Arts & Culture

Paul Reubens, Quincy Jones, Jonathan Gold Host the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival

Cash for your car

Presented by the Los Angeles Times, Film Independent’s Los Angeles Film Festival will begin in the city on June 17 and will host events through June 27 in downtown Los Angeles, revolving around LA Live. The lineup of guests for this years event is will be lead by restaurant critic Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly and comedian/actor/writer Paul Reubens and iconic musician Quincy Jones.

The trio will serve as the Festival’s Artists in Residence and will each pick and introduce a film that has in some way inspired their careers. After the screening, a conversation discussing the film will also take place. Reubens chose Frank Capra’s “You Can’t Take It With You,” Gold chose “Udon” and Jones decided on Steven Spielberg’s “The Color Purple.”

“All of our incredible guest artists have evolved career paths rooted in an intense and fearless passion for their art.  It’s such a gift to the Festival to have them come and share their stories, influences, and inspirations with our audiences,” Festival Director Rebecca Yeldham stated in the press release.

For more information, including passes and ticketing, call 866.FILM.FEST (866-345-6337) or visit LAFilmFest.com

Los-Angeles-Film-Fest

The lineup of events, according to the press release, also includes:

Retro:

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Susan Seidelman – 25th Anniversary – Free Outdoor Screening at 7+Fig Plaza at Ernst & Young Plaza

Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Tim Burton – 25th Anniversary Family Screening

Summer Showcase:

Freakonomics, Heidi Ewing, Alex Gibney, Seth Gordon, Rachel Grady, Eugene Jarecki, Morgan Spurlock (Magnolia Pictures)

The Two Escobars, Jeff Zimbalist, Michael Zimbalist (ESPN Films) – Colombia/USA

Festival Conversations:

A Conversation with Ben Affleck – In the upcoming Boston crime drama “The Town,” Ben Affleck does triple duty: he co-wrote it, starred in it, and directed it. Join Affleck in a freewheeling conversation with Jeremy Renner, his co-star in The Town, about the challenges, triumphs, and sometimes curveballs, of his career.

An Evening with Sylvester Stallone – The multi-talented actor, director, screenwriter, and visual artist will reminisce on pivotal moments of his prolific artistic career and give us a sneak peek of his anticipated film The Expendables

Over the Top: An Evening with John Lithgow – John Lithgow’s riotous performance as the mad Italian scientist Dr. Emilio Lizardo in W.D. Richter’s wild 1984 sci-fi send up The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai puts the lie to the old truism that in screen acting, less is more. After the screening of each movie, the star will be on hand to explain the art of Acting Big. Moderated by Los Angeles Film Festival Artistic Director David Ansen.

The School of Corman – Hollywood legend Roger Corman was responsible for making some classic genre movies and also gave many of today’s great directors their first gig.  In addition to his hundreds of credits as a writer, director, producer, and actor, his career includes a stint as a successful distributor of independent and foreign films. Moderated by director Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential).

Seize the Power: A Marketing and (DIY)stribution Symposium: The Los Angeles Film Festival’s new signature event is produced in collaboration with filmmaker and author Jon Reiss (Think Outside the Box Office, Bomb It). You will hear from key players in the new marketing and distribution landscape, including: Scilla Andreen (Indieflix), Caitlin Boyle (Film Sprout), Ted Hope (This Is That Corporation), Peter Broderick (Paradigm Consulting), John Chang (Neoflix), Zak Forsman (Sabi Pictures), Nolan Gallagher (Gravitas Ventures), David Geertz (Biracy), Mynette Louie (Producer, Children of Invention), Bob Moczydlowsky (Topspin), Colleen Nystedt (MovieSet), Orly Ravid (The Film Collaborative), Lance Weiler (The Workbook Project), and many more.

Poolside Chats: The Poolside Chats at the JW Marriot Pool at L.A. LIVE bring together some of Los Angeles’ most interesting people to discuss their passion for cinema, the city, and everything in between.  Join us at our spectacular new location overlooking the downtown skyline, grab a cocktail, and listen to some great conversation.

Waiting for Superman: A Conversation on Education – In his documentary Waiting for Superman, director Davis Guggenheim offers a provocative and cogent examination of the crisis of public education in the United States told through multiple interlocking stories from students, families, educators and reformers.

The Power of the Tweet – In this age of Twitter, the line between private and public life is fast dissolving, bringing filmmakers closer to their fans as they tweet from the set and the road. by Ari Karpel (contributing writer, Los Angeles Times, New York Times).

Capturing L.A. – In spite of its elusive personality, L.A. has ignited imagination of many artists who have chronicled it through various genres and across different media.  Join us as we explore L.A.’s persona with visual artists, writers, and filmmakers who have captured it in their work.  Moderated by Laurie Ochoa (co-founder, Slake Media; former editor-in-chief, LA Weekly).

Spotlight on the Image:

Confessions of a Shoot – Come and listen to filmmakers talk about how they achieved their distinctive look, as they show clips from their films, shot on a Canon camera.  Sponsored by Canon.

Technicolor: One Vision From Set to Screen – Technicolor’s head of theatrical post-production, Marco Bario, will lead a discussion with two stalwarts of the Los Angeles filmmaking community: editor Nancy Richardson, ACE (The Kids Are All Right, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) and post-production supervisor Nancy Kirhoffer (The Prestige, Appaloosa).

Kodak Focus: Rodrigo Prieto – With over 20 years experience, Oscar-nominated Rodrigo Prieto is one of the premiere cinematographers of our time, having worked all over the world, and collaborated with directors Spike Lee, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Oliver Stone, Julie Taymor, Pedro Almodovar, and Ang Lee.

Coffee Talks: Join some of today’s most fascinating film figures for entertaining and unpredictable conversation…and, of course, coffee for everyone

Filmmaker Lunch Talks: Los Angeles Times staff writer John Horn hosts conversations at the Zone Perfect live.create. lounge with some of the Festival’s leading directors and producers.  Bring your lunch!

About the author

Mandy Rodgers