Perhaps one of the most ambitious independent films events in the U.S., the newly created Film Festival Week – LA was held April 11-19 in Hollywood, CA. The event comprised four unique film events and screened a wide array of films, webisodes and TV programs from all over the globe, exclusively at Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Ave, Hollywood (Chaplin Building). An Opening night kick-off party was held to welcome participating filmmakers that took place on Wednesday, April 11 at hotspot Confidential (424 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills) from 7pm- 11pm.
Organizers programmed selections for ITN DISTRIBUTION FILM & WEBISODE FESTIVAL; LA FILM, TV & WEBISODE FESTIVAL; INDEPENDENT FILM QUARTERLY FILM & WEBISODE FESTIVAL; NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (NYIFF).
Dozens of gems came to unspool over the week with many titles available for distribution. The current changes in modern technology allowed entrepreneurial filmmakers both young and old to realize their celluloid dreams. 150 Filmmakers represented 20 countries including, Australia, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, China, France, Germany Israel, Mongolia, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, India, Nepal, Ireland, Norway, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, UK, and all over the US.
Not surprisingly talent ranged in scope from novice to established. Notables included: Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon; Emmy award-winning actress and comedienne Lily Tomlin; Paul Sorvino; Oscar-nominated actor Eric Roberts; Richard Chamberlain (The Thorn Birds); Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs); Jon Heder (Napolean Dynamite); Sally Kirkland; Missi Pyle (The Artist); Patrick Muldoon; Rene Ashton; Stefanie Powers (Hart to Hart); Michael Sorvino (Summer of Sam, Human Trafficking); Betsy Rue (My Bloody Valentine, Halloween II); Phil Messerer creator of the Vampire Diaries Franchise; Daeg Faerch (Rob Zombie’s Halloween); Dee Wallace (ET); actress/model/musician Tila Tequila; Nick Hogan (Hogan Knows Best); Lorenzo Lamas (Falcon Crest); Charlene Tilton (Dallas); Tom Christensen (Squatters); Robert Prescott (Burn After Reading, Michael Clayton); Tony Award-winning and Oscar-nominated producer Marc Shaiman (Hairspray, When Harry Met Sally); award-winning producer Michael Landon Jr. (Love Comes Softly, The Velveteen Rabbit); Jonathan Bennett (Mean Girls), Sandy Martin (Napoleon Dynamite), Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds), up-and-coming actor Coleman McClary (star of the award-winning Bar Noise); producer Evan Ginzburg (The Wrestler) and rising stars Sybil (The Temp) and India Irving.
