'Shadrach' to kick off L.A. fest
LAIFF growing in scope, importance
The period drama centers on the tensions that arise in a small town when an ex-slave returns to his birthplace. On hand for the premiere will be Susanna Styron, who directed and co-adapted her father's story with producer Bridget Terry, and actors Harvey Keitel and Andie MacDowell.
"We're going out of our minds in that final crunch to be ready," said fest director Robert Faust. "We're very happy with the program, pleased by the advance response and being driven crazy by last-minute requests for accreditation and tickets."
Arguably the fastest-growing American fest in both size and influence, LAIFF 1998 has lined up the strongest screening and seminar session in its brief history. An indication of its mounting importance are the increasing number of films receiving first screenings and the ballooning ranks of non-Hollywood acquisition reps set to attend.
The most recent addition to the screening schedule is "Stuart Bliss," a black comedy about a man who may or may not be suffering from a persecution complex.
"We're very lucky guys," said "Bliss" title performer/co-producer/co-writer Michael Zelniker. "You never quite believe those calls from fest programmers that they loved the picture, but there just wasn't space in the program for it. It was just chance that a slot opened up, and we're very happy to be selected."
Other features in the fest's competition include "Broken Vessels," "Chicago Cab," "Claudine's Return," "Cleopatra's Second Husband," "The Cruise," "Louis and Frank," "15 Months in May," "OK Garage," "Pants on Fire," "Scotch and Milk" and "Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God ... Be Back by Five."
Also recently confirmed are the seminar leaders for the various craft intensives. Matthew Modine and Stacy Edwards will headline the acting workshop, while Oscar-winning writer Christopher McQuarrie and Stephen Kay ("The Last Time I Committed Suicide") will speak to scribes. Bryan Singer and Alison Anders call the shots for directors, and production design will be crafted by John Muto ("Species") and Catherine Hardwicke ("Tank Girl"). The Eastman Kodak conversations with cinematographers will be spotlighted by sessions with "Titanic's" Russell Carpenter and Victor Kemper.
Advance sales for all LAIFF events have been brisk, with additional screenings already slotted for the features "Starf*cker" and "Broken Vessels." Further information and updates are available by contacting LAIFF at (213) 937-9155.
