Lunched in 2009 by the organizers of the much missed Silverlake Film Festival (2000-2007 R.I.P.) The Downtown Film Festival celebrates its Los Angeles location, bringing an independent spirit to the burgeoning downtown cultural scenes. Its home base is the historic Downtown Independent Theatre, on the site of the former revue, burley and vaudeville houses The Arrow, The Aztec (presenting the greatest Mexican stage and film stars of the 40’s) and the Linda Lea Theater at 251 South Main Street. The beautiful stadium seating auditorium and roof garden are operated by Downtown Independent.
“Downtown Film Festival L.A. reflects the independent side of Los Angeles’ film industry and embodies the creative spirit of downtown L.A. and its surrounding communities,” said festival co-director Henry Priest. “It’s no accident that this area boasts more indie filmmakers than anywhere else in the world, and they deserve a festival like ours that takes chances with the art of making movies.”
The festival opens on Wednesday, July 10th with the U.S. premiere of filmmaker Ron Chapman’s “Who the F**k is Arthur Fogel?,” a biopic documentary about the creative force behind 7 of the 10 of the bestselling worldwide concert tours in history. The film follows the journey of a former drummer from a forgettable rock band in Canada who finds his muse in organizing, not playing, live music, eventually becoming head of global music and touring for Live Nation and a close confidante to Madonna, Bono, Bowie, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Sting and other music superstars.
“Our festival has always underscored the close affinity between film and music, especially here in Los Angeles where both industries are centered and where creatives from each industry can’t help but rub shoulders with each other,” said festival co director Peggy Ellithorpe. “We’re thrilled, then, to premiere in the U.S. a film that takes you behind the curtain of live music. This is a ‘must-see’ for anyone who wants to know how the music industry really works.”
Other music-driven films screening at the festival include the L.A. premiere of “Punk in Africa,” an award-winning documentary about how politics and music became a volatile force in apartheid-era South Africa; “Furious Beauty,” which documents the South Central L.A. phenomenon of the multicultural Versa-Style dance that combines hip-hip with elements of traditional Latin dance techniques, and “Legion of the Black,” a plot driven featurette that evolved from popular glam-rock band Black Veil Brides’ latest album.
While the festival is international in scope with entries spanning the globe from Ecuador to Iran and Denmark to Zimbabwe, a part of its annual programming is devoted to showcasing emerging local talent. “Paladar,” the feature film debut by director Gil Freston, is among these films that capture downtown L.A.’s unique mix of DIY determination intertwined with a unique multiculturalism. The documentary follows the evolution of an underground, pop-up restaurant created by two University of Southern California students in their off-campus apartment, which then becomes the toast of L.A. food culture.
“The creative nexus of downtown L.A. emanates today in lots of directions – film, food, the arts, fashion. ‘Paladar’ captures the essence of this spirit where entrepreneurship and popular culture intersect with fascinating, and often great, results,” said festival co-director Greg Ptacek.
Other downtown L.A-centric films include the world premiere of director Alex Meader’s “5th Street,” a gritty police drama set on the streets of L.A. Those same streets get an entirely different look in the Los Angeles premiere of “The Human Scale,” an award-winning documentary about the new wave of “human scale” urban planning in which Los Angeles is one of five cities featured.
The festival’s Centerpiece Gala Film is director-writer Brian McGuire’s “Prevetere,” a not-your-ordinary relationship drama about a man and a woman and lots of other women. The film stars Terry Wayne, Antonella Ponziani, Bret Roberts, James Duval, Pollyanna McIntosh and Rose Rossi. The multi-talented McGuire steps in front of the camera as the star in director J.R. Hughto’ s “Diamond On Vinyl,” a relationship drama exploring sex, lies and digital video, making its Los Angeles premiere at the festival after debuting earlier this year at the Slamdance. The film co-stars Sonja Kinski.
