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 May 6, 2008 LAFF '08 | Universal Pics "Wanted and "Hellboy II" Bookend Los Angeles Fest in June
Universal Pictures' "Wanted" by Timur Bekmambetov will open the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival June 19 in Westwood, organizers announced Tuesday. Based upon Mark Millar's graphic novel series the film tells the story of one apathetic nobody's transformation into an unparalleled enforcer of justice. Closing the festival, which is organized by Film Independent, is writer/director Guillermo del Toro's "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" also from Universal on June 29. Sundance 2008 doc "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" will screen as the Centerpiece June 26 at the Ford Amphitheater in a program that will include live musical performances and "special guests." "I am proud of the festival's on-going growth within the community, and pleased that we continue to attract world-class filmmakers like Guillermo Del Toro and Timur Bekmambetov," said festival director Rich Raddon in a statement. "The Los Angeles Film Festival celebrates the best in filmmaking as well as discovering new voices from around the world." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, Lineups, Los Angeles Film Festival ] July 2, 2007 LAFF '07 | International Stories, Some Set in the U.S., Find Audiences at L.A. Film Fest
"People in this town are coming to realize that Los Angeles needs a world class film festival," proclaimed Rich Raddon, a former film producer who has lead Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival since 1999 when it was still known as the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. "We need it in our backyards," he added, thanking attendees and touting the event during Thursday's Spirit of Independence event in Westwood. Of course, the 10-day festival isn't the only international festival in Los Angeles, LAFF shares that stature with AFI FEST, the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival in autumn as well as Outfest, opening later this month. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  iW NEWS | "Owl" and "Resolved" Win Audience Prizes at LA Fest
The Los Angeles Film Festival came to a close on Sunday night in West L.A. with a screening of Danny Boyle's upcoming, "Sunshine." Prior to the showing, festival organizers announced that Stephane Gauger's "The Owl and the Sparrow" (narrative) and Greg Whiteley's "Resolved" (documentary) won the festival's top audience prizes. Stephen Walker's "Young @ Heart" won the audience award for the best international feature at the 2007 LAFF. indieWIRE will publish a festival wrap up on Monday; for more coverage, visit indieWIRE's special section from the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival.  [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 29, 2007  LAFF '07 | Eastwood and Hoffman at Spirit of Independence Awards
Actor Dustin Hoffman (right) was among the star-studded group of celebs (including Ryan Phillipe and Kevin Bacon) who saluted the festival's Spirit of Independence recipient Clint Eastwood. While Hoffman ribbed Eastwood for failing to cast Jewish actors in his films, naming Ben Stiller, Barbara Streisand, and others. On a more serious note, FIND's Dawn Hudson praised Eastwood as, "A great filmmaker who has followed his own path and tells his own unique stories." [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '07 | Tony Bennett and Ted Sarandos at Spirit of Independence Awards
Singer and painter Tony Bennett, subject of a new documentary produced by Clint Eastwood, presented Eastwood with his Spirit of Independence Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Bennett is pictured with Netflix/Red Envelope's Ted Sarandos, which is backing the documentary. Sarandos told indieWIRE that the film, which looks at Bennett's career spanning multiple eras of American music, will be finished this fall. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '07 | Rich and Dawn at Spirit of Independence Awards
Calling the Los Angeles Film Festival, "a dream that's coming true," festival director Rich Raddon (pictured with Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson at the Spirit of Independence event) enthused on stage at the growth of the event. saying, "People in this town are coming to realize that Los Angeles needs a world class film festival...we need it in our backyards." The festival concludes on Sunday, July 1st with a screening of Danny Boyle's "Sunshine." [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '07 | And the Narrative Winner is...
