FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.7.0_b147-icedtea"
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (fedora-2.1.fc17.1-i386)
OpenJDK Server VM (build 22.0-b10, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Linux 3.3.2-8.fc17.i686.PAE #1 SMP i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux


A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Running "Java Image Editor" (freeware from URL below)
http://www.jhlabs.com/ie/ImageEditor.jar
works fine until the application loads and you select File->Open from the menus to open a file.

When you get the file requester and select a JPG file to open, and click Open, you get the following error:

$ java -jar ./ImageEditor.jar


May 02, 2012 2:58:17 AM it.tidalwave.imageio.util.Logger info
INFO: Installing RAWProcessor...
May 02, 2012 2:58:17 AM it.tidalwave.imageio.util.Logger info
INFO: Installed RAWProcessor
RAWProcessor succesfully installed
Exception in thread "Thread-7" java.lang.NullPointerException
	at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer.setFileInternal(GtkFileDialogPeer.java:79)
	at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer.run(Native Method)
	at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer.showNativeDialog(GtkFileDialogPeer.java:166)
	at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer.access$000(GtkFileDialogPeer.java:39)
	at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer$1.run(GtkFileDialogPeer.java:108)


REGRESSION.  Last worked in version 7

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Load the app, select File-Open, on the GTK file requester select a .jpg file, any file, click the button to load.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Load the bitmap for editing
ACTUAL -
Exception in thread "Thread-7" java.lang.NullPointerException
at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer.setFileInternal(GtkFileDialogPeer.java:79)

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
$ java -jar ./ImageEditor.jar

May 02, 2012 2:58:17 AM it.tidalwave.imageio.util.Logger info
INFO: Installing RAWProcessor...
May 02, 2012 2:58:17 AM it.tidalwave.imageio.util.Logger info
INFO: Installed RAWProcessor
RAWProcessor succesfully installed
Exception in thread "Thread-7" java.lang.NullPointerException
at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer.setFileInternal(GtkFileDialogPeer.java:79)
at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer.run(Native Method)
at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer.showNativeDialog(GtkFileDialogPeer.java:166)
at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer.access$000(GtkFileDialogPeer.java:39)
	at sun.awt.X11.GtkFileDialogPeer$1.run(GtkFileDialogPeer.java:108)


REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
  Program works fine with the JRE 7 from the Sun/Oracle page.