The 50th anniversary this year of the publication of Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique and the publication earlier this year of the new book Lean In by Facebook second-in-command Sheryl Sandberg has prompted the mass media to reexamine modern-day feminism in the 21st series anchored by the Los Angeles premiere of “Femme,” the new documentary by filmmaker Emmanuel Itier that examines what the world will be like in the not too distant future when women are the majority in power. The film is executive produced by Sharon Stone and features a who’s who of feminist/post-feminist thinkers from the worlds of art, academia and popular culture including Gloria Steinem, Marianne Williamson, Mira Nair, Jean Houston, Barbara Marx Hubbard and Nobel Peace Prize laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi and Mairead Maguire.
“The series explores where women came from 50 years ago, where they are today and where they might be 50 years from now,” says film series curator Kate Marciniak. “As you might guess, there isn’t one unified point of view on the subject of feminism, circa 2013, but there is a prevailing sense that is explored in ‘Femme’ and the other films in the series that the world will be different when women are in charge.”
Another feature film that is part of the women’s series is “Submerge,” by the creative team of Sophie O’Connor (director, co-writer) and Kat Holmes (producer, co-writer). This quintessential Gen Y story explores the current pressure of young women to make their mark in a world and find love but with a twist on the old Hollywood formulaic plotline of romance. There’s the tried-and-true love triangle, however, in this case the two lovers wooing for the woman’s affections are a man and another woman.
Male-female dynamics are explored, and tested under extreme conditions, in filmmaker John Davies’ “The 25,000 Mile Love Story,” a documentary that examines the relationship between Swiss endurance athlete Serge Roetheli and his adventurous wife Nicole. Their journey of a lifetime — to run a distance equal of the earth’s circumference — is accomplished but not exactly with the ending that either had expected.
Popular culture and politics are skewered in “Reality Show” and “I’m Harry Clark,” two comedic satires having their Los Angeles and world premieres, respectively, during the festival. Fresh off stellar reviews at its debut screening at SXSW, “Reality Show,” directed by and starring Adam Rifkin, is about a family unwittingly starring in a TV show about their lives. Interestingly, “Reality Show,” the film, began as the eponymously titled 9-part Showtime TV series that aired last year. “I’m Harry Clark,” which Mickey Blaine also stars in and directs, deconstructs the discrepancies between a small-time politician’s politically correct sound bites and his politically incorrect lifestyle.
Popular culture and a different kind of love drive the action in the documentary “Circle the Wagen,” a story about a boy and his bus. When Los Angeles filmmaker Ryan Steven Green’s friend Dave buys a 1972 baby blue VW bus online, the filmmaker documents their literal journey of getting the object of Dave’s desire from Oklahoma to L.A. Along the way, they encounter a merry band of fellow buskers who come to his rescue whenever parts of the VW fall apart — or fall off.
Rounding out the feature line-up is the festival’s annual Latino-American Filmmakers Showcase, anchored by the Los Angeles premiere of “Counterpunch,” a drama set in the world of Golden Glove boxing, directed by Kenneth Castillo and starring Alvaro Orlando, Danny Trejo, Steven Bauer and Oscar Torre.
In addition to its feature film line-up, the festival will host a half-dozen programs of short films from around the world, including a special program of 3-D shorts from France. The festival’s complete short film line-up will be announced at a later date.
For the 5th consecutive year, Downtown Film Festival L.A. and the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art (LACDA) have collaborated on a digital art competition with winners to be exhibited during the July Downtown L.A Art Walk.
Workshops on independent film finance and distribution, music supervision and soundtracks, casting and topics will be held during the festival with details on the website
OPENING NIGHT WED JULY 10
WHO THE F**K IS ARTHUR FOGEL? (93 minutes)
Wednesday, July 10, 2013, 7:00 PM
Directed by Ron Chapman.
The 2013 Downtown Film Festival L.A. kicks into high gear with its Opening Night Film & Gala, presenting the U.S. premiere of filmmaker Ron Chapman’s Who The F**k Is Arthur Fogel, an irreverently entitled biopic of a seriously important music executive who revolutionized the live concert industry. (Fogel is Live Nation’s head of global music and the creative genius behind 7 of 10 world’s best-selling concerts tours of all time by superstars like U2, The Stones, Madonna, Lady Gaga, The Police and Bowie). Expect a who’s who of industry influentials and a few surprise celebrity guests in attendance. The evening begins with red carpet arrivals, followed by a hosted pre-screening cocktail reception, all for $20.
