LOS ANGELES (May 31, 2006) – Film Independent announced today the full program line-up for the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival (Thursday, June 22 – Sunday, July 2), including the Opening Night film, the Centerpiece Premiere, and the Closing Night film.
As previously announced, lauded filmmaker George Lucas will serve as Guest Director for the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival. In this role, Lucas will host a two-day Filmmaker Retreat at Skywalker Ranch, and he has also programmed a sidebar of films that have inspired his work.
"Audiences will have access to the wide array of daring and independent films which we are honored to champion at this year's festival," said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent. "In addition, the filmmakers will have access to all that Los Angeles has to offer: a sophisticated arts community, an appreciation for new and original voices, and dedicated filmgoers as diverse as the films themselves."
"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. "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."
"We are excited to showcase this year's fantastic line-up of films in Westwood Village," said Festival Director Rich Raddon. "With eleven historic theaters dozens of shops and eateries scattered about the streets of the Village, guests will be able to experience the films and our extraordinary panels and events in what we expect to be a truly festive community atmosphere."
David Frankel's The Devil Wears Prada (Twentieth Century Fox) will kick off the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival as the Opening Night film on Thursday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mann Village Theatre. Starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, Adrian Grenier, and Tracie Thoms, The Devil Wears Prada is based on the best-selling novel by Lauren Weisberger. In The Devil Wears Prada, aspiring writer Andrea (Hathaway) has just started a new job as assistant to the most powerful woman in fashion and all-around boss from hell, Miranda Priestly (Streep), Editor-in-Chief of Runway magazine. Earnest, naïve, and wearing sensible shoes, Andrea is completely unprepared for what lies ahead. Miranda turns out to be far worse than she could ever have imagined, and the "clackers" - impossibly thin young women whose impossibly high heels click, clack down the hallways—treat her with unmitigated scorn. But after a particularly brutal encounter with Miranda, Andrea decides to beat them all at their own game. However, success in the world of haute couture comes with a price, and soon Andrea realizes she may have sold her soul the day she put on her first pair of Jimmy Choos.
Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland's Quinceañera (Sony Pictures Classics) will screen as the Centerpiece Premiere on Friday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mann Festival Theatre. Starring Emily Rios, Chalo González, Jesse Garcia, David W. Ross, and Jason L. Wood, Quinceañera tells the story of Magdelena (Rios) who has been planning every detail of her quinceañera for months—the music, the dress, the floral arrangements, the stretch Hummer—every detail, that is, but one: her unexpected pregnancy. Rejected by her father, Magdelena moves in with her great uncle Tomas (González) and her cholo cousin Carlos (Garcia) in their small back house, nestled in the hills of Echo Park. Surrounded by the mementos of Tomas's vibrant life on Los Angeles's east side, the three find a haven from their problems, but only temporarily. Magdelena's fifteenth birthday is drawing near, as is her due date, and their new landlords, an affluent gay couple, are a bellwether of changes to the neighborhood. Quinceañera is a heartwarming celebration of family, time-honored traditions, and the irrepressible spirit of youth.
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris's Little Miss Sunshine (Fox Searchlight) will serve as the Closing Night film on Sunday, July 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Wadsworth Theatre. Starring Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, Abigail Breslin, and Paul Dano, the film marks the feature directorial debut of the Grammy Award-winning music video directing team. Little Miss Sunshine introduces audiences to the Hoovers, one of the most endearingly fractured families ever seen on motion picture screens. Together, the motley six-member family treks from Albuquerque to the Little Miss Sunshine pageant in Redondo Beach, California, to fulfill the deepest wish of 7-year-old Olive (Breslin), an ordinary little girl with big dreams. Along the way the family must deal with crushed dreams, heartbreaks, and a broken-down VW bus, leading up to the surreal Little Miss Sunshine competition itself. On their travels through this bizarrely funny landscape, the Hoovers learn to trust and support each other along the path of life, no matter what the challenge.
ABOUT THE 2006 LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL
Westwood Village is the new home of Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival, which runs from Thursday, June 22 – Sunday, July 2. In the expanded location, festival-goers will experience the best of American and international cinema, enjoying over 250 feature films and shorts, as well as Coffee Talks, Poolside Chats, and other special star-studded events. Westwood Village will showcase films and events among various venues, all within walking distance of each other, with ample, convenient parking and easy access to shopping and dining, setting the stage for the biggest festival yet.
