The 2014 Seventh Annual Bel-Air Film Festival Presented by the A2E Family Partnership will be held October 7th-12th throughout Los Angeles. The festival will debut 30 films including 4 World Premieres and 10 Los Angeles Premieres. Venues include the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, and private venues.
The festival will screen the official red carpet Los Angeles Premiere and after party for the feature film, JUST BEFORE I GO, directed by Courteney Cox, starring Seann William Scott, Olivia Thirlby, Garret Dillahunt, Kate Walsh, and Evan Ross. The synopsis is a story about being on the verge of giving up on life, and the lead played by William Scott, travels to his hometown to make amends. The evening will also debut the Los Angeles Premiere for the short film, I’LL BE HOME SOON, directed by James Everett, starring Mouna Albakry, Agata Buzek and Okorie Chukwa.
Tippi Hedren will be recognized for her dedication in film an honored with the festival’s, Lifetime Achievement Award. Miss. Hedren stars in the Los Angeles Premiere of HAPPY HANDS, screening at this year’s festival. The film is a documentary about how she helped to create the Vietnam nail salon industry in the United States.
Emily Ferry, the first woman to be an I.A.T.S.E. Property Master in Hollywood will be honored with the festival’s Leadership in Cinema Award. Miss Ferry, a leader among film professionals, has worked on numerous Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning projects. Most notably, she is known for her work on MEMOIRS OF GEISHA, MATILDA, GATTACA, ED WOOD, and HOW THE GRINCH STIOLE CHRISTMAS.
An expert film panel entitled EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR AN AWARD WINNING CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN, with producers of the upcoming feature film, ROAD HARD, Adam Carolla, Nate Adams, and Kelly Carter will be held at a private venue and moderated by Cherylyn LeBon, a Washington D.C. based commentator and lawyer. The world premiere trailer for ROAD HARD starring Adam Carolla, Diane Farr, Jay Mohr, David Koechner, Howie Mandel, Larry Miller and David Alan Grier. Road Hard is about a stand-up comedian whose movie and sitcom deals have dried up so he heads back out on the road to discover his love of stand up.
Panel discussion topics will cover, “Why Crowdfund?, How to Start a Crowdfunding Campaign and Reach Your Target Audience, Comparing Major Platforms of Crowdfunding Kickstarter Vs. Indiegogo, When to Launch a Crowdfunding Campaign.”
Winners of the festival will be announced on Sunday, October 12th at 4pm in a closing awards ceremony at the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club hosted by comedian and actress Jill-Michele Melean (MAD TV/RENO 911).
Feature Film Highlights
JUST BEFORE I GO: Los Angeles Premiere
Starring Seann William Scott, Olivia Thirlby, Garret Dillahunt, Kate Walsh, Evan Ross On the verge of giving up on life, a guy travels to his hometown to make amends.
Director: Courteney Cox Writer: David Flebotte
3 NIGHTS IN THE DESERT: Los Angeles Premiere Starring Amber Tamblyn, Wes Bentley, and Vincent Piazza. The story takes place on remote desert property, three estranged friends and former bandmates reunite to celebrate turning thirty.
Director: Gabriel Cowan, Producer: John Suits
MANTERVENTION: Los Angeles Premiere
Starring Nick Roux, Chloe Bridges, Travis Van Winkle. Convinced romance is dead, a heart-broken-ed man turns to his best-friend who plans an unorthodox ‘Mantervention’.
Writer: John E. G. Director: Stuart Acher
ADIOS VAYA CON DIOS: World Premiere
Starring Zachary Laoutides, Jessica Beligni, and Marius Iliescu. A gritty urban thriller inspired by real events, Adios Vaya Con Dios is the authentic story of two friends within the world of Chicago’s Latino street gangs.
Writer: Zachary Laoutides Director: Marius Iliescu Producers: Joseph Mennella, Monica E. Leon, Ric Morgan, Zachary Laoutides
WARREN: Los Angeles Premiere
Starring Alex Beh, Andrew Santino, Austin Stowell After giving up on his dream of making it in the Chicago improv scene, a young comedian fatefully reconnects with the former love of his life one brisk September night while working at a coffee shop in his hometown.
Writer: Alex Beh Director: Alex Beh
BLACKBIRD: Los Angeles Premiere
Starring Connor Jessup, Alexia Fast, Michael Buie A rebellious teenager, falsely accused of planning a school massacre, must survive a harrowing conflict with a prison gang leader while he attempts to prove his innocence to the community and those closest to him.
Producer: Marc Almon, Jason Buxton, David Miller Director: Jason Buxton
THE ALGERIAN
Starring Ben Youcef, Candice Coke, Giovanni Zelko The Algerian is an international political thriller about the colliding worlds of the Middle East and America. It follows Ali (Ben Youcef), a Muslim sleeper cell from Algeria who is part of a plot to harm America.
Writer: Giovanni Zelko Director: Giovanni Zelko
Documentary Film Highlights
HAPPY HANDS: Los Angeles Premiere
Starring Tippi Hedren, Hong Lei, Martha Schad, Marlynn Thach How one Hollywood Starlet helped so many…and changed the face of the Industry. Documentary starring Tippi Hedren (Melanie Griffith’s Mother) and how she helped to create and assist Vietnamese nail salons in the United States.
Writer: Honey Lauren Director: Honey Lauren
EXTENDING THE PLAY: Los Angeles Premiere Starring Cast: Bracey Ulin, Kasey Ulin An observation of the lives of married American couple, Kasey and Bracey Ulin who play professional basketball in Europe.
Writer: John Dahlgren Director: John Dahlgren
FINDING GASTON: Los Angeles Premiere
Staring Gaston Acurio
There are many great chefs around the world. Only one is considered to be a National hero. Meet chef Gaston Acurio and follow him in a journey to find out the stories, the inspirations and the dreams behind the man that has taken his cuisine outside the kitchen in a mission to change his country with food.
Writer: Julia Patricia Perez Director: Julia Patricia Perez
ANGEL AZUL: Los Angeles
Starring Cast: Jason DeCaire’s Taylor, Charlie Brown, Donna Barwick Through the hauntingly beautiful lure of Jason deCaire’s Taylor’s underwater life-like statues we witness the birth of an artificial coral reef, learn how we are inextricably connected to the ocean, and are left to consider how are choices will determine what we leave to future generations.
Writer: Marcelina Cravat Director: Marcelina Cravat
Audience Awards
Best Audience Feature Film Award
Best Audience Documentary Film Award
Best Audience Short Film Award
Best Audience Student Short Film
Jury Awards
Best Jury Feature Film Award
Best Jury Feature Film Directing
Best Jury Feature Film Lead Actor
Best Jury Feature Film Lead Actress
Best Jury Feature Film Editing
Best Jury Feature Film Screenwriting
Best Jury Documentary Film
Best Jury Documentary Film Cinematography Best Jury Documentary Film Editing
A2E Family Partnership Mission Statement:
A2E Family Partnership was formed in 2004 to encourage and support the performing arts, education and sciences. From these fields, the organization selects both innovative projects and established works of excellence to promote for public inspiration.
Bel-Air Film Festival Mission Statement:
The Bel Air Film Festival is an annual film festival held throughout greater Los Angeles to promote the appreciation and knowledge of film. The Bel-Air Film Festival strives to recognize top industry leaders, and fosters the development of up-and-coming filmmakers.
For more information, please visit www.belairfilmfestival.com.