Want to join us for the Gala afterparty, too? All of the above is included, along with an admission for one to enjoy the festivities after the Opening Night Film screening. Enjoy an open bar and a fully catered affair as you rub shoulders with movers & shakers from the music and film industries. (Location TBA.)
Who the F**K is Arthur Fogel? is the raw, uncensored, revealing insider story of today’s multi-billion dollar pop music industry that is struggling to survive the meteor-like impact of massive technological change that has affected it like no other business on Earth… and one man who is trying to save it.
FRIDAY JULY 12
Shorts 1: Women Filmmakers
Friday, July 12, 2013, 5:00 PM
Shorts Program 1: Women Filmmakers (86 min)
Continuing a tradition of celebrating diversity in the art of filmmaking, Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles is proud to present five outstanding short films directed by emerging female filmmakers.
Films include:
88 Miles to Moscow directed by Karen Glienke
Cutting Up directed by Veronica Pinkham
For the Love of Nothing directed by Alissa Davis
Getting Lemons directed by Lisa Stadnykova
The Basement directed by Shiyun Lavi Hu
The Improbable Journey Of Berta Benz directed by Deborah Hutchison
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Film Premiere
Friday, July 12, 2013, 7:00 PM
THE BOMBAY SAPPHIRE IMAGINATION SERIES Shorts Program screens at 7:00 pm, Fri/7-12 at Downtown Independent, followed by The Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series after-screening party, 8-10 pm, location TBD.
Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film is a ground-breaking new competition challenging budding filmmakers around the world to create their own short film, by using their imagination to interpret Mr. Fletcher’s script. A short Q&A with Geoffrey will follow the screening.
Screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher, who won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film “Precious,” will present the five award winning short films from the inaugural The “Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series: Film” competition and introduce his script for Year 2, which is currently accepting entries and being executively produced by Academy Award-winner, Adrien Brody.
THE BOMBAY SAPPHIRE IMAGINATION SERIES – AFTER-SCREENING PARTY – Following the screening, each ticket will also grant access to a special after party reception featuring light bites and complimentary Bombay Sapphire cocktails. Location TBA.
The following 2013 winning entries will be presented:
• James Griffiths, a full-time film maker from London, whose film ‘Room 8’ is a live action cinematic piece in which miniature people, parallel universes and a twist at the end provide a true cinematic experience for the masses.
• Shekhar Bassi, an aspiring film maker living in London, whose film “The Mrs.” is an entertaining black comedy crime, telling the story of a dysfunctional couple’s marriage.
• Cadi Catlow, an animation director, who created stop motion film ‘The Crab’ set in an extremely limited environment that uses only subtitles and relies entirely on timing and extremely accurate animation to portray the emotions, thought processes and personalities of two crabs.
• Paul Frankl, a freelance director from London, whose film ‘Water Song’ tells the story of a deaf competitive swimmer who is given the opportunity to cheat.
• Alexis Barroso Gasc a writer, director and graphic designer from Spain, whose film ‘Concrete’ is set in an office block and tells the story of an executive man, a cleaner and a box, which brings your deepest darkest desires to life.