Over the course of 10 days and 11 nights, the public is invited to take advantage of world premieres including both independent films and major studio releases, as well as tribute screenings, outdoor movies, celebrity-filled red carpets, and more. Screenings and special events will be held in Westwood at the following locations: James Bridges Theater in Melnitz Hall on the UCLA campus; Freud Playhouse and Little Theatre in MacGowan Hall on the UCLA campus; the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse; Mann Village Theatre; Landmark Regent Theatre; Italian Cultural Institute; Mann Festival Theatre; Hammer Museum; AMC Avco Center 4; the Majestic Crest Theatre; and the Wadsworth Theatre. Additional offsite event screenings will take place at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, the California Plaza/Grand Performances, and Laemmle Sunset 5.
The Los Angeles Times Media Center and the Target Red Room (filmmaker and press lounge) will be located at 10852 Lindbrook Drive. The Intel Tech Pavilion & Box Office will be located at 1087 Broxton Avenue.
Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival is presented by the Los Angeles Times and is supported by Premier Sponsors — In Style, Target, Pop Secret®, and Intel — and by Principal Sponsors — Eastman Kodak Company and Adobe. Special support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner and WireImage is the Official Photography Agency of Film Independent.
For the first time ever, the Los Angeles Film Festival is collecting and recycling old cell phones to raise funds for its educational programs and to reduce the risk that the hazardous materials in these phones end up in our landfills. With the donation of an old cell phone, festival-goers will receive $1 off admission to any film or event. The donated cell phones will be refurbished for use as emergency phones and given to battered women's shelters or responsibly recycled. Collection boxes will be conveniently located at the Intel Tech Pavilion & Box Office from June 22 – July 2.
Watch extensive coverage of the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival on FesTV, 24 hours a day on cable channel 75 in Santa Monica and 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. nightly on cable channel LA36 in Los Angeles.
For event information and tickets, call 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit lafilmfest.com. Passes and tickets are available now.
To view film trailers and exclusive coverage of this year's festival visit www.latimes.com/filmfest.
ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent, a non-profit membership organization for independent filmmakers, cultivates the careers of independent filmmakers, builds the audience for independent films, and increases diversity in the film industry. Film Independent provides its members with more than 250 annual events and screenings, along with professional advice, educational programs, affordable camera and equipment rentals, and discounts to hundreds of industry-related businesses.
Film Independent also offers Filmmaker Labs, giving filmmakers the opportunity to develop their projects, and Project:Involve, a mentorship and job placement program that pairs filmmakers from culturally diverse communities with film industry professionals. Film Independent produces the Independent Spirit Awards and Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international cinema. For more information, visit FilmIndependent.org.
FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAM
The 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen more than 265 films and music videos in 16 different sections. This year the Festival received more than 4,300 submissions from filmmakers around the world with the final selections representing several World, North American, and U.S. premieres. This represents an increase of 600 submitted films from the 2005 Festival.
Narrative Competition (8): This section is comprised of films, made by emerging U.S. filmmakers, that will compete for the Target Filmmaker Award. Funded by Target, the award carries a $50,000 unrestricted grant. The prize is determined by a panel of prestigious jurors. Films screened in this section also compete for the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature.
Documentary Competition (11): This section of films is dedicated to the best documentary film work of the year. The films compete for the Target Documentary Award, which carries a $50,000 unrestricted grant. The prize is determined by a panel of prestigious jurors. Films screened in this section also compete for the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature.
International Showcase (21): The International Showcase highlights the best in world cinema. Films screened in this section are eligible for the Audience Award for Best International Film.
Spotlight on Israeli Cinema (3):
Summer Previews (11): A sneak peek at this summer's upcoming independent film releases. Sponsored by Pop Secret®.
Dark Wave (5): Edgy films from around the world. For mature audiences.
Guilty Pleasures (4)
Special Event Screenings at the Ford Amphitheatre (6): These unique outdoor screenings are part of the 2006 Ford Amphitheatre Summer Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations.
Family-Friendly Screenings (4):
Tribute and Anniversary Screenings (5)
Free Screenings (9):
Special Screenings and Series (13)
o Shu Shuen – The Arch (1970) – Hong Kong
o Parviz Sayyad – The Mission (1983)
o Shin Sang-ok – My Mother and Her Guest (1961) – South Korea
o L.A. Noir: The City as Character – Illustrated lecture with authors Alain Silver and James Ursini
o Pitfall (1948), André de Toth
o All Tomorrow's Parties (2003), Yu Lik-wai – China/France
o Los Muertos (2004), Lisandro Alonso – Argentina/Netherlands/France/ Switzerland
o Waiting for Happiness (2002), Abderrahmane Sissako – Mauritania/France
Secret Screenings (3) – The most anticipated fall films will be pre-screened to a select audience of Festival passholders. Sponsored by Pop Secret®.
