FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melanie Bates, Film Independent
Tel: 323.556.9338 or mbates@filmindependent.org

Ryan Collins, Ginsberg/Libby
Tel: 323 645 6800 or ryan.collins@ginsberglibby.com

 

WORLD PREMIERE OF ANDREW SLATER’S DOCUMENTARY ECHO IN THE CANYON
TO OPEN THE LA FILM FESTIVAL

PREMIERES SECTION, FUTURE FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE & INDIE PILOTS ANNOUNCED

LOS ANGELES (August 15, 2018) — Today the LA Film Festival, produced by Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that also produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, announced that the Opening Night Film is Andrew Slater’s Echo in the Canyon at the Ford Theatres. The World Premiere of the documentary, which features some of music’s biggest names reflecting on the sustained influence of Laurel Canyon’s historic music scene, will be followed by a live performance. Also announced today the Premieres section, the Future Filmmakers Showcase, the Music Video program and the Indie Pilot program.

“I’m so proud to be opening the Festival with a love song to Los Angeles via Andrew Slater’s Echo in the Canyon,” said Jennifer Cochis, Festival Director. “We are committed to showcasing documentaries, and premiering this work at the Ford Theatres to be followed by a live musical performance is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

 

Opening Night Film 

Thursday, September 20, the Ford Theatres

Echo in the Canyon, dir. Andrew Slater, USA, World Premiere

Echo in the Canyon is a look at how The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, and The Mamas & the Papas birthed the beginnings of the Laurel Canyon music scene and how the echo of these artists’ creations reverberated between each other and ultimately across the world with a timelessness that continues today. With appearances by Tom Petty, Brian Wilson, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Michelle Phillips, Jackson Browne, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Roger McGuinn, John Sebastian, Lou Adler, Jakob Dylan, Norah Jones, Beck, Regina Spektor, Cat Power, and others. The film was executive produced by Jakob Dylan.
 

Premieres (10)

World and US Premieres of fiction and documentary films featuring noteworthy talent.

• American Dreamer, dir. Derrick Borte, USA, World Premiere
• Ashes in the Snow, dir. Marius Markevicius, Lithuania/USA, World Premiere
• Brian Banks, dir. Tom Shadyac, USA, World Premiere
• The Chaperone, dir. Michael Engler, USA, World Premiere
• The Clovehitch Killer, dir. Duncan Skiles, USA, World Premiere
• Good Girls Get High, dir. Laura Terruso, USA, World Premiere
• Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl, dir. Amy Goldstein, USA, World Premiere
• Ride, dir. Jeremy Ungar, USA, World Premiere
• Tea With the Dames, dir. Roger Michell, UK, US Premiere
• We Have Always Lived in the Castle, dir. Stacie Passon, USA, US Premiere

 

Music Videos (21)

Celebrating the marriage of music and visuals in these groundbreaking works.

• Apartment, dir. Ellis Bahl, USA
• Art in Motion, dir. Hayk Matevosyan, USA, World Premiere
• Bones, dir. Hunter Brumfield, USA
• Camisa Al Reves, dir. Andrew Vasquez, USA
• Clutch, dir. Christopher Ripley, USA
• Dis Generation, dir. Hiro Murai, USA
• Dreams, dir. Elliott Sellers & Erik Ferguson, USA
• Found, dir. rubber.band, USA
• Half a Million, dir. Lamar + Nik, USA
• Hard World, dir. Mike Hollingsworth, USA
• Heart Attack, dir. Mimi Cave, USA
• Indie, dir. Angel Kristi Williams, USA
• I Want You, dir. NORTON, USA
• Land of the Fairies, dir. Amiel Kestenbaum, Israel
• Lost Angeles, dir. Evanston Moore, USA
• Loving is Easy, dir. Chris Ullens, United Kingdom
• My Way, dir. WATTS., USA
• Pleader, dir. Isaiah Seret, United Kingdom
• Side by Side, dir. Bohdan Zajcenko, Czech Republic
• Terraform, dir. Sil van der Woerd & Jorik Dozy, Spain
• True Love Waits, dir. Adi Halfin, Israel

 

Future Filmmakers Showcase: High School Shorts (15)

Made by incredibly accomplished high school filmmakers from across the country and globe, 43% of the short films in this diverse slate are directed by young women and 47% are directed by filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. Program sponsored by Time Warner Foundation. Additional support is provided by Lisa Argyros/Argyros Family Foundation and Employees Community Fund of Boeing, California, Jason Delane Lee and Yvonne Huff Lee | Lagralane Group, and Brenda Robinson.
 

Indie Pilots

In this section, each pilot stands on its own and navigates the full hour of an episodic show. Storytellers bring an independent sensibility to these original series.

• 2 Kawaii 4 Comfort, co-dirs., Luke Palmer, John Bickerstaff, USA
• 40 And Single, dir., Leila Djansi, USA/Ghana
• Mulligan, dir., Steve Parys, USA

 

Passes are on sale now and only Film Independent Members get early access and save up to 25% and gets you in to screenings and conversations (even after they sell out). General admission tickets to individual films go on sale to Film Independent Members beginning today and to the general public beginning Tuesday, August 21. Contact the Festival Box Office for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit lafilmfestival.com.

Venues for the 2018 Festival include the ArcLight Cinemas in Culver City, Hollywood and Santa Monica, as well as the new LMU Playa Vista Campus (opening this fall), the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, the Writers Guild Theater and the Ford Theatres.

 

PLEASE REFERENCE THE PROGRAMMING ADDENDUM (PDF) FOR FILM TITLES, SYNOPSES, CAST AND CREDITS.

Press materials can be found at filmindependent.org/press.

Press Credential Applications now open: filmindependent.org/press.

 

Online & Social Media

www.lafilmfestival.com

Facebook: facebook.com/LAFilmFestival | Twitter: @LAFilmFestival | Official event hashtag: #LAFilmFestival

 

ABOUT THE LA FILM FESTIVAL

The LA Film Festival is a key part of the exhibition arm of the nonprofit arts organization Film Independent. Showcasing new American and international cinema that embraces diversity, innovation and unique perspectives, the Festival produces one-of-a-kind events featuring critically acclaimed filmmakers, industry professionals and award-winning talent from Los Angeles and around the world. Presenting Media Sponsor is Los Angeles Times. Official Host Venue is ArcLight Cinemas. Platinum Sponsors are American Airlines, EFILM | Deluxe and HBO. The University Sponsor is Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television. Festival Supporters are Directors Guild of America, eTech Rentals, Kona Productions, TREETI and Visit Seattle. Festival Affiliates are 21st Century Fox Global Inclusion, ATK Audiotek, SAGindie and Writers Guild of America West. Additional support provided by National Endowment for the Arts. Stella Artois is the Official Beer. IMDbPro is the Official Industry Resource. CITI is the Official Credit Card. The LINE, NoMad Los Angeles and Freehand LA are the Official Hotel Partner.Essentia Water is the Official Water. Hillersden Estate Wines is the Official Wine. Getty Images is the Official Photographer.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Albina Oks, Director of Corporate Sponsorship, at aoks@filmindependent.org or 323.556.9352.

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