FRIDAY JULY 12
Femme (95 minutes)
Friday, July 12, 2013, 8:00 PM
Director/Writer: Emmanuel Itier
Cinematographer: Claude Budin-Juteau
Writer/ Editor: Amanda Estremera
FEMME What would the world be like if women ruled it? That’s the question at the head of this documentary that features interviews with a who’s who of internationally-recognized feminist and post-feminist from the worlds of the arts and entertainment, academia, government and other disciplines, including Marianne Williamson, Gloria Steinem, Nobel Peace laureates Shirin Ebadi and Maired Maguire, Maria Bello, Angela Davis, Maria Conchita Alonso, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Mary Buffett, Rickie Lee Jones, Jean Houston and Dr. Sue Morter. The soundtrack of the film includes music and songs from well-known artists including Annie Lennox, Yoko Ono and Rickie Lee Jones. Femme, which has played at numerous international film festivals, is currently available for worldwide release. As executive-producer Sharon Stone explains: “’Femme’ is an innovative effort to illuminate the thoughts, voices and insights of women the world over. It is an opportunity for women to be heard and to hear one another in an unfiltered regard on issues that touch the core of the human condition both elegantly and eloquently. We have much to learn about each other and from each other.” (95 minutes)
TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u3HOxsbUMU&feature=c4-overview&playnext=1&list=TLCYKYS18ZS7o
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/FEMMELEFILM
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1851922/
Reality Show
Friday, July 12, 2013, 9:45PM
Director/Writer: Adam Rifkin
Cinematographer: Will Barratt
Editor: Rita K Sanders
Producers: Jared Hoffman, Chris Pollack, Adam Rifkin, Lati Grobman, Christa Campbell
Fresh from its critically acclaimed debut screening at SXSW, Reality Show is a darkly comedic satire that follows the exploits of reality TV producer Mickey Wagner and his amoral attempt to re-invent the reality genre. Mickey’s revolutionary idea is to pick an average family and put them under all encompassing surveillance… without their knowledge. Unfortunately Mickey soon realizes that the family is boring. In a desperate attempt to salvage the show, Mickey begins to interfere by injecting conflict to create drama. As the show gets better, the family starts to disintegrate. Mickey rationalizes that all will be OK in the end, for once the episodes begin airing, fame will heal all the wounds.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMfKqa-PGNc&feature=player_embedded
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2690560/
Legion Of The Black (45 minutes)
Friday, July 12, 2013, 11:45PM
Director: Patrick Fogarty
Writers: Patrick Fogarty, Richard Villa III & Andy Biersack
Legion of the Black tells the visual story of the Black Veil Brides’ album Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones. The film follows a group of rebels known as ‘The Wild Ones’ as they defend their hearts, minds and bodies against F.E.A.R. a futuristic new world order determined to capture and imprison the rebellious clan living in a survivalist desert camp.
Music and Performance throughout the film as the story unfolds (a La ‘Tommy’ and ‘The Wall’)
TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_gil95Hcko
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2591738/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Legionoftheblackmovie
SATURDAY JULY 13
Shorts2:This Thing Called Love
Saturday, July 13, 2013, 11:30 AM
Shorts Program 2: This Thing Called Love (104 minutes)
Storytellers of the ages have sought to convey it. Alchemists have tried to bottle it. Singers and poets have sung its praises. It launches ships and drives people to do the craziest things. Seven filmmakers present their fresh take on the power and meaning of love, as experienced in both life and the afterlife.
Films include:
Dead To Me directed by Ryan Rothmaier
IDIOT. directed by Aaron Harvey
Jonah directed by Tyler Cornack
Little Notes To Heaven directed by Cody Hallford
Summer’s End directed by David Lee
The Guy Who’s F*cking Your Girlfriend directed by Shane McCarthy
The Way of Styx directed by Dimitris Tsilifonis
Shorts 3: Acts of Compassion
Saturday, July 13, 2013, 1:45 PM
Shorts Program 3: Acts of Compassion (61 minutes)
Fast-paced lives and the automobile culture make it all too easy to become disconnected from those around us. True acts of compassion seldom get the news coverage they deserve. Five short films explore what happens when somebody decides to help out a friend or stranger in need.
Films include:
Dismantled directed by Sarah Atallah
Farmhand directed by Ben Caird
Forced Perspective directed by Jeremy Glaholt
Hospitality directed by Eric Karkheck
The Words in the Margins Sara Mott
Shorts 4: South of the Border
Saturday, July 13, 2013, 3:00 PM
Shorts Program 4: South of the Border (60 minutes)
Two documentaries shine the light on South America. “Yasuni” explains the stakes for Ecuador’s Yasuni-ITT Initiative, which aims to protect Yasuni National Park from oil exploration. “Viva Lucha Libre” goes behind the mask to reveal the truths and the myths of Mexican wrestling.
