The initial batch of selections have been unveiled for the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival slated to run from June 16-26. Produced by Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that also produces the Spirit Awards, the L.A. Film Festival will screen more than 200 feature films, shorts and music videos, representing in excess of 30 countries.
This year, the Festival fielded some 5,025 submissions from filmmakers around the world, up from the 4,700-plus in 2010.
The final selections represent 27 World, North American, and U.S. premieres. The number of films competing in the narrative and documentary competition categories increased this year from 18 to 19, of which 11 are World premieres and eight are North American or US premieres. The number of female feature filmmakers also increased this year from 21 to 23.
Opening and Closing Night films, Galas, Conversations, Artists in Residence, LAFCA’s Films That Got Away, along with additional special guests and programming for the Festival Talks will be announced at later dates.
“We experienced our most successful year ever when we were downtown last year for the first time, and we can’t wait to return with this diverse, rich and exciting program of film,” said Los Angeles Film Festival director Rebecca Yeldham. “We’re looking forward to reuniting our community of filmmakers and film lovers with this year’s program of memorable cinematic events and experiences.”
David Ansen, artistic director of the Festival, noted that many of the films “are made in Los Angeles and reflect the city’s tremendous diversity. There are delights for every kind of movie lover — an original musical, a four-and-a-half-hour epic from a master director, a comedy from Iran, cutting-edge horror films, the best of new Cuban cinema and a wide variety of Spanish-language movies, entries from some great new French Canadian directors, a very strong line-up of gay and lesbian films, and documentaries that will change the way you look at the world.”
Here’s what’s in the 2011 L.A. Film Festival hopper thus far:
Narrative Competition (10): The Narrative Competition is comprised of films made by talented emerging filmmakers that compete for the Filmmaker Award. The winner is determined by a panel of jurors, and films in this section are also eligible for the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. They are:
•The Bad Intentions, Rosario Garcia-Montero — Argentina/Germany/Peru — U.S. premiere
•The Dynamiter, Matthew Gordon — North American Premiere
•Familiar Grounds, Stephane Lefleur — Canada — North American Premiere
•The Fatherless, Marie Kreutzer — Austria — North American Premiere
•How to Cheat, Amber Sealey — World Premiere
—Mamitas, Nicholas Ozeki — World Premiere
—An Ordinary Family, Mike Akel — World Premiere
—Please Do Not Disturb, Mohsen Abdolvahab — Iran — North American Premiere
•Sawdust City, David Nordstrom — World Premiere
—You Hurt My Feelings, Steve Collins — World Premiere
Documentary Competition (9): The Documentary Competition is comprised of films made by talented emerging filmmakers that compete for the Documentary Award. The winner is determined by a panel of jurors, and films in this section are also eligible for the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature. The films in this competition are:
•Cheonggyecheon Medley: A Dream of Iron, Kelvin Kyung Kun Park — South Korea — U.S. Premiere
•Family Instinct, Andris Gauja — Latvia — U.S. Premiere
•Once I Was a Champion, Gerard Roxburgh — World Premiere
—Paraiso For Sale, Anayansi Prado — World Premiere
—Salaam Dunk, David Fine — Iraq/USA — World Premiere
—Somewhere Between, Linda Goldstein Knowlton — U.S. Premiere
•Unfinished Spaces, Alysa Nahimas, Ben Murray – World Premiere
—Unraveled, Marc H. Simon — U.S. Premiere
•Wish Me Away, Bobbie Birleffi, Beverly Kopf — World Premiere
International Showcase (18): The International Showcase highlights innovative independent narrative and documentary features from outside of the United States. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature, Best Narrative Feature, or Best Documentary Feature. The International Showcase selections are:
•108, Renate Costa — Spain/Paraguay
—Christopher and His Kind, Geoffrey Sax — United Kingdom — North American Premiere
•Come Rain, Come Shine, Lee Yoon-ki — South Korea — North American Premiere
•Curling, Denis Côté — Canada
•The Destiny of Lesser Animals, Deron Albright — Ghana/USA
•Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within, Jose Padilha — Brazil (New Video)
•Eternity, Sivaroj Kongsakul — Thailand •Family Portrait in Black and White, Julia Ivanova — Canada
•Kawasaki’s Rose, Jan Hrebejk — Czech Republic (Menemsha Films)
•Love Crime, Alain Corneau — France (IFC Films)
•Medianeras, Gustavo Taretto — Argentina/Germany/Spain (IFC Films) — North American Premiere
•Mysteries of Lisbon, Raúl Ruiz — Portugal (Music Box Films)