Target Filmmaker Award winner Chris Eska ("August Evening," center) with producer Jason Wheling (left) and Magnolia's Tom Quinn, who served on the narrative feature jury. Quinn noted that, while it wasn't announced during the ceremony, the jury awarded a special mention to the ensemble cast of the film for their work. On stage during the program, Eska thanked Maya Releasing, Moctesuma Esparza's company which announced a deal for the film earlier this week at the Los Angeles Film Festival. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '07 | "Billy the Kid" Wins the Doc Prize
At the Los Angeles Film Festival's Spirit of Independence event at the Hammer Museum, Target Documentary Award winner Jennifer Venditti, director of "Billy The Kid" is pictured with John Larson from the Directors Guild of America. As a child, she noted that she was obsessed with people watching and "seeing cinema all around me." She added, "thank you for seeing what I saw in this film." And she thanked Target where, as a kid growing up in Minnesota, she said she bought Gloria Vanderilt Jeans and stuck a comb in the back pocket when going to the roler skating rink. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 28, 2007iW NEWS | "August Evening" and "Billy The Kid" Win in L.A.
At the Los Angeles Film Festival, Chris Eska's narrative feature "August Evening" and Jennifer Venditti's documentary "Billy the Kid" won the jury prizes on Thursday night. The cash awards, $50,000 each provided by Target, were presented during a ceremony at the Hammer Museum in Westwood. Director, actor, and composter Clint Eastwood received the Spirit of Independence Award at the festival as the event heads into its final weekend. Audience awards will be presented on Sunday night prior to the closing night screening of Danny Boyle's "Sunshine." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Honors, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '07 CRITICS NOTEBOOK 2 | Mixing Politics and Religion with the Usual Ups and Downs
Programming world premieres at a large festival that runs post-Sundance cannot be easy. I am constantly impressed, however, by the skills of programmers at SXSW and Tribeca for finding good films that have yet to play on the festival circuit. But it is particularly hard for the Los Angeles Film Festival, which takes place last in that circuit of four. That being said, programmers Rachel Rosen and Doug Jones have done an admirable job this year coming up with brand new documentaries and narratives. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festivals, Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival ] iW NEWS | Arthouse Goes to "Cool School"
Arthouse Films has announced its acquisition of worldwide rights to Morgan Neville's "The Cool School," debuting in the documentary competition this week at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The story of L.A.'s influential Ferus Gallery which, from 1957 - 1968, nutured artists such as Ed Kienholz, Ed Ruscha, Craig Kauffman, Wallace Berman, Ed Moses and Robert Irwin, the film is narrated by Jeff Bridges and will be released in theaters early next year and will also air nationally on PBS' Independent Lens. The deal was negotiated by David Koh from Arthouse Films and Lilly Bright from Curiously Bright Entertainment along with Julie Goldman of Cactus Three on behalf of the filmmakers and producers. "We love this documentary about the little known Los Angeles art scene and are proud to distribute the film through our Arthouse Films label," said Koh and Bright in a statement. "We want to be the label of choice for arts, cultural, and music documentaries. We are excited to work with the filmmakers on the release of their film." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '07 | Who Let the Blogs Out?
Personality-driven industry blogs have emerged as a key source of news, information and gossip delivering a steady stream of content throughout the day. "Bloggers never really stop working," noted Sasha Stone (far right), from the recently renamed Oscar-tracking site AwardsDaily.com (AMPAS clamped down on her previous URL, OscarWatch.com). Chatting poolside at the W Hotel alongside bloggers Jeffrey Wells (center left) of Hollywood-Elsewhere.com, Kate Coe (center right) from MediaBistro's Fishbowl LA, and Variety blogger Anne Thompson (far left) of Thompson on Hollywood, the group bemoaned the absence on the panel of often bitter rival bloggers like Nikki Finke from DeadlineHollywood Daily.com and David Poland of TheHotBlog.com and eventually looked ahead to the next 10 years of entertainment reporting and commentary online. Looking ahead ten years, Deputy Editor of Variety.com Anne Thompson declared, "There won't be any newspapers," while Jeff Wells added, "I just don't know how newspapers are going to survive," and Kate Coe concluded, "I think everything is going to be Twitter," touting the rise of citizen journlism being bigger than ever. [Eugene Hernandez] [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '07 | Fest Friends