Films include:
Viva Lucha Libre directed by Bradley Bemis
Yasuni directed by Nicolas Entel
25,000 Mile Love Story (86 minutes)
Saturday, July 13, 2013, 4:30 PM
Cinematography: Serge Roetheli, Nicole Roetheli
Producer/Editor: Brian Kallies
Writer/Director: John Davies
The 25,000 Mile Love Story chronicles the amazing journey of endurance athlete, Serge Roetheli, as he endeavors to run a distance equal to the earth’s circumference to bring awareness and raise money for the world’s impoverished children. Accompanied by his wife Nicole, who drove a motorcycle with their supplies and pup tent in tow, their unforgettable journey spans five years covering six continents and unforgiving landscapes. Confronted with challenges that pushed them beyond their limits, the Roethelis battled against extreme weather, civil unrest, and near-death illnesses. Remarkably, they survived it all. At the heart of their journey is a love story; a relationship of two people who believe in achieving the impossible, and whose story ends with a shocking twist. Swiss endurance athlete Serge Roetheli’s thirst for adventure and desire to raise money and awareness for children suffering across the globe propelled him to run a distance equal to the earth’s circumference. Accompanied by his equally adventurous wife Nicole, who drove a motorcycle with their supplies and pup tent in tow, they planned and executed the journey of a lifetime. Leaving from Sion, Switzerland in 2000, they returned five years later having traversed six continents and thirty-five countries. Alone in the world’s most unforgiving landscapes, they confronted challenges that threatened to push them beyond their physical and emotional limits; extreme weather, civil unrest, deadly disease, horrific poverty and a variety of other life-threatening events. Their RUN FOR KIDS also raised approximately $400,000 to support children’s centers in many of the countries they visited. THE 25,000 MILE LOVE STORY is exactly that; an inspirational love story about two people and their philosophy who believed in themselves. They had a genuine concern for the world’s impoverished children and were willing to pay the price to achieve their almost impossible dream. Serge and Nicole Roetheli journeyed in search of love, life, nature, and adventure, and while finding all of those things, found themselves too.
Plays with he following short:
Beyond Silence (15 Minutes)
Director: Vidyut Latay
Beyond Silence: Maybe it’s the ‘Hearing’ who are impaired…
India arguably has the largest deaf population in the world, but it is said that the number of certified interpreters are 250 for around 18 million deaf people! Sign language is still not an officially recognized language by the government. The country has no captions on television, no instructions for deaf people at public places, no TTY, no instruction through sign language in deaf schools and no deaf college or a university for deaf people.
Beyond Silence is a documentary made with an intention of understanding these hidden voices in their own “words, language, and culture.” It is a humble attempt to acknowledge the existence of a living, competent, and thinking deaf community that has the ability to communicate “beyond silence.” The film is a celebration of deafness. It tries to explore and bring about a strong emotion of self-confidence and belief among deaf people. The film nowhere depicts the lives of deaf people as people with disabilities, on the contrary it questions and argues about concepts and ideas about ‘being handicapped’.
I hope the exhibition of this documentary helps deaf community in India to strengthen their fight for their basic rights, like the recognition and adoption of sign language in schools and in the community at large; awareness about deaf culture and motivating the entertainment media in the country to adopt captioning.
Shorts5:Through A Child’s Eyes
Saturday, July 13, 2013, 7:00 PM
Shorts Program 5: Through A Child’s Eyes (74 mins)
The playful and sometimes painful experiences of childhood leave indelible marks on the human psyche. Filmmakers examine the world from a child’s honest perspective in these seven shorts starring kids. Warning: subject matter may not be suitable for younger viewers.
