Island Fest features more than 300 films, industry panels and film parties in Long Beach and on Catalina Island
Courtesy of Catalina Film Festival
This is one of those rare cases where 13 is a lucky number.
Catalina Film Festival organizers have announced that the 13th annual celebration of cinema will be held Sept 20-24.
The festival showcasing 300+ films will take place in the sister cities at sea of Long Beach and Avalon on Catalina Island. Starting in Long Beach, the Catalina Film Festival opens at the Scottish Rite Center on Wednesday, Sept. 20 and continues through Thursday, Sept. 21, before setting sail for Catalina Island Friday, Sept. 22 – Sunday, Sept. 24.
Long Beach highlights
Catalina Film Festival’s mainland experience opens in the city of Long Beach at the historic Scottish Rite Event Center’s three screening rooms: Ernest Borgnine Theater, President’s Theater and the Entertainment Hall.
Day 1 is all about the shorts with blocks featuring Conservation, Docs, International and US Shorts.
The Red Carpet Opening Night presentation and US Feature: Not for Nothing, is a film by Frank Joseph Tartaglia and Tim Dowlin, starring Mike Bash, Michael Gambino, Mark Webber, Lauren Lavera & Vic Dibitetto.
The Catalina Film Festival hosts the ONLY Official Wes Craven Award in the world, with winners selected by the Craven family.
This year’s featured Wes Craven Horror & Thriller Shorts block: Over Your Dead Body screens Thursday at 3pm. Other Thursday films include Heightened, US Feature; Documentary Feature RadioActive: The Women of Three Mile Island; and the Thursday Night Red Carpet and Psychological Thriller: Bibi, written and directed by Christopher Beatty, starring Elizabeth Paige, Judith Ann DiMinni, and Tammy Blanchard.
Catalina Island
highlights
Festival-goers set sail Friday morning to reach Hollywood’s famed Island with this year’s official check-in hosted at the Glenmore Plaza Hotel.
Friday festivities include the annual Lions Den: A Live Pitch Panel held at Avalon City Hall, as well as shorts blocks and the Red Carpet Spotlight Film: Year of the Fox starring Sarah Jeffrey, Jane Adams, Jake Weber, directed by Megan Griffiths.
Catalina Film Institute’s mission focuses on the IMAGINATION, EDUCATION and DESTINATION of filmmakers, Saturday’s schedule features: The Directors Chair: International Directors Panel and A Class Act: A Harborside Panel. Other Saturday highlights include the documentary feature: Texas Music Revolution, as well as the Red Carpet feature: Miranda’s Victim, directed by Michelle Danner, starring Abigail Breslin and Taryn Manning. Sunday’s panels include Money Talks: Producers Panel and That’s a Wrap: Film Distribution Panel.
Tickets, schedule and info: CatalinaFilm.org. Watch online with Catalina Film Virtual via eoApp / EntertainmentOxygen.com Fest Sept 29-Oct. 8.
About the festival
Known for its storied history and sweeping views, Catalina Film Festival past celebrity guests and honorees include Nicolas Cage, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Kevin Hart, Mira Sorvino, William H. Macy, Andy Garcia, Sharon Stone, Emmy Rossum, Richard Dreyfuss, Kate Bosworth and more.
CFF is a competitive festival with awards in multiple categories, including the Stanley Kramer Social Artist Award, Wes Craven Horror Award, and Conservation Award. Sponsored by Califino Tequila.
For more information, CatalinaFilm.org.