One of the fest encounters that those involved with two Los Angeles Film Festival competition docs were excited about earlier this week was the meeting of Billy Price-Baker from Jennifer Venditti's "Billy The Kid" and Ron Holiday from Harris Fishman's "Cat Dancers." Billy later posed with director Spike Jonze after a screening, but he was particularly excited to meet Holiday after seeing the film at SXSW, where both films debuted in March. "Billy The Kid" is screening again today (Thursday) at LAFF, while "Cat Dancers" will be shown again on Sunday. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 27, 2007 iW PROFILE | Introducing Scott Prendergast
Remembering a phone call from Lisa Kudrow that jumpstarted his first feature, "Kabluey," director Scott Prendergast noted that he was flustered and began stammering when the popular actress contaced him about the project. "She called me and I started hyperventilating," Prendergast said Monday during a post-screening Q & A at the Los Angeles Film Festival after his film's world premiere. "And then I realized I was standing in my driveway in boxers with nothing else on." Laughing near Prendergast at the Q & A, Kudrow added, "And the reason why I was calling was to make sure he was not crazy!" [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival, Profiles ]  LAFF '07 | At the "Joshua" Centerpiece
Fox Searchlight hosted a small after-party for George Ratliff's "Joshua," which screened as a Centerpiece premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival Tuesday evening. The film, starring Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga and newcomer Jacob Kogan is a psychological thriller in which young Joshua (Kogan) devises the perfect plan to annihilate his young successful parents. Though there were good heapings of gasps from the audience during the screening, burst-out-loud laughter also could be heard throughout the cinema. "We felt like there's an anxiety between nervousness and laughter that we wanted to mine," said Ratliff (who co-wrote with David Gilbert) during a post-screening Q&A. "When my first son was born, I knew he was a good kid, but I couldn't help but think how scary it would be if you just had a bad kid for no reason." Kogan, who turned 11 when the film began shooting last year, said he saw another bad kid in a film which gave him inspiration for "Joshua." "A few weeks before the shoot, I saw 'The Good Son' with Macaulay Culkin. Both [characters] are very similar..." Pictured with Kogan is a playful Sam Rockwell as well as Ratliff and Fox Searchlight chief Peter Rice (far right) in LA's Westwood neighborhood. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 26, 2007 LAFF '07 CRITICS NOTEBOOK | Mingling the Trashy and the Pop & Going High Profile
With two midnight sections and horror films for both the centerpiece and closing night selections, the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival certainly loves its genre film. Cleverly placing the more serious, truly terrifying films in the festival's "Dark Wave" section and the trashier, pure pop sensations in "Guilty Pleasures," LAFF has, as they do with much of their other programming, declared their devotion to both the entertaining and artistic side of filmmaking. With George Ratliff's "Joshua" and Danny Boyle's "Sunshine" at play in the larger slots, it becomes clear that the two can blend nicely. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival, Reviews ] iW NEWS | Maya Acquires "August" at LA Film Fest
Chris Eska's first feature "August Evening" has been acquired by Moctesuma Esparza's upstart distribution company Maya Entertainment, in a deal signed after the film's debut this week at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The LAFF competition title is the story of an undocumented worker and his widowed daughter-in-law dealing with a tragedy. "We're excited to launch our distribution division with a beautiful film like 'August Evening'," said Esparza, compay co-chairman and CEO, in a statement. "We're confident it will satisfy both traditional art house audiences and break through to the mainstream Latino market, achieving both critical and financial success." Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films negotiated the deal on behalf of the film's producer with Moctesuma Esparza and Jose Martinez, Jr. from Maya. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 25, 2007 IN LOS ANGELES | West as Crash
