Film Independent 2009 LA Film Festival—Official Selections Announced

Film Independent announced the official selections for the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times. Now in it’s 15th year, the Los Angeles Film Festival will run from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 28. The Los Angeles Film Festival is widely recognized as a world-class event, showcasing the best in new American and international cinema and providing the movie-loving public with access to some of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers, film industry professionals, and emerging talent from around the world.

If you’re in the area, you must check it out! There a lot to see, listen to, and learn.

The 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen over 200 feature films, shorts, and music videos, representing more than 30 countries. For the first time this year, international films will be included in the narrative and documentary competition categories.

“Our goal at Film Independent is to represent the breadth of stories being told and to reflect the issues that are happening on a local and global level through the art of cinema,” said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent. “With the Los Angeles Film Festival, we at Film Independent further support our year-round work of cultivating a community of filmmakers and filmgoers alike.”

Universal Pictures’ action-thriller Public Enemies will screen as the Centerpiece Premiere at this year’s Festival. Acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Academy Award¬Æ winner Marion Cotillard in the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (Depp)—the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover’s fledglin g FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the public.

Narrative Competition: The Narrative Competition is comprised of films made by talented emerging filmmakers that compete for the Target Filmmaker Award, which carries a $50,000 unrestricted grant funded by Target. The winner is determined by a panel of jurors. Films in this section are also eligible for the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature.

* Dear Lemon Lima, Suzi Yoonessi — WORLD PREMIERE

* Harmony & Me, Bob Byington

* Hollywood, je t’aime, Jason Bushman — WORLD PREMIERE

* Passenger Side, Matt Bissonnette — Canada – WORLD PREMIERE

* Turistas, Alicia Scherson — Chile — U.S. PREMIERE

* Wa Do Dem (What They Do), Sam Fleischner, Ben Chace — WORLD PREMIERE

* Zero Bridge, Tariq Tapa — USA/India — U.S. PREMIERE

Documentary Competition: The Documentary Competition is comprised of films made by talented emerging filmmakers that compete for the Target Documentary Award, which carries a $50,000 unrestricted grant funded by Target. The winner is determined by a panel of jurors. Films in this section are also eligible for the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature.

* After the Storm, Hilla Medalia — WORLD PREMIERE

* Bananas!*, Fredrik Gertten – Sweden — WORLD PREMIERE

* Branson, Brent Meeske — WORLD PREMIERE

* Convention, AJ Schnack

* The Last Beekeeper, Jeremy Simmons

* October Country, Michael Palmieri, Donal Mosher — WORLD PREMIERE

* Those Who Remain, Juan Carlos Rulfo, Carlos Hagerman — Mexico – U.S. PREMIERE

International Showcase: 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.

* Adhen, Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche — France/Algeria

* Autumn, √ñzcan Alper — Turkey

* Birdwatchers, Marco Bechis — Italy/Brazil (IFC Festival Direct)

* Bronson, Nicolas Winding Refn — England (Magnolia Pictures)

* Calimucho, Eugenie Jansen — Netherlands

* Call If You Need Me, James Lee — Malaysia — NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
* Carmen Meets Borat, Mercedes Stalenhoef — Netherlands

* City of Borders, Yun Suh — Israel

* Elementary Training for Actors, Mart√≠n Rejtman — Argentina — INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE

* Extraordinary Stories, Mariano Llin√°s — Argentina

* High-Rise, Gabriel Mascaro — Brazil — NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

* Los Bastardos, Amat Escalante — Mexico (Kino International)

* Mid-August Lunch, Gianni di Gregorio — Italy

* My Dear Enemy, Lee Yoon-ki — South Korea

* Our Beloved Month of August, Miguel Gomes — Portugal/France

* The Queen and I, Nahid Persson Sarvestani — Sweden (7th Art Releasing)

* Sacred Places, Jean-Marie T√©no — France/Cameroon

* Stella, Sylvie Verheyde — France

* Unmade Beds, Alexis Dos Santos — England (IFC Festival Direct)

* A Week Alone, Celina Murga — Argentina

* West of Pluto, Henry Bernadet, Myriam Verreault — Canada

Summer Showcase: 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.

* 35 Shots of Rum, Claire Denis — France (Cinema Guild)

* Big River Man, John Maringouin

* Cold Souls, Sophie Barthes (Samuel Goldwyn Films)

* Facing Ali, Pete McCormack (Lionsgate)

* Humpday, L ynn Shelton (Magnolia Pictures)

* In the Loop, Armando Iannucci — England (IFC Films)

* It Might Get Loud, Davis Guggenheim (Sony Pictures Classics)

* No Impact Man, Laura Gabbert & Justin Schein

* Paper Heart, Nicholas Jasenovec (Overture Films)

* Still Walking, Hirokazu Kore-eda — Japan (IFC Films)

* We Live in Public, Ondi Timoner

Free Screenings:

* Amreeka, Cherien Dabis (National Geographic Films) — Project:Involve Screening

* Crude Oil, Wang Bing — China — NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

* Election, Alexander Payne (1999) — 10th Anniversary

* Ghostbusters, Ivan Reitman (1984) — 25th Anniversary

* Hot Rod Girl, Leslie H. Martinson (1956)

* How I See It: Youth Filmmaking From Streets to Streams,

* The Muppet Movie, James Frawley (1979) — 30th Anniversary

* Those Who Remain, Juan Carlos Rulfo, Carlos Hagerman — Mexico – U.S. PREMIERE

This Festival’s Opening and Closing Night Films, Guest Director, Artists in Residence, and special guests—as well as programming for the Festival Talks, Director Lunch Talks, Coffee Talks, Kodak Focus and the Financing Conference—will be announced shortly.

Passes to attend the Festival are available immediately for Film Independent members, and beginning May 18 for the general public. In addition to screenings and events, Festival passes provide access to a series of networking receptions and entry to the ZonePerfect live.create. lounge, where Festival pass holders can interact with Festival filmmakers and professionals in the film community. General admission tickets to individual films go on sale beginning May 29. Contact the Festival Ticketing Center for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345-6337) or visit LAFilmFest.com. Festival Passes and tickets can also be purchased in person beginning on Friday, June 12 at the Festival Ticketing Center located at 1038 Westwood Blvd.

Film Independent is the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival. For more information and a complete schedule, go to www.FilmIndependent.org.