Poker Mockumentary to debut at Film Festival

by Sarah Polson

The Grand, a poker mockumentary by
Zak Penn, has been chosen to screen
in the Tribeca Film Festival's Spotlight
category. The movie will be shown
during the festival's run April 25 - May 6.

The Spotlight category showcases
out-of-competition movies that feature
high-profile cast members, filmmakers
and subject matter.

The Grand certainly fits two out of three
of those features. Its cast is made up of
a laundry list of stars such as Ray Romano,
Jason Alexander, David Cross, Shannon
Elizabeth, Dennis Farina, Woody Harrelson,
Cheryl Hines, Richard Kind and more.

Several professional poker players also
put in appearances in the film:
Doyle Brunson, Phil Gordon, Phil Hellmuth
and more will show off their poker skills.

The Grand is a comedy set against a poker
tournament, a subject that is quite topical
considering the poker boom over the past
few years.

Penn directed the movie from a screenplay
outline and allowed the actors to improvise
most of their dialogue as they play real poker
on their way to the championship round of
a pretend international tournament.

A theater release date hasn't been set
yet for the movie.

2006 WPT Canadian Open

We will Finally get a chance to watch
last years World Poker Tour: Canadian Open
which took place at Niagara Fallsview Casino
last fall.

It will be airing Friday, March 30th at
8:00pm ET / PT on Citytv.

Catch an encore presentation on Saturday,
March 31st at 3:00pm ET / PT on
Citytv Toronto & Vancouver
and/or 2:00pm MT / CT on Citytv
Calgary, Edmonton & Winnipeg.

Ladies Pro Tour Begins !

by Erin Warner

The Ladies Professional Poker Tour
is making its first stop at the Bicycle
Casino, where one woman will compete
for free just by registering for the
Ladies Poker Association (LPA).
The group is paying the $500+$50 buy-in
to its March 18 ladies event at the casino's
Winnin O' the Green tournament.

All you have to do is sign up via
ladiespokerassociation.com and
await a possible congratulatory e-mail.
The first tour date will be streamed
live online at pokernet.com and the
association's Web site.

Other LPA events include a regular
ladies-only tournament the first Sunday
of each month at 2:15 p.m. at the Bike.
Buy-in is $100+$25, which will earn the
tournament winner paid entry to the
women's $1,000 event at the casino's
Legends Series Aug. 18-19.

Other stops on the tour in the coming
months include events at Bay 101 in
San Jose, Hawaiian Gardens Casino
in the L.A. area, the Wildhorse Resort
and Casino in Pendleton, Ore., and
Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The tour is designed to promote higher
levels of competition and bigger prize
pools for female poker players.