The Hamptons International Film Festival, in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, presents staged readings of two featured screenplays from their annual screenwriters lab.  In the romantic comedy CHARM SCHOOL FOR PRIMATES, by Karen Odyniec a lovelorn primatologist with acute social anxiety must present her ape research to a board of executives and defeat brilliant, socially adept scientists to win a coveted research grant. Under the merciless scrutiny of a top presentation coach, she learns the art of public speaking and takes on the demons that threaten to crush her mired career and love life.  The historical drama THE TRANSFORMATION, by Kirk Davis and Sam Sloves, is based on the true story of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis, an innovative Hungarian physician makes a radical discovery of the cause and cure of Childbed Fever, a disease killing thousands of poor pregnant women in the hospitals of 19th Century Europe. As he fights against the many medical setbacks in the prevention of the disease itself, he must also combat the prejudice, scientific hubris, political repression, and superstitions of his day.

Casting Director Amy Devra Gossels has assembled a stellar cast to bring these screenplays to life,  including John Ventimiglia ("Sopranos"),  Chris Bauer (HBO's "The Wire" and "True Blood"),  Amy Carlson ("Third Watch" and "Law & Order"), Jayce Bartok ("Station Agent" and "Cake Eaters")  Ross Partridge ("Baghead"), Robert Hogan ("Law & Order") and Annika Peterson ("Tanner Hall").