Outside the Mann Festival Theater on Monday night, actor Shane West (pictured in white) poses for a photo following a Los Angeles Film Festival screening of Rodger Grossman's world premiere, "What We Do Is Secret." The story of infamous L.A. punk rocker Darby Crash of legendary band The Germs, Grossman's long-in-the-works project also stars Bijou Phillips (as Lorna Doom) who, along with West, sang Germs tunes for that film that were produced by former band member Pat Smear, later known for his work in Nirvana and Foo Fighters. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 24, 2007 IN LOS ANGELES | Buscemi's "Interview"
Saturday night after the Los Angeles Film Festival screening of "Interview," actor/director Steve Buscemi (center) joined friend Rob Schneider(to his left), the film's producer Bruce Weiss and co-writer David Schechter at Beverly Hills restaurant Camden House for a soiree celebrating the Sony Pictures Classics release. The sharp, funny story of a tug-of-war interview between a seasoned war correspondent (Buscemi) and a pretty young TV/B-movie actress (Sienna Miller) is a remake of the Theo Van Gogh film. Part of a trio of low-budget projects that Weiss had hoped to remake with Van Gogh working in English are all being directed by American actors. Buscemi's "Interview" (which debuted at Sundance) is the first of the series, with Stanley Tucci's "Blind Date" next up (aiming for an early '07 festival debut). The third film, producer Weiss told indieWIRE, will be "1-900" directed by John Turturro, in producton this year and aiming for a fest debut about a year from now. [Eugene Hernandez] [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  IN LOS ANGELES | "Made in L.A." Stirs Fest
Maura Colorado, Lupe Hernandez, and Maria Pineda (left to right), subjects of "Made in LA," a new documentary about three Latina immigrants fighting against unfair wages and work conditions in the Los Angeles garment industry, were on hand for Saturday's emotional free community screening of the film at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Fresh from a world premiere at the recent Silverdocs festival in Maryland, the film stirred a standing ovation for the activists who battled apparel company Forever 21 for three years. Director, producer and cinematographer Almundena Carracedo and producer Robert Behar spent some four years funding the film with money from personal donors before securing financing from PBS' POV doc series. The film will air on television nationally the day after Labor Day -- Tuesday, September 4th -- with bilingual subtitles. [Eugene Hernandez] [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 13, 2007iW NEWS | "Joshua" a Centerpiece at Upcoming LAFF
George Ratliff's Fox Searchlight feature "Joshua" will screen as the Centerpiece at the upcoming Los Angeles Film Festival on June 26. The event, taking place June 21 - July 1, describes the film as a "smart, bone-chilling psychological thriller about an upscale American family faced with an inner source of horror." The film stars Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga, Celia Weston, Dallas Roberts, Michael McKean and Jacob Kogan. Kasi Lemmons' "Talk to Me" will open the festival later this month. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, Los Angeles Film Festival ] May 11, 2007iW NEWS | U.S. Rights to "Ira & Abby" Go to Magnolia Pictures
U.S. rights to Robert Cary's romantic comedy "Ira & Abby," written by and starring Jennifer Westfeldthave been acquired by Magnolia Pictures, the company announced Friday. Magnolia's Head of Acquisitions, Tom Quinn and Head of Business Affairs, Jason Janego negotiated the deal with Rena Ronson and Phil Alberstat of William Morris Independent and producer Brad Zions. Foreign sales will be handled at the Cannes Market by Odd Lot International. Chris Messina also stars, as a neurotic New Yorker with major issues. He is at a standstill, but this changes when he meets the free spirited Abby (Westfeldt) and the impossible happens: they fall in love, meet each other's parents and decide to get married, all in a few breathless hours. Multiple divorces, in-laws, affairs, exes, and many therapists later, the couple is forced to examine whether "I do" is the only path to life-long love and happiness. "It has been so gratifying for me to see how festival audiences have connected to this film," commented Westfeldt in a statement. "I feel so lucky that a smart, innovative company like Magnolia will give it a chance to be seen on a national scale." indieWIRE reported on the film last June at the Los Angeles Film Festival, where it won the festival's audience award. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Los Angeles Film Festival ] May 8, 2007 LA FILM FEST '07 | "Talk To Me" and "Sunshine" Bookend LA Fest; 19 Films Set for Competition
