The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the exclusive Arizona premiere screening of “Numb,” starring Matthew Perry and Kevin Pollak on Tuesday, Aug. 28. There will be two screenings of the film at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. at Harkins Sedona Six Theatres.

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In this dark indie comedy, Perry stars as Hudson, a love-struck screenwriter suffering from acute depersonalization disorder-which makes chronic depression seem like a walk in the park by comparison. When Hudson falls for the girl of his dreams, he must put himself through every therapy imaginable to win her love. “We’ve been trying to get this film ever since its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival last spring in New York,” said Patrick Schweiss, the film festival’s director. “The film delivers powerful messages in often humorous ways and is packed with outstanding performances from Matthew Perry, Kevin Pollak and Mary Steenburgen.” Harris Goldberg makes his feature directorial debut with this very personal, autobiographical film about a screenwriter (Hudson, played by Perry) falling in love in the midst of a psychological crisis. Thirty-five-year-old Hudson is making it in Hollywood —sort of —until the day everything changes.

Although he has a hard time describing it to his writing partner Tom (Pollak), or any of the numerous shrinks he visits, nothing feels “real” anymore. By the time he figures out that he’s suffering from acute depersonalization disorder, Hudson is so isolated and alienated that it seems like nothing will break through his shell. Until, in a nearly ill-fated pitch meeting, he discovers Sarah (Lynn Collins), the woman of his dreams.

Though Sarah tries everything to help Hudson, he doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Meanwhile, he visits a rotating roster of psychologists who give him one drug cocktail after another, while he maintains his self-prescribed therapy: mainly the Golf Channel, with a spinning class or two. He knows Sarah can save him; she knows he has to save himself.

As this smart commentary on our over-analyzed, over-medicated, self-improvement age unfolds, Goldberg unflinchingly depicts the sometimes funny, sometimes melancholy contradiction of trying to “make it” in Hollywood—and in love—while falling apart on the inside. As Hudson stands on a Los Angeles street corner at 4:45 a.m. (his favorite time of day because there is no one else around), he starts to seem less like a psychological abnormality, and increasingly like a character whose fears and neuroses are more universal than one might have thought.

“Numb” director Goldberg will be here for the premiere to introduce the film and host a Q&A discussion following the screening. Producer Mary Aloe will also be here. In addition, Matthew Perry and Kevin Pollak have been invited to attend and may make an appearance. The film will be shown at Harkins Sedona Six Theatres on Tuesday, Aug. 28 at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, or $8 for Film Sedona members, and will be available at 5:00 p.m. in the Harkins lobby. Cash or checks only. Seats are limited. Film Sedona members can purchase tickets in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office, 45 Sunset Drive, or by calling 282-1177. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.com or call 282-1177.