Films Include
Learning to Live directed by Katie Wise
On Becoming A Man directed by Kevin Resnick
Quinn’s New Video Game directed by Heather Freeman
Sandbox directed by Daniel Carberry
Skin directed by Jordana Spiro
The Robber directed by Felix Schaffert
The Things My Father Never Taught Me directed by Burleigh Smith
Paladar (72 Minutes)
Saturday, July 13, 2013, 9:00 PM
Director: Gil Freston
Editor: Kyle Müller
Producer: Eric B. Fleischman
Paladar: Motivated by the difficulties in finding a good meal near school, Robert Kronfil and Alex Chang, two USC undergraduate students, started Paladar, a supper club, out of their off-campus apartment. After building tables, scavenging chairs, and buying the essential dinnerware, in December of 2009 they served their first three-course prix fixe to 12 of their close friends. With a year 64 diners an evening, selling out reservations and becoming the toast of L.A.’s discriminating foodie culture …. all under the radar of school, health dept. and police authorities. At last, here’s the inside scoop on how two hungry students on a mission managed to turned L.A. food culture upside down. (72 Minutes)
TRAILER: http://www.paladarfilm.com/
FB PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/paladardoc
WEBSITE:http://www.paladarfilm.com/
Plays with the following short:
SPRAY (10 minutes)
Director/Writer: Joe Slavin
Producer: Samuel Greenhouse
Spray: In a world increasingly dominated by consumerism and big-named brands, Kayla, a young graffiti artist, attempts to fight back, using her spray can, against the big corporations that dominate her world. When one of her companions is kidnapped by devious corporate interests, Kayla must find the courage to save her friend and confront the material hypocrisy in her own life. (10 minutes)
Shorts Program 6: Fun Jobs (98 min)
Saturday, July 13, 2013, 10:45 PM
Some jobs are just more fun than others. A futuristic drug dealer with superpowers, a death artist who plans the perfect death, a spearfisher with a debilitating fear and other unusual occupations are lampooned in these seven short comedies.
Films Include:
Death Artists, Inc. directed by Anne Hamilton
Be Forever Now directed by Casey Geisen
Price of Powers directed by Robert Stuvland
Soundtrack by Thomas Leisten Schneider
The Graveyard Shift directed by
The Shooting Star Salesman
The Spearfisher
SUNDAY JULY 14
Shorts 7: Flights of Fantasy
Sunday, July 14, 2013, 1:30 PM
Shorts Program 7: Flights of Fantasy (81 mins)
Film can be a powerful medium when reminding us that the world is not always as it seems. In these nine short fantasy films, aliens, puppets, superheroes, time travelers and even talking light bulbs speak to the deeper truths of what it means to be human.
Films include:
A Conversation About Cheating With My Time Travelling Future Self directed by Pornsak Pichetshote
Afraid of You directed by Russell Sanzgiri
Animation Hotline, 2012 directed by Dustin Grella
Light Me Up directed by Ryan Walton, Derek Dolechek
Night Giant directed by Aaron Beckum
Stein
Stryngs
Super Heroes
Water on Mars
Prevertere (88 minutes)
Sunday, July 14, 2013, 7:00 PM
Director/Writer: Brian McGuire
Cinematographer: Marcello Altieri
Editor: Thy Tran
Producers: Bret Roberts, Logan Sparks, Joey Capone
In Prevertere, Indie film whiz kid Brian McGuire writes and directs this narrative that features a post-modern day Casanova, named Templeton, who twists his way through the shoals of love and love making (with a detour to Vegas where he encounters a David Lychian cast of characters). He meets his match with a woman who’s every bit his equal in mind, body and the predilection for the kinky. There are no answers, only questions posed in the McGuire’s Socratic tackling of the age-old subject of what’s fair in love (not to mention the inevitable war that follows). (88 minutes)
TRAILER: http://www.prevertere.com/trailers.html
Submerge (97 Minutes)
Sunday, July 14, 2013, 9:00 PM
Director: Sophie O’Connor
Cinematographer: Karl Siemon
Editor: Ceinwen Berry
Writers: Kat Holmes, Sophie O’Connor
Producers: The Colonel, Kat Holmes