Kasi Lemmons' "Talk To Me" will open Film Independent's 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival on June 21st. The film, from Focus Features, stars Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson, Mike Epps, Martin Sheen and Film Independent's Board of Directors president Vondie Curtis Hall. It is described as "the funny, dramatic, and inspiring real-life story of Ralph Waldo 'Petey' Greene (Cheadle), an outspoken ex-con who talked his way into becoming an iconic radio personality in the 1960s in Washington, D.C. Lemmons, the secretary of FIND's board, is also married to actor Vondie Curtis Hall. The festival will close on July 1 with Danny Boyle's "Sunshine" starring Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis, Chris Evans, Troy Garity, Cillian Murphy, Hiroyuki Sanada, Mark Strong, Benedict Wong, and Michelle Yeoh. It is set fifty years in the future, when a crew of eight men and women are traveling into space to try and prevent the death of the sun. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival News, Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival ] July 13, 2006Lionsgate Gets "Deliver Us From Evil"
Lionsgate has announced its acquisition of Amy Berg's "Deliver Us From Evil," winner of the Target Documentary Award for best doc feature at the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival last month. A release this fall is planned. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Los Angeles Film Festival ] July 3, 2006 LA FILM FEST '06: "Ira," "Abby," and "Mario" Win in Audience Prizes; Fest Salutes "Sunshine" and "Quinceanera" On Closing Weekend
Boasting an attendance of more than 80,000 this year, Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival came to a close Sunday night at the Wadsworth Theater in West Los Angeles. On its final night, celeb presenter Christina Applegate announced two feature audience awards -- the fest-goers chose "Ira & Abby," written by (and co-starring) Jennifer Westfeldt and directed by Robert Cary, as the winner of the narrative audience award. The film, a true crowd-pleaser here in L.A. this year, marks Westfeldt's return to the festival following the successful launch of her first feature "Kissing Jessica Stein" here five years ago. The feature about modern relationships is still without distribution. "Mario's Story," by Jeff Werner and Susan Koch, won the audience award for best documentary at the festival and another documentary, "Paper Dolls" by Tomer Heymann from Israel, won the best international audience prize. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 30, 2006Fabian Bielinsky Dead at 47
Fabian Bielinsky, director of "Nine Queens" and "El Aura" has died, according to media reports. Reuters indicated in a report Thursday that the Argentine filmmaker died in Sao Paulo of a heart attack. His latest feature ("El Aura") is scheduled to screen at the Los Angeles Film Festival this weekend. [permalink] [ filed under Los Angeles Film Festival, People ]  LA FILM FEST '06: Can Films Save The World? Talking "Chalk" and "Getting Down" In L.A.
Asked to answer the title question during a Los Angeles Film Festival poolside chat earlier this week -- Can Films Save The World? -- "Paradise Now" director Hany Abu-Assad said flatly, "no." Leading off the discussion by dismissing its concept altogether, the filmmaker added, "I didn't make the film to change anybody, or any thoughts," Hany Abu-Assad explained during the panel discussion. The only reason I (make) films is because I am curious to know things that you can't experience in reality. I don't think I am doing things to change...if film will change, it will change for the worse." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  Roth, Dentler and Happy Hour
Filmmaker Eli Roth ("Hostel") and SXSW Film Festival producer Matt Dentler (right) take part in afternoon cocktails in the Target Red Room in Westwood for LAFF, currently underway through Sunday. The space, which also has free wireless (which has become our de facto office) has Absolut drinks served from 6pm - 12am, attracting festival attendees looking for a bit of a wind down. And with cool people like Dentler and Roth hanging around, what else could be better? [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 29, 2006 Theron, Hudson and Harrelson Take a Bow
Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson, Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron and Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson at the Spirit of Independence ceremony Wednesday night at the W Hotel, which honored Theron for her achievement in the biz. Hudson explained that the honor was not a "career achievement award," but instead, a prize recognizing work and to encourage the honoree to "go out and do more." Harrelson presented the award, following an onstage interview with Theron moderated by NPR's Elvis Mitchell. Film Independent organizes the annual Los Angeles Film Festival, which presented jury awards to Steve Collins' "Gretchen" and Amy Berg's doc "Deliver Us From Evil." [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LA FILM FEST '06: "Gretchen" and "Deliver Us From Evil" Win Big Award$ in L.A.
