Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF), and year-round artist development programs and exhibition events, is bringing the 2010 edition of LAFF to downtown Los Angeles from its prior roost in Westwood, Calif.
LAFF runs from June 17-27 and will encompass venues throughout the City of Los Angeles and be centered at L.A. LIVE. The move is reflective of the LAFF’s continued growth and its efforts to embrace the cultural diversity and energy of Los Angeles. The Festival will present its screenings and events at the new Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14, the REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater), the Downtown Independent, the Soundstage Theatre at the GRAMMY Museum©, JW Marriot Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. Live, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Los Angeles, Orpheum Theatre, and California Plaza. The Festival will also continue its tradition of nighttime screenings at the outdoor John Anson Ford Amphitheater in Hollywood and the Los Angeles Times will again serve as presenting partner, as it has since ’06.
Over the past 16 years, LAFF has grown from being held in one theater with 5,700 attendees to include a sprawling list of event venues that attract more than 85,000 attendees. The Festival moved to Westwood Village in 2006 to accommodate its growing audience, which doubled in the four years it was based there.
“The Festival’s move to downtown Los Angeles allows us a unique opportunity to celebrate the history and future of our City,” said LAFF director Rebecca Yeldham. “Our new location will continue to pave the way for LAFF to realize its potential as an international destination event, and unites our filmmakers and audiences with the diverse arts community that exists downtown.”
More than 200 features, shorts, and music videos from more than 30 countries make up the main body of the Festival. LAFF’s official film selections will be announced in early May.
FireAid Concert Features Major Music Stars, Shares Stories Of Loss To Raise Money For L.A. Wildfire Relief
Pop stars, first responders, rock stars and those who've lost everything in the devastating LA-area wildfires came together for FireAid, a massive benefit concert Thursday that combined spectacular performances with moving storytelling from survivors and reminders of the destruction.
In a night full of surprises, a reunion of Nirvana — fronted by St. Vincent, Kim Gordon and Joan Jett in the place of the late Kurt Cobain — tops the list. They launched into "Breed," "School" and "Territorial Pissings" respectively, inspired and unexpected choices.
Drummer Dave Grohl's daughter, Violet, then emerged on stage for "All Apologies."
Closer Lady Gaga, after powering through the Oscar-award winning "Shallow" and "Always Remember Us This Way" from "A Star Is Born," played a new song on the piano. "It's just for tonight, it's just for you," she said of the song she wrote with fiancé businessman Michael Polansky. "Time is a healer."
"All I need is time," she sang in the folk-y pop chorus. "To heal my broken wings and then I'll soar."
Green Day kicked off the massive show by launching into "Last Night on Earth" at the Kia Forum and were soon joined by Billie Eilish for the first surprise of the night. The lyrics are surprisingly astute: "If I lose everything in the fire / I'm sending all my love to you."
After their set, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong hugged actor Billy Crystal, who was there to welcome to the crowd at the Kia Forum.
"Our goal is simple tonight, to spend more money than the Dodgers spent on free agents," he joked. He told the audience U2 offered the first big donation of the night: $1 million dollars.
Crystal said he was wearing the clothes he had on when he evacuated. He lost his home in... Read More