Set in Australia, “Submerge” follows college–bound Jordan as she struggles to balance her studies with her competitive swimming and a newly burgeoning social life. When she begins to neglect all of her responsibilities for an affair she is having with her professor’s wife, she starts to travel down a forbidden path of short-term pleasures and long-term repercussions. This is a GenX twist on the tried-and-true love triangle storyline, but as told from the woman’s POV.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2447336/
FB PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Submerge-the-Movie/151100361622522
MONDAY JULY 15
5th Street
Monday, July 15, 2013, 09:15 PM
Director: Alex Meader
Writer: Eric Martinez
Producers: Eric Martinez, Prod Aya Nakano, CoEP Christian Monzon
5th Street: Joe Montoya is a good man who is struck by tragedy when he is in a bad place at the wrong time. Torn between allowing an unjust system with all its bureaucratic limitations take its course, or taking matters into his own hands to exact his revenge, Joe struggles with his decision as it plays out in the gritty streets of L.A. Set against the city’s entrenched gang culture, the film is a modern-day urban Western where the law, vigilante justice and what’s right and wrong are all open to interpretation. (103 Minutes)
TRAILER: http://vimeo.com/49822803
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2222192/fullcredits#cast
FB PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/5th-Street-Feature-Film/125797384195745
Plays with the following short:
Paper (23 Minutes)
Director: Ivan Kraljevic
Writer: Elena Talan
Cinematographer TJ Hellmuth
Producer: Daniel Shultz
Paper is a modern day immigrant story which follows the journey of Mashka, a young Russian woman trying to make it in the US. Mashka in search of the American dream, escapes from a degrading massage parlor job in Brooklyn to search for a new beginning. She finds herself alone in Venice Beach, California without money or passport. Desperate, she is looking for anyone to come along. In her search for security she unwillingly falls for Jimmy, a poor artist and paparazzi photographer. Life has given Mashka the right cards, but can she recognize them? It is a conflict of different cultures, priorities and ethics.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2574080/
TUESDAY JULY 16
I’m Harry Clark (90 Minutes)
Tuesday, July 16, 2013, 7:00 PM
Director/Editor/Writer: Mickey Blaine
Cinematographer: Terrance Stewart
Producer: Nicole Blaine
m Harry Clark is a family man fighting for equality. At least that’s what his press kit says. We meet Harry Clark in the middle of a seemingly futile campaign for State Senate. As the possibility that he may actually win the election increases, the discrepancies between what Harry says and what Harry does start to take their toll. How does a ‘family man’ account for a mistress of ten years? What about his brother, the medical marijuana cultivator? How does his undocumented nanny reflect his position on immigration? Through a series of interviews inter-cut with scenarios from his real life, we get a glimpse at how Harry’s life can no longer remain separate from his campaign and the effect this confluence has on Harry Clark. (90 Minutes)
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2670530/
FB PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/ImHarryClark
WEDNESDAY JULY 17
Counterpunch
Wednesday, July 17, 2013, 7:00 PM
Counterpunch (96 Minutes)
Director: Kenneth Castillo
Writer: Alvaro Orlando, Kenneth Castillo
Producers: Ivett Havasi, Alvaro Orlando, Beau Turpin (co-producer), Emanuel Millar (co-producer), Electra Avellan (co-producer), Tommy Kijas (co-producer), Nicholes Cole (co-producer)
Counterpunch is based on a true story, young boxer Emilio is from the wrong side of the tracks with big dreams of winning the Golden Gloves boxing championship. But his struggle with his inner demons (and mental illness) put himself at a crossroads. As he fights his way back into the winning circle with the help of a new love in his life, he gets a second shot at the championship title. As he is toe to toe in the ring with his formidable competitor, he’ll throw all the punches to be the last man standing. (96 Minutes)
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2051850/
