CineVegas-CineVegas-CineVegas!!! It’s been ten years since the dawn of this film festival first unreeled its initial offerings.  Now, in our current blaze of economic foreclosures, highest gasoline prices, employment (both private and governmental) lay-offs, and altogether a miserable state of recession – CineVegas is coming of true age.  It is a “reel-ief” from our current state of affairs.  This film fest brings its film offerings, celebrities, and veteran filmmakers to town to celebrate the world that is the vision of the image. 

The Tenth Annual CineVegas Film Festival will be held at The Palms Casino Resort and Brendan Theaters in Las Vegas from June 12 through June 21, 2008.  Much ado about everything will be celebrated during the ten days of the tenth year.

How many tens will be screened this year? 

The honorees for CineVegas 2008 are:

Don Cheadle – Half Life Award

Viggo Mortensen – Half Life Award

Rosario Dawson – Half Life Award

Sam Rockwell – Half Life Award

Anjelica Huston – Marquee Award

James Caan – Vegas Icon Award

The Artistic Director of CineVegas is Trevor Goth, maintaining his tenure at the helm of this event.  Dennis Hopper remains as Chairman of the Creative Advisory Board.  Robin Greenspun is President of the Film Festival.

Nevada’s own filmmakers are represented in a special viewing, one of which includes a film by Francisco Menendez, chairman of the Film Department of UNLV.  His entry is titled, “Primo.”  Menendez has always worked with the festival in getting the works of UNLV film students and as a consulting advisor to the event.

UNLV, CSN, and other Nevadans, who have made up the category of Nevada Shorts, will be screened at the theaters.

Opening night is a blast-off from “The Rocker.”  We will, we will – rock you Vegas!!!  Laughter from the director of “The Full Monty,” will premiere the CineVegas manifest.

The closing night film is the magical prestidigitation of “The Great Buck Howard.” This film, produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetz, stars John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn, and Tom Hanks.  This movie was the brainstorm i creation from the original The Amazing Kreskin – a Johnny Carson character – who appeared almost nightly during Carson’s great Tonight Show years.  In fact, this mentalist is supposed to have made 61 appearances on the Tonight Show.  Here’s to Johnny………….

Naturally, there are parties galore every night – and “what happens at CineVegas...” could end up on the silver screen anywhere in the world! Party on and enjoy!  Red carpets will abound and celebrity sightings and dinners will have the attendees dish the latest desert dirt, and other upcoming news, in the film industry. 

CineVegas has always been a prime event in Las Vegas, but this year, with more attention to planning and the entire festival parameters carefully smoothed out, you, too, have a chance to get the REEL-IEF from your own problems.  Remember, during the Great Depression in the 1930’s, most of America drowned their sorrowful existence with a movie ticket to the enchanted world of fantasy that existed on the silver screen.  That screen is now golden and its path leads to Las Vegas…the new Las Vegas of 2008.  Ready?  Speed, camera, ACTION!!!!!!!!!

ROLL 'EM BABY!!!!!