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Thursday, February 4, 7 p.m. film screening of Boris Gavrilovic’s “My Life as an Underdog.”

My Life as an Underdog tells a story about Suzanne Muldowney, her art and her dream. Spanning over a course of seven years this film follows one strangely fascinating person’s struggle to overcome her disability and find the true meaning of life. Terrified by the possibility that she would die in anonymity she takes her costumes, dance and ideas on the road.

Her story lends perspective to the unlimited potential in people of differing abilities and ultimately tells a tale about the resilience of the human spirit. Intimate interviews with Suzanne and people who know her, her performances and childhood memories are woven into a tapestry that creates a frank, open and honest portrait of a real person.

Boris Gavrilovic moved to the US from Yugoslavia and worked in the various areas of film production in New York in the early nineties before going to graduate school to study film. His experimental thesis film “Lesson 28” was shown at more than dozen film festivals in the United States and in Europe . For this film he received a best surreal film award at The Humboldt International Film

Festival , bronze award for experimental film at the New York Expo of Short Film and Video and a jury prize at the Chicago International Film Festival.

“My Life as an Underdog” was screened at festivals in the US in its “almost finished” version. The film was nominated for a best feature documentary at the Atlanta Film Festival and won the best feature documentary as well as the audience award at the Microcinefest in Baltimore MD. In addition to playing the festival circuit “My Life as an Underdog” was featured on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live , G4 networks Attack of the Show, Sirius satellite radio and NPR.

“My Life as an Underdog” is Boris’ first feature length documentary film. He is currently involved in a pre-production for another project and is teaching filmmaking and animation in New Jersey .

This screening is part of the Pierro Gallery of South Orange, Reaching Out, Reaching In, A fine arts exhibition by faculty of the South Orange/Maplewood School District on exhibit January 17 to February 21. Our professional artists who are also educators is the focus in this exhibition.

February 4th is also the first monthly Art Nite Out being held with various businesses in the downtown area. All those attending this film screening are invited to a special opening reception immediately following at Mia Cose Bella, West South Orange Avenue where artist Deb Mell is being featured in Pierro Downtown. Special discounts will be offered.