Screening of short films, Jersey City Medical Center reception will benefit LoRe Foundation's cancer-test mission

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Jersey City Medical Center, Aequor Healthcare Services and Jersey City are sponsoring "A Short Film Exhibition" to benefit the Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation for Cancer Prevention on Saturday.

There will be a pre-reception at 6:30 p.m. at the Cristie Kerr Women's Health Center. The center is named for a top woman golfer who donated $1 million to the construction of the center, which is an extension of the JCMC.

At 8 p.m., there will be screenings of short films at Middle School 4, 107 Bright St.

P.J. Leonard, of Jersey City, widely recognized for his work "The Immaculate Misconception," helped six young producers create the short films that will be viewed. They include "The Alaskan Bass" by Elise Leonard, P.J.'s niece, which tells the story of a husband who finds out his wife has breast cancer.

The MFL Foundation is a nonprofit organization that seeks to make cancer tests and screenings available for those who cannot afford them. LoRe, a Bayonne native, has beaten both ovarian and breast cancer, and attributes that to early detection.

The exhibition is expected to draw Kerr and another celebrity, Tom Felice, from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."

Federico Castelluccio, Frances Esemplare and Joe Perrino, cast members of the HBO hit "The Sopranos," are featured in one of the short films along with local stars Alex Corrado and Paul Dunlevy.

Jersey City Police Department spokesman Lt. Edgar Martinez has a role in the short film "Substance of Fire."

GEM JEFFERSON