Cash prizes totaling a whopping $100,000 were doled out to a pair of grateful filmmakers here at the Los Angeles Film Festival on Wednesday night. Steve Collins won the $50,000 cash Target Filmmaker Award for his first feature film, "Gretchen," while the Target Documentary Award, which also included an unrestricted $50,000 cash prize, went to Amy Berg for her new doc, "Deliver Us From Evil." While additional awards are still to be announced on the festival's closing night, Wednesday's ceremony presented perhaps the most coveted cash prizes on the American film festival circuit. At the classy outdoor event, held at the W Hotel in Westwood, Charlize Theron was also in the spotlight, receiving the festival's Spirit of Independence Award. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 28, 2006 Harrison Ford and the Filmmakers
Hollywood gave a thumbs up to the indies at the filmmakers' reception at the W Hotel Tuesday. Actor Harrison Ford gave a short but sweet speech poolside to the Los Angeles Film Festival's participating directors who greeted him excitedly. Ford encouraged the filmmakers to think outside the box, saying, "conventional wisdom produces conventional movies, and that's about the last thing we need more of right now." Ford is serving as one of four honorary co-chairs at this year's festival. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  Goldwater at LAFF
Former HBO exec Julie Anderson (right) took on a doc with her latest effort, "Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater," which is having its LA premiere at LAFF. Joining Anderson are the film's producers Tani Cohen and CC Goldwater (left), granddaughter of the subject, Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  "Undoing" in the Red Room
In the festival's Red Room, decorated in Target red and white, the team from "Undoing" gather for a shot. Joining the photo are director Chris Chan Lee (center), actor/producer Sung Kang (left), associate producer Cynthia Hong (right) and producer Karin Chien. Their film, which is set in Los Angeles' Koreatown neighborhood, is having its world debut at LAFF. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  By the Pool Waiting for Harrison
Hanging out poolside at the W Hotel in Westwood waiting for Harrison Ford at the Filmmaker's Reception at LAFF, Ben Piety (director), Scott Uhfelder (DP) and producer Jon Jones. The trio are attending the festival with their music video "Stickin' Around" by Heathens. They also recently relocated to LA. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LA FILM FEST '06: Words of Wisdom From Harrison Ford; "Beyond Conviction"; and Are Costumes Fashion?
Hollywood was again in the spotlight at the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival Monday night in Southern California. Big-time director George Lucas welcomed festival filmmakers to Skywalker Ranch last week for the pre-fest retreat, and on Monday Han Solo himself joined participants for the annual Filmmaker Reception. While actor Harrison Ford, one of this year's honorary co-chairs at the LA Film Fest, didn't seem to spend too much time meeting and greeting filmmakers at Monday's L.A. Film Fest party at the W Hotel in Westwood, he did take the stage to leave attendees with a few words of wisdom (most of which are included below). The much-appreciated remarks were received a bit like a commencement address to the L.A. Film Festival's 'Class of 2006'. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 27, 2006 LA FILM FESTIVAL '06: Westfeldt Back at LA Film Fest, With "Ira and Abby"; And Linklater Chats
Five years after finding success at the Los Angeles Film Festival with "Kissing Jessica Stein," where the film won the audience award and was subsequently acquired by Fox Searchlight, writer and actress Jennifer Westfeldt returned to the fest with her latest film, "Ira and Abby." Westfeldt again wrote and starred in the feature (and again she partnered with producer Brad Zions). Directed by Robert Cary, the new film was met with a large crowd and a warm response at its second screening here Monday afternoon. Insiders have tipped the crowd-pleaser as the LA Film Fest movie most likely to score a distribution deal here. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  Raddon and Brown Do SAGIndie
Socializing at the SAGIndie party in Westwood Sunday afternoon, Los Angeles Film Festival director Rich Raddon takes in a chat with producer Effie Brown ("Everyday People"). [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  "Islander" Brings on the Lobster
The folks from Los Angeles Film Festival film "Islander" threw quite an afternoon bash Sunday ahead of the screening for their film in Westwood. New England lobster was on the menu including the one pictured here held by star/co-writer/producer Thomas Hildreth. Also joining in on the photo were co-writer/director Ian McCrudden and "Islander" star Amy Jo Johnson. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  SAGIndie Throws a Bash
Line up, it's photo call time! Outside Tengu restaurant in Westwood for the SAGIndie party, actors Elliott Gould, Debi Mazar ("Entourage"), Jason Lee ("Clerks II"), Ilyanne Kichaven (Hollywood executive director at SAG), Paul Bales (SagIndie executive director) and actor Eddie Izzard ("Ocean's Twelve"). [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 26, 2006 LA FILM FESTIVAL '06: "Prada" Opening, Lucas Hosts Filmmakers, Gore on "Green Day" and More
