Los Angeles Film Festival Opens Today

Max Beckmann
"Film Studio"
25 5/8 x 37 5/8 in. (65.1 x 95.6 cm) oil on canvas 1933
Saint Louis Art Museum

The Los Angeles Film Festival opens today and runs until July 2nd. The screenings will be held in venues throughout Westwood.

Star Wars empresario George Lucas acts as Guest Director this year. Lucas has this to say about independent film, "Throughout my life, I have been amazed and inspired by films that transport me to new lands .... The experience of discovering these new cultures, new stories and new filmmakers is exhilarating and rejuvenating."

As Guest Director, George Lucas has elected to screen three films:

Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai"
Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove"
Jean-Luc Godard's "Masculine Feminine"

Poolside chats will be held during the festival at the W Hotel. Anjelica Huston and Sally Kellerman will talk about photography with photographers Michael Childers and John Stoddart on Wednesday, June 28th at 7 p.m. ($15 at the door)

Conversations about film, art and music will be held at the Hammer Museum. (At least I hope they talk about art while at the Hammer.)

Danger Mouse opened up the festival last week at the Hammer. My thoughts on that conversation will appear soon.

L.A. Film Festival