•Ocaso, Theo Court — Chile — North American Premiere
•Position Among the Stars, Leonard Retel Helmrich — Netherlands
•The Salesman, Sébastien Pilote — Canada
•Self Made, Gillian Wearing — England
•Senna, Asif Kapadia — England (PDA)
•Tomboy, Céline Sciamma — France (Rocket Releasing) — North American Premiere
Summer Showcase (18): The Summer Showcase section offers an advance look at this summer’s most talked about independent film releases from the festival circuit. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature, Best Narrative Feature, or Best Documentary Feature. Summer selections are:
•Another Earth, Mike Cahill (Fox Searchlight)
•Elevate, Anne Buford
•The Future, Miranda July (Roadside Attractions)
•The Guard, John Michael McDonagh — Ireland (Sony Pictures Classics)
•Higher Ground, Vera Farmiga (Sony Pictures Classics)
•Leave It on the Floor, Sheldon Larry — World Premiere
•Letters From the Big Man, Christopher Munch
•L!fe Happens, Kat Coiro — World Premiere
•Natural Selection, Robbie Pickering
•Page One: Inside the New York Times, Andrew Rossi (Magnolia Pictures/Participant Media)
•The Pruitt-lgoe Myth, Chad Freidrichs
•Renée, Eric Drath (ESPN Films)
•Sex Crimes Unit, Lisa F. Jackson (HBO Films)
•Skateistan: Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul, Kai Sehr
•Terri, Azazel Jacobs (ATO)
•Tyrannosaur, Paddy Considine — England (Strand Releasing)
•Where Soldiers Come From, Heather Courtney
•Winnie the Pooh, Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall (Disney)
Outdoor Screenings at the Ford Amphitheatre (3): These official Los Angeles Film Festival selections, sponsored by Brand X, are included as part of the 2011 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. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature, Best Narrative Feature, or Best Documentary Feature.
•Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest, Michael Rapaport
•Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, Tsui Hark — Hong Kong
•The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman, Ron & Russell Mael aka Sparks and Guy Maddin — World Musical Premiere
International Spotlight — Cuba (4): This year, our International Spotlight focuses on Cuba, whose films rarely find distribution in the U.S. We’re proud to showcase the best of the new and recent Cuban cinema. Sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs and UCLA Latin American Institute.
•Habana Eva, Fina Torres — Cuba/France/Venezuela
•Operation Peter Pan: Flying Back to Cuba, Estela Bravo — Cuba
•Suite Habana (2003), Fernando Pérez — Cuba
•Ticket to Paradise, Gerardo Chijona Valdes — Cuba
Documenting Mexico (2): Inspired by the efforts of the Ambulante Film Festival, a traveling film event designed to promote a documentary culture across Mexico, we are pleased to highlight two outstanding documentaries from Mexico’s vibrant documentary filmmaking culture. Sponsored by HOY.
•The Night Watchman, Natalia Almada — Mexico
•The Tiniest Place, Tatiana Huezo — Mexico
Community Screenings (7): These films will be presented free to the public. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature or Best Documentary Feature.
•The Bully Project, Lee Hirsch (The Weinstein Company)
•Choose Your Own Movie — vote at LAFilmFest.com for this free outdoor screening
•Crime After Crime, Yoav Potash — Grand Performances Screening
•Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), John Hughes — 25th Anniversary Screening
•Hot Coffee, Susan Saladoff (HBO Films)
•On the Ice, Andrew Okpeaha MacLean • Project:Involve Screening
•Project Nim, James Marsh — United Kingdom (Roadside Attractions)
•Stand By Me (1986), Rob Reiner — 25th Anniversary Screening
The Beyond (5): The Beyond offers films that dare to be different. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature, Best Narrative Feature, or Best Documentary Feature.
•Entrance, Dallas Hallam, Patrick Horvath
•Haunters, Kim Min-suk — South Korea — North American Premiere
•The Innkeepers, Ti West
•Karate-Robo Zaborgar, Iguchi Noboru — Japan
•The Yellow Sea, Na Hong-jin — South Korea
Retro (2):
•Boyz n the Hood (1991), John Singleton — 20th Anniversary Digitally Re-Mastered Screening with a Cast & Crew Reunion
•Das Boot (1981), Wolfgang Peterson — Germany — 30th Anniversary Digitally Re-Mastered Screening
The Film Foundation Screening Program (1):
•Wild River (1960), Elia Kazan
Short Films (41): Shorts are shown before features and as part of five short film programs. With their diverse and complex content, these films shine brilliantly. Most short films, domestic and international, will compete for prizes in Narrative, Documentary, and Animation/Experimental categories. The winner is determined by a panel of jurors. An Audience Award for Best Short Film is also presented.
For more on the Los Angeles Film Festival, now in its 17th year, visit here.
