Los Angeles Film Festival 2016 is the best film event in the town. If you're a film lover, you're in LA (or can make it to LA), and you're not here, you're really missing on some serious fun, wonderful talks, amazing films and lot more. Culver City is hosting this awesome event, brought to us by Film Independent, and it's amazing!
This weekend was a clear example of all that this festival brings to you. There were some amazing films screening at the Arclight Cinema in Culver City. The historic Culver Hotel (owned by likes of Charlie Chaplin and John Wayne, in the past) has been hosting some fun parties, events and great talks like COFFE TALKS yesterday.
Coffee Talks: Directors - The Culver Hotel – 9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 – with introduction by Paul Cowlin with Tim Miler (Deadpool) and Patricia Riggen (The 33)
Coffee Talks: Actors – The Culver Hotel – 9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 – with talent John Cho, Tony Hale, Paul Scheer and Michaela Watkins
Coffee Talks: Documentarians – The Culver Hotel – 9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 – with introduction by Paul Cowling and talent Lucy Walker (The Crash Reel), Kirby Dick, Ondi Timoner
Coffee Talks: Screenwriters – The Culver Hotel – 9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 – with introduction by Paul Cowling with Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe), Phil Johnston (Zootopia), Phyllis Nagy (Carol)
These artists shared an impressive insight into their art form over a casual chat amongst there peers, along with free coffee for everyone there. John Cho talked about being Asian in the industry and some great advice to actors of color, "say yes, make up for the lack of opportunities, avoid negative stereotype, love your family & your work, and keep pushing forward". Phyllis Nagy shared how her stories take form and advised inspiring screenwriters to watch as much as possible, and learn from others. And follow your instinct too.
Some hilarious stories were shared too where Paul Scheer talked about his most embarrassing TV show about cats, for cats, by cats. John laying under a naked man, for an indie student film. Faded talked about finishing his writing at most uncomfortable places in his house, in most uncomfortable positions. It was a joyful event filled with inspiring information for all.
The weekend also saw some wonderful movies and talks with the team from the films:
Don't Hang Up – with French Directors Damien Mace, Alexis Wajsbort, London Producer Laurie Cook, LA writer Joe Johnson and LA stars Gregg Sulking and Garrett Clayton
Sensitivity Training – with introduction and Q&A with Jenn Wilson with Producer Megha Kohli, Writer/Director Melissa Finell, Executive Producer/Actor Charles Haid, Actress Anna Lise Phillips, Actress Jill Alexander, Actress Quinn Marcus, Actress Amy Madigan, Associate Producer/Actress Amy Varpahl, Actor Andy Gala, Actor Michael Laskin, Actress Courtney Fansler, Actress Challen Cates, Actor Finnegan Haid, Actress Tessa Goss, Director of Photography Paul Cannon
Dr Feelgood – with Director Eve Marson, Producer Sara Goldblatt, Exectutive Producer Alison Block, Executive Producer Tim Poore, writer David Boodell, writer Mark Monroe, and talent William Hurwitz
A Moving Image - ArcLight Culver City Theater 8 – 9500 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 – with introduction by Roya Rastegar and Q&A by Stephanie Owens, with Writer/Director Shola Amoo, Producer Rienkje Attoh, Actress Tanya Fear, Actor Aki Omoshaybi, Actress Yrsa Daley Ward and Composer Segun Akinola.
My First Kiss and the People Involved – with introduction by Drea Clark with Director Luigi Campi, Executive Producer Gerry Kim, Producer Andy Nguyen, Producer Ko-Rely Pi, Producer Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Co-Producer Rob Cristiano, Co-Producer Andrew Hauser, Cast India Menuez, Cast Robert Beitzel, Production Designer Charlotte Royer and Composer Bonnie McAlvin.
HEIS – with introduction and Q&A by Stephanie Ownes with Director Anais Volpe, actor Alexandre Desane, actor Matthieu Longatte and Actress Emilia Derou-Bernal.
Episodes: Indie Series From the Web – with introduction and Q&A by Cooper Hopkins with Brothers: Writer/Director Emmett Lundberg, Producer Sheyam Ghieth and cast Will Krisanda; Caring: Director Maggie Kiley, Writer/Creator Erin Wagoner, Producer Ellie Wen, Producer Winnie Kemp, Producer Lena Bubenechik, actor Lynn Chen, actor Diana DeLaCruz;Fridays: Director Anna Kerrigan, Writer/Creator/star Shoshannah Stern, Writer/Creator/star Josh Feldman, Producer Ellie Wen and Producer Winnie Kemp
11:55 – with introduction and Q&A by Roya Rastegar with Writer/Director Ari issler, Writer/Director Ben Snyder, Writer/actor Victor Almanzar, Producer Danny Mendoza, Producer Joshua Blum, Producer Matthew Thurm, actress Shirley Rumierk and talent Mike Carlsen
Lupe Under the Sun – with introduction and Q&A by Ray Price with Director Rodrigo Reyes, Producer Su Kim, actor Daniel Muratalla, Producer and Director of Photography Justin Chin and Associate Producer Pablo Mondragon
Denial - with introduction and Q&A by Jenn Wilson with talent Anoosh Tertzakian, Aaron Woolf, Derek Hallquist, Christine Hallquist, Christopher St. John, Shirel Kozak, Kyle Wilson, Dan DiMauro, Savannah Woods and Phil Schewe
The festival is more than half over, with only 4 days left. For more details, check there website below:
http://www.filmindependent.org/la-film-festival/
Schedule & Tickets
https://tickets.lafilmfestival.com/Online/
https://s3.amazonaws.com/lafilmfestival2016/2016_LAFF_ScheduleGrid.pdf
http://www.filmindependent.org/la-film-festival/ticket-info/