This Weekend:  Las Vegas International Film Festival

Eastside Cannery on the Boulder Strip

Boulder Highway, just south of Flamingo Rd. Directions below

Thursday, April 9th to Sunday, April 12th

11:00 AM Thursday to 9:00 PM on Sunday 

The newest film festival on the block is the Las Vegas International Film Festival, (LVIFF). http://www.lvfilmfest.com/

If you missed this Festival in 2008, then catch ‘the wave’ for their second annual event in the brand new Eastside Cannery. 

The festival organizers have assembled scores of documentaries, Shorts, Feature length films (some are World Premieres), often running in concurrent screenings from 11:00 AM Thursday nonstop until late Sunday Evening!  

Giving CineVegas a run for the money, choices of filmic subject matter run the full spectrum, which is a wonderful addition to our local access to independent filmmaking, along with the red carpet events, afternoon filmmaker panels, Celebrity Intimate Conversations and the requisite After Parties each evening giving the LVIFF bonafide film festival status—not to be missed! 

John Saxon (indeed) will be on hand for one of the two celebrity events (Thursday evening). Barry Pepper is the Friday evening 9PM Celebrity Conversation in the Main Ballroom. Most recently seen in Will Smith’s Seven Pounds, Pepper rose to fame some 15 films ago in the 1998 film classic, Saving Private Ryan.  

These kinds of interviews and the filmmaker panels, coupled with a dense screening schedule, demonstrate the level of commitment and quality that festival organizers create for their festival. 

The 2009 Festival will showcase 14 Feature Films, 4 Music Videos, 6 films by Nevada Filmmakers, 21 Documentaries, 34 Shorts, 9 Student Films, and 2 Television Pilot films. The subjects are incredibly broad in scope, with Experimental Films, a Screenplay Competition and more films adding into the schedule. 

Feature length works include a feature film, How to Be, with newest vampire hunk Robert Pattinson and the timely Sundance nominated documentary Prom Night in Mississippi, which is narrated by Morgan Freeman. Two more documentaries also have all-star narrators. John Cusack lends his voice to Summerhood and So Right So Smart is narrated by Daryl Hannah. Foreign entry Short Spielzuegland (Toyland) recently won the 2009 Oscar for Short Film, Live Action, netting 14 wins and several nominations on the film festival circuit internationally. 

What could be called the ‘Primetime’ screenings are: Fighting Politics for the Friday evening 8:15PM screening, Man Who Lives With Bears is the 8PM feature length film for Saturday evening and So You Want Michael Madsen is the Sunday evening 7:35 screening. There are many equally important films scattered throughout the days and evenings, so check the schedule at http://lvfilmfest.com/Festival_2007/Schedule.aspx . 

If you are a Shorts fan, there are several segments: Thursday at 12:45 and 2:55 and the Nevada Film Block at 8:30PM. ON Friday, there are the 12:50 PM block, the local student college CSN Block at 2:55PM (not to be missed) and the segment at 5:20. Saturday’s Shorts blocks of films are at 12:45PM and 2:00PM. Sunday’s Shorts are at 2:10 and 2:45. 

If you are into boxing or extreme fights, God’s Ears on Thursday and mixed martial arts gets a retrospective look in the documentary Fighting Politics on Friday evening. 
 

Parties and Galas 
 
Opening Night Filmmaker Reception 
Friday Night Party 
Golden Aces Awards Ceremony 
Closing Night Filmmaker Party 
 
Celebrity Tributes: John Saxon and Barry Pepper 
 
Celebrity Tributes featuring in-depth interviews, award presentations and audience question and answer sessions.  

Filmmaker Panels 
 
Filmmakers Panel - Filmmakers on Filmmaking 
Producers Panel – The Business of Filmmaking 
Writers Panel – The Art of Storytelling 

Friday, April 10, 2:30 pm - Screen 1 
Writers Panel - The Art of Storytelling 
The backbone of every good film is a well-written screenplay.  Discuss the art of screenwriting with some of the best minds in independent film. 
 
Saturday, April 11, 12:40 pm - Screen 1   
Directors Panel - Directors on Filmmaking 
What does it really take to get an independent film out of your head and onto the screen? Find out here.  
 
Sunday, April 12, 12:55 pm - Screen 1  
Producers Panel - The Business of Filmmaking 
Ever wonder what it is that a producer actually does?  Learn how to assemble the right team from hiring crew to raising financing. 

The Las Vegas Film Festival is one of Las Vegas’ premiere film events taking place annually in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world. Dedicated to showcasing the finest American and international cinema the world has to offer, our mission is to bridge the gap between independent film audiences and filmmakers, as well as to connect emerging filmmakers with established industry professionals. 

The festival offers a variety of film screenings from Oscar-winning films to world premieres, celebrity tributes, interactive panel discussions, special guests, a screenplay competition, red carpet parties, a filmmaker reception, as well as a closing night ceremony and awards. 

How Much:

Walk-up sales of Tickets and Passes will also be available at the venue during the festival. 
 
Film Tickets and Passes 
 
Individual Film Tickets         $7 
 
5-Film Mini-Pass                   $25 
Watch any five films at the festival. 
 
All-day Film Pass                  $50 
Admittance to all films in a single day. 
 
Cinephile Pass                      $100 
Priority admittance to all films, panels, parties, celebrity interviews, and events throughout the festival. 
 
Filmmaker Panels / $10 per Ticket 
 
Filmmakers Panel - Filmmakers on Filmmaking                             
Producers Panel – The Business of Filmmaking      
Writer's Panel - The Art of Storytelling 
 
Celebrity Tributes / $10 per Ticket 
 
Admittance to exclusive celebrity tribute featuring in-depth interview, award presentation and audience question and answer session. 
 
Parties / $10 per Ticket 
 
Admittance to Festival Parties and Galas. 
 
General Policies for Pass-Holders 
 
Passholder must arrive at least 10 minutes prior to show time for priority admission. 
 
Only one person per pass, per screening. 
 
No one under the age of 21 will be admitted to parties serving alcohol, including Opening Night and Closing Night Parties. 
 
Passes are transferable but not refundable. 

Where:

Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel 
5255 Boulder Highway 
Las Vegas, Nevada 89122 
 
Phone: 702-856-5300 
Website: www.eastsidecannery.com 

Directions to the Eastside Cannery 
 
From North Las Vegas 
 
    * Take I-15 South 
    * Merge onto US-93 South / US-95 South via EXIT 42 toward  
       Phoenix/Downtown LV. 
    * Take East Flamingo Road EXIT 69 
    * Take a Left (East) toward Boulder Hwy 
    * Turn Right (South) onto Boulder Hwy. 
    * Go straight for 1.2 miles 
    * End at 5255 Boulder Hwy. 
 
From West Las Vegas 
 
    * Take the Summerlin Pkwy. East 
    * Merge onto US-95 South via the exit on the Left. 
    * Continue going South on US-95 
    * Take East Flamingo Road EXIT 69 
    * Take a Left (East) toward Boulder Hwy. 
    * Turn Right (South) onto Boulder Hwy. go straight for 1.2 miles 
    * End at 5255 Boulder Hwy. 
 
From South Las Vegas 
 
    * Take 215 East to 515 North to Las Vegas. 
    * Take East Flamingo Road EXIT 69 
    * Take a Right (East) toward Boulder Hwy. 
    * Turn RIGHT (South) onto Boulder Hwy. go straight for 1.2 miles 
    * End at 5255 Boulder Hwy.