The Los Angeles Film Festival got off to a glamorous start Thursday night with the L.A. premiere of David Frankel's "The Devil Wears Prada" in the heart of the event's new neighborhood, Westwood Village. Though the Fox release is clearly Hollywood fare (with a cast that includes such boldfaced names as Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Adrian Grenier), an informal iW poll of some attendees after the packed screening generally gave positive kudos to the film, and to actress Streep in particular for her portrayal of the steely Miranda Priestly. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 25, 2006 Adrian Grenier at LAFF Premiere
"I feel like I'm in an episode of 'Entourage,'" said one indie producer after seeing Adrian Grenier at the after party for "The Devil Wears Prada," which opened the Los Angeles Film Festival Thursday. Grenier, who stars in the film, was very Vincent-esque as he posed for photos and chatted with fans and press. Actually, he was very friendly, though we remember him most fondly from a few years ago at the Woodstock Film Festival where he and a friend took full advantage of a pool at a party. Not a bad sight to behold... [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  Ozon, Posey, Araki and Hu Do Westwood
We ran into a rather cool crowd while exiting the Mann Village theater in Westwood Thursday night following the Los Angeles Film Festival's opening night screening of "The Devil Wears Prada." Strand Releasing co-president Marcus Hu (right) took us over to meet French filmmaker Francois Ozon (left) who was hanging out with actress Paker Posey and fellow director Gregg Araki. Ozon is attending LAFF with his latest, "Time to Leave," which Strand is releasing in the U.S. July 14th. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  Hangin' at the "Prada" Party
Filmmakers and industry mixed at the after party for LAFF's opening night film, "The Devil Wears Prada" (David Frankel) outdoors in Westwood Thursday night. Among the attendees were William Morris' Craig Kestel (who was also in the area the night before for the "Superman" premiere) and "Half Nelson" director Ryan Fleck and co-writer/editor/producer Anna Boden. Both Fleck and Boden touted LAFF's Filmmaker Retreat, which they attended prior to the fest's opening, which took place at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in Marin, CA. ThinkFilm opens "Half Nelson," which premiered in January at Sundance in August. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under L.A. Film Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 23, 2006LA TIMES: Hollywood's backyard bash
The Los Angeles FIlm Festival kicked off in LA last night, moving to Westwood for the first timed. "So many people in L.A. are, quite frankly, ground down by life in the industry," Film Independent exec director Dawn Hudson told the LA Times, in a fest preview article. "We want to remind them why they came here in the first place. We want to remind them that it was for a love of film." [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, Los Angeles Film Festival ] May 30, 2006 "The Devil Wears Prada" to Kick Off 2006 Los Angeles Film Fest; Complete Competition Lineups Also Announced
The 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival, running June 22 - July 2, 2006, will open with David Frankel's "The Devil Wears Prada" and close with Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris's Little Miss Sunshine. Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland's Quinceanera will screen as a centerpiece premiere at the festival. "We are thrilled to be bringing another wonderful slate of films from around the U.S. and abroad to Los Angeles audiences," said Rachel Rosen, Director of Programming for Film Independent and the Los Angeles Film Festival, in a statement. "This year, the Festival has something for everyone from charming comedies to heartrending documentaries. Audiences will also have the chance to discuss the films they've seen with some of our visiting filmmakers and guests." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, Lineups, Los Angeles Film Festival ] April 13, 2006George Lucas to Serve as "Guest Director" at 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival
George Lucas will serve as the guest director for the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival, taking place Westwood Village from Thursday, June 22, through Sunday, July 2, Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson announced Wednesday evening. As guest director, Lucas will create a special sidebar program of films for the festival, which will include a selection of movies that have inspired his work. In other LAFF news, the festival retreat will be hosted at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, in Northern California. "As a pioneer and innovator, George Lucas values the ideas, goals and artistry that Film Independent champions," said Hudson in a statement. "He is the ultimate independent filmmaker. His talent and his contributions to cinema make this year a true milestone for the Los Angeles Film Festival as a world-class event." [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, Los Angeles Film Festival ]
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