Opening LAFF.

The Los Angeles Film Festival opens today and runs through July 2. LA Weekly critics name seven not-to-be-missed entries as well as "Rest of the Fest," while Ernest Hardy previews the Music Video Showcase.

Scott Foundas talks with the organizers about this year's changes (there's been a move across town, for example), previews three picks from the International Showcase "by foreign-born filmmakers who eventually became Los Angeles-based expatriates," and a "series of acclaimed recent films that have yet to screen locally, curated by members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, [which] returns as part of this year's LAFF, complete with a panel discussion in which critics (including this one), distributors and exhibitors will discuss the market forces affecting the distribution of foreign and independent films."

The Los Angeles Times, a presenter, opens a special section devoted to the fest, with Mary McNamara getting organizers to explain why Los Angeles, of all places, would actually need a film festival: "'So many people in LA are, quite frankly, ground down by life in the industry,' says Dawn Hudson, executive director of Film Independent, which produces the festival. 'We want to remind them why they came here in the first place. We want to remind them that it was for a love of film.'"

Also, Kevin Crust recommends ten docs and Susan King offers a few tips for attendees.

Andy Klein presents his recommendations in the LA CityBeat - the "best of the batch" he was able to preview "is handily 13 (Tzameti)" - and Lauren Horwitch talks with Artist in Residence, Danger Mouse, aka Brian Burton.

Posted by dwhudson at June 22, 2006 8:21 AM