HOLLYWOOD, Calif., September 29, 2004 -- The Hollywood Film Festival's Board of Advisors has unveiled the line-up for the 2004 Hollywood Film Awards competition. The announcement was made today by Carlos de Abreu, Founder and Executive Director of the festival. The finalists were selected from over 2,100 film submissions -- an increase in worldwide submissions to the festival of more than 30% since last year -- and include features, documentaries, and shorts. The screenings will take place from October 12 to 17 at Arclight Theatres (6360 Sunset Blvd.).
"This year's Hollywood Film Festival continues its tradition of honoring the very best talent within our community. It is a celebration of all aspects of Hollywood filmmaking and the artists who help to create its lasting legacy on our culture," festival co-chair Paula Wagner said.
The festival will have its Opening Night Premiere on October 12 with the World Premiere of the documentary "THE CUTTING EDGE: THE MAGIC OF MOVIE EDITING," featuring many top directors and editors, and it will close with the Gala U.S. Premiere of Lions Gate Films' "A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG," starring John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson on October 17. The festival will also present seven Centerpiece Premieres on October 13, 14, 15 and 16: Miramax's "FINDING NEVERLAND," starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet on October 13; Lions Gate Films' "EULOGY," starring Hank Azaria, Jesse Bradford, Zooey Deschanel, Kelly Preston, Ray Romano and Debra Winger on October 13, Lions Gate Films' "I AM DAVID," starring Ben Tibber, Joan Plowright and Jim Caviezel on October 14; United Artists' "UNDERTOW," starring Jamie Bell, Josh Lucas, Devon Alan, Shiri Appleby and Dermot Mulroney on October 14; and Newmarket Films' "P.S.," starring Laura Linney, Topher Grace, Paul Rudd, Lois Smith, Gabriel Byrne, and Marcia Gay Harden on October 15; Paramount Classics' "THE MACHINIST," starring Christian Bale and Jennifer Jason Leigh on October 15; and Paramount Classics' "ENDURING LOVE," starring Daniel Craig, