Out of the several highlights from this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival, which opens June 16th and runs until the 26th, the most intriguing may be the selection of filmmaker Guillermo del Toro as Guest Director. In this role, del Toro has selected a film to screen that has influenced him, followed by a Q & A session.
The festival has also announced additional selections for special programs, including the world premiere of FilmDistrict’s “Don’t be Afraid of the Dark,” which will close out the festival, a special screening of “Green Lantern” from Warner Bros., and conversations with James Franco and Julie Taymor.
“Guillermo del Toro is one of the most visionary directors of our time,” said Los Angeles Film Festival Director Rebecca Yeldham. “It’s an honor to welcome Guillermo back to our festival as this year’s Guest Director and to unite our audiences with this extraordinary, consummate artist."
Yeldham also went on to praise the festival’s special selections and the panel discussions with actors and filmmakers.
“Building on a tradition of providing our audiences with access to world-class artists and their work, we’re thrilled to announce this round of festival additions.”
The LA Film Fest will screen over 200 films, including narrative features, shorts, and music videos, coming from more than 30 countries. Produced by Film Independent (which also puts on the Independent Spirit Awards) and presented by the Los Angeles Times, LAFF is now in its 17th year.
“Don’t be Afraid of the Dark,” chosen as the closing film, is directed by Troy Nixey, and written by del Toro and Matthew Robbins. The film is based on the 1973 telefilm of the same name which del Toro counts as the scariest TV movie ever made. It stars Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce and Bailee Madison, and centers around Sally (played by Madison) who moves in with her father (Pearce) and his girlfriend (Holmes), who are restoring a 19th century mansion in Rhode Island. Sally begins to hear voices, and it seems that there are creatures in the basement who would like very much to possess her. The film will be released on August 26th of this year by FilmDistrict.
The special “Green Lantern” screening will be held June 16th. “Green Lantern” is directed by Martin Campbell and stars Ryan Reynolds in the titular role. It also stars Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, and Tim Robbins. The film gets wide release on June 17th.
James Franco seems to be everywhere these days, and the evening with the actor, writer, musician and filmmaker will be punctuated by a screening of “The Broken Tower,” which he wrote, directed and stars in.
Julie Taymor, whose career spans both theater and film, will sit in for a discussion about adapting material and the differences between the stage and the big screen. Taymor is known for her 1999 film debut “Titus,” the Academy Award winning “Frida,” “Across the Universe,” and “The Tempest,” released last year.
“Something very special happens when you have great talents sharing their experience with an audience. We’re honored and excited to have such artists as Guillermo del Toro, Julie Taymor, James Franco, Chris Weitz, Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and Nicolas Winding Refn joining us this year. It should make for some magical nights!” said Los Angeles Film Festival Artistic Director David Ansen.
