night selections. HIGH ART, directed by Lisa Cholodenko and starring Ally Sheedy, Radha Mitchell, and Patricia Clarkson opens the festival on Friday, May 8, 1998. WILD MAN BLUES, by acclaimed documentarian Barbara Kopple, closes the festival on Thursday, May 14, 1998. Celebrating achievements by women in filmmaking worldwide, this annual film festival takes place at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge.

HIGH ART is the debut feature of Lisa Cholodenko, who will be in attendance opening night, Friday, May 8. It tells the story of three women involved in the arts, drugs and a triangular lesbian love affair in modern day Manhattan. Produced by indie veteran Dolly Hall (All Over Me, The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls In Love), HIGH ART features a career-changing performance by Ally Sheedy (The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire) and won Cholodenko a screenwriting award at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The film has also been accepted into competition at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival, and was recently picked up for distribution by October Films.

WILD MAN BLUES , Barbara Kopple's (Harlan County USA, American Dream) newest work, follows filmmaker Woody Allen on tour in Europe with his New Orleans-styled jazz band. Ostensibly a behind-the-scenes look at a musician's life on the road, Kopple, who will appear with her film on Thursday, May 14, has crafted an ironic portrait of a complicated and very public/very private persona. WILD MAN BLUES is a Fine Line Features release.

Complete line-up of films for the sixth annual festival will be available by April 17, 1998.