UCLA Award Winners – A showcase of selected 2006 UCLA Spotlight Award Winner’s short films.
Guest Director Selections (3): George Lucas
Artist In Residence Selections (3): Danger Mouse
Short Film Programs (38): Shorts are shown before features and as part of five short film programs. With their diverse and complex content, these films shine brilliantly. All short films, domestic and international, will compete for prizes in Narrative, Documentary, and Animation categories. The prizes are determined by a panel of prestigious jurors. An Audience Award for Best Short Film is also presented.
Future Filmmaker Showcase: High School Shorts (28): These two programs of shorts made by high school students from around the world feature work by the next generation of filmmakers.
Music Video Showcase (55): The Music Video Showcase consists of two programs. Eclectic Mix programs are a visual mix tape of this year's best independent music videos, with a few innovative major label artists thrown in for good measure. In addition, the Festival is showcasing the music videos of FatBoy Slim, whose repertoire includes a number of award-winning videos, such as Weapon of Choice, starring Christopher Walken.
Diversity EXPO: At the Diversity EXPO, filmmakers can meet with over 40 film companies and media organizations providing services and resources to filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. New, emerging, and established filmmakers interested in expanding their industry
and community contacts are encouraged to attend. Taking place at the Hammer Museum, the Diversity EXPO's relaxed setting is complemented with a live D.J., giveaways, food, and cocktails.
Festival Talks: These intimate conversations feature prominent industry figures on a variety of subjects ranging from the nature of film criticism to the recent boom in Latin American filmmaking. A series of Festival Talks, presented in cooperation with the Hammer Museum, are free to the public and include such speakers as writer/director Neil LaBute, film critic Kenneth Turan, indie favorite Monte Hellman, and artist/music producer Danger Mouse, among others. Additional Festival Talks are scheduled at the Italian Cultural Institute with novelist James Ellroy, and filmmakers William Friedkin and Richard Linklater.
Poolside Chats: Dangle your toes in the pool while listening to your favorite filmmakers, experts, and celebrities shoot the sunset breeze about all things cinema at our Poolside Chats. Hosted at the W Los Angeles - Westwood, this year's Chats will feature directors, costume designers, photographers, and actors, among others.
Coffee Talks: The Festival will also have its popular Coffee Talk series again this year on Sunday, June 25 at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, with informal conversations between prominent film professionals about their specific area of expertise. This year, Coffee Talks will feature actors, directors, writers, and composers.
Financing Conference: The Financing Conference, on Saturday, June 24 on the UCLA campus, is a day full of workshops and panels for both the novice and the seasoned producer. From a primer on film financing to detailed discussions on current trends in the domestic and foreign markets, this conference will provide first-hand information and advice from the experts. Producer Cathy Schulman — an Oscar® winner for Crash and a professor in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television — will deliver the Keynote Address. Sponsored by HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Surpin, Mayersohn & Edelstone, LLP, and DeWitt Stern Group.
The Revolution Will Be Digitized: Technology and Its Impact on Film: Filmmakers, media artists, journalists, industry, and technology experts gather to explore the ways in which digital technologies are changing filmmaking and film-viewing. This all-day event will include panels on the practical issues and opportunities that these new technologies offer the filmmaker both on the production and distribution end, as well as workshops and presentations on specific processes and equipment. Friday, June 23 on the UCLA campus. Sponsored by Intel, Canon U.S.A., MelroseMAC, and Moviola.
Kodak Speed Dating: This program directly connects Festival filmmakers with Industry heavyweights from all walks of the entertainment community. The mission is to create a casual atmosphere of accessibility through informative and intimate one-on-one meetings. Kodak Speed Dating is open to all filmmakers accepted into this year's Festival with Short, Narrative, Documentary, and International films, as well as Fellows in this year's Fast Track program. This event is not open to the public.
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For media inquiries regarding the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival, please contact Julie Siegel or Lagan Sebert at 310.432.1200. For more information about the Festival and to view the complete film line-up, please visit lafilmfest.com. To view film trailers and exclusive coverage of this year's festival visit www.latimes.com/filmfest.
