Thompson on Hollywood

LAFF Announces Guest Director William Friedkin; Artists in Residence Elfman, Voltaggio & Saadiq

Festivals

Continuing to move away from their Film Independent indie branding, The Los Angeles Film Festival has named Hollywood veteran filmmaker William Friedkin as Guest Director for the 2012 Festival. The director of "The Exorcist," "The French Connection" and "To Live and Die in L.A." will screen his latest, indie fest circuit film "Killer Joe."

By Anne Thompson
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May 15, 2012 4:56 PM
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Los Angeles Film Fest Reveals Full Lineup; Will Close With A Lap Dance

Festivals

Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival is finalizing its full lineup. From June 14-24, the 18th annual festival will showcase nearly 200 features, shorts and music videos representing over 30 countries at its LA Live venue. Opening the fest is Woody Allen's "To Rome with Love," while Steven Soderbergh's "Magic Mike" will close with a world premiering strip dance--and we can hope, a lap dance from Channing Tatum.

By Sophia Savage
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May 1, 2012 1:43 PM
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Los Angeles Film Festival Books Galas 'Seeking Friend for End of World,' 'Beasts of Southern Wild,' 'Middle of Nowhere'

Festivals

Film Independent's 18th Los Angeles Film Festival, led by new Festival Director Stephanie Allain, has revealed three Gala Screenings for the 2012 Festival. Woody Allen's 'To Rome with Love," which just opened well in Italy, will open the fest on June 14.

By Anne Thompson
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April 23, 2012 1:36 PM
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Film Independent's LA Film Festival Is Accepting Submissions for 2012 Fest

Festivals

Film Independent’s 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival is now accepting submissions. The fest, running June 14-24, is in its 18th year. It will showcase programs including the Filmmaker Retreat, Ford Amphitheater Outdoor Screenings, Poolside Chats, Coffee Talks, a music video section and short films from high school students. Here are highlights from the 2011 festival. Submission details are below and here:    

By Sophia Savage
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November 1, 2011 7:22 AM
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HBO Doc Shows Why DA Needed Exiting Sex Crimes Unit Chief Friel's Division in Strauss-Kahn Case

There's no question that my reaction to the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case was influenced by having seen Lisa Jackson's Sex Crimes Unit, which played at the Los Angeles Film Festival before beginning its run on HBO June 20. Jackson got unprecedented access to the respected Unit of the New York District Attorney's office that specializes in sex crimes. You see how the attorneys work under unit chief Lisa Friel, who unexpectedly announced last week that she will be leaving the division.

By Anne Thompson
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July 3, 2011 11:42 AM
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LAFF Highlights: From Bernie to Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Winners

The Los Angeles Film Festival was hopping for ten days, downtown at LA Live, a straight shot down Olympic Boulevard to an $8 parking lot. The Regal screens are new with a good rake, but the glossy presentation didn't help Richard Linklater's opening nighter Bernie, yet another based-on-a-true-story (much like Andrew Jarecki's All Good Things) that fascinated the filmmaker and his star, Jack Black, without proving to be compelling for the rest of us. The good news is that Black gives the strongest performance he has in some time as a genial good-old-boy who turns to the dark side when he winds up rich older woman Shirley MacLaine's dependent manservant/slave. The movie was for sale at the fest, and distributors who checked it out were not upbeat about its commercial prospects.

By Anne Thompson
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June 29, 2011 5:38 AM
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LAFF: Eigeman Wins Film Independent's Sloan Award

As the Los Angeles Film Festival continues to unspool in downtown Los Angeles, Midnight Sun’s writer/director Chris Eigeman and producer Eric Morris have been awarded Film Independent's Sloan Award. This $15,000 production grant is given to films that feature new scripts about science and technology. Midnight Sun is set in 1943 and focuses on a group of young scientists in a New Mexico desert as they create the first atomic bomb .

By Maggie Lange
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June 20, 2011 4:53 AM
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WME's Graham Taylor's LAFF Keynote: "We are in a revolution and now is our time."

WME's Graham Taylor is a pivotal player on the indie financing/packaging/selling scene. He moved from Endeavor to take over WME's Global unit after the agency merger. Here's some of his speech from the LAFF's "Money Talks & Art Matters" panel series: the full length version is here.

By Anne Thompson
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June 18, 2011 9:31 AM
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LAFF Jury: Lynn Shelton, Daniel Waters, Jeff Malmberg, Lisa Gay Hamilton

The Los Angeles Film Festival's 2011 narrative competition jurors include director Lynn Shelton (Humpday, My Effortless Brilliance; pictured), Eric Nakamura (Head/Founder of Giant Robot), and screenwriter Daniel Waters (Heathers, Batman Returns).

By Anne Thompson
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June 15, 2011 7:50 AM
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LAFF Adds Artists in Residence Erykah Badu and Daniele Luppi, Galas Devil's Double, Attack The Block

Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival has chosen its 2011 artists in residence: Erykah Badu and Daniele Luppi. The fest is also adding Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine to it series of Conversations, and Gala screenings of SXSW hit Attack the Block (pictured) and Sundance entry The Devil's Double (check out the hot new poster and the trailer below).