THURSDAY JULY 18
Circle The Wagen
Thursday, July 18, 2013, 7:00 PM
Circle The Wagen (87 Minutes)
Thursday, July 18, 2013, 07:00PM
Director: Ryan Steven Green
Cinematographer: Lawson Deming
Editors: Austin flack, Ryan Steven Green
Producer: David Torstenson
CIRCLE THE WAGEN is a feature-length buddy/road-trip/docu-dramedy about the American vintage Volkswagen underground; a close-knit community for whom the joy of driving is the joy of living. It follows Dave, an idealistic adventurer & automotive neer-do-well, & his amiable pal Charlie, on their journey down Route 66 in a 1972 bus won on eBay for $787. Through countless backfires, blowouts, & breakdowns the heart of the vintage VW community is revealed as they attempt to save ‘The Croc’ from the scrap heap and rally her beleaguered owner on to California. (87 Minutes)
WEBSITE: http://www.circlethewagen.com/
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1353990/
Plays with the following short:
Boombox Kids (22 Minutes)
Director/Writer: Taylor Gledhill
Cinematographer: Greg Balkin
Editor: Kevin Neynaber
Producer: Kate Lilly
Boombox Kids: Lifelong friends Curtis, Jayke, Bryce, and Rocky are living the 90’s dream as their rising boy-band the ‘Boom Box Kids’ finishes its first regional tour. However, when Curtis and Jayke overhear that an agent plans to choose one of them for an ‘International All-Star Group,’ the front-men become locked in a head-to-head battle for supremacy that ultimately puts the band (and friendship) in jeopardy.
WEBSITE: http://kevinneynaber.com/film/boom-box-kids/
TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W6Li1r_QBA
FRIDAY JULY 19
KUMPANIA (60 minutes)
Friday, July 19, 2013, 8:00 PM
Director & Producer Katina Dunn
Executive Producer Kevin Dunn
Cinematographer Avi Cohen
Film Editor & Co-Producer Noah Berlow
Sound Design Canyon Cody & Sean Dwyer “Gnotes”
Music Editor Fran Gala
KUMPANIA Focuses on the flamenco subculture of Los Angeles lives and breathes the music of the outcasts from 17th century Spain.
CRITIC’S NOTE: This infectious home grown Flamenco documentary, enlivened with organic handmade film stylizations was one of thee hits at both Dances With Films, 2013 and the recipient of the Audience Award at The Madrid International Film Festival.
Chicago born Tribune jourmalist Katina Dunn translates her fascination with Los Angeles unique Flamenco scene into a compelling portrait of cultural diaspora and influence, one that surprised and enlightened film audiences in Flamenco’s native land. A MUST SEE
The Feature Film is also accompanied with a live performance by local lights of the Flamenco scene.
CLOSING NIGHT SAT JULY 20
Chinatown
Saturday, July 20, 2013, 8:30 PM
Roman Polanski’s 1974 classic color Noir, set in Downtown Los Angeles among other locales stars Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston
Playing with the following short:
The Last Days Of Cinerama
The Last Days of Cinerama is a celebration of the revival (and an examination of the demise) of the first major wide-screen film process, as well as a behind-the-scenes documentary detailing the making of the first three-panel Cinerama film in 50 years. (25 Minutes)
Director: Mike Celestino & Robert Garren
TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FimnBrtsz0s
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2355310/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
PAGE: http://whathappensnext.net/Portfolio.html
PARTYS
Your ticket to any festival screening or your festival badge is your complimentary pass to these events:
Opening Night Film prescreening cocktail party at AT&T Center Theater / Tonight, 6:30 pm
Downtown Filmmakers Party at The Well / Sat. 10:30 pm
Centerpiece Gala Party at LACDA / Sun. 4:30 pm
“Pervertere” After-Screening Party at “secret artists loft” / Sun. 10:00 pm
“Counterpunch” After-Screening Party at Spring Street Studios / Wed., 9 pm
“Circle The Wagen” After-Screening Party At The Mixing Room, lobby level of J.W. Marriott Hotel at L.A. Live / Thurs. 9:30 pm
Closing Night Reception, location TBA / Sat. 5:00 pm
More information and ticket sales, is available at the Downtown Film Festival Of Angeles’ website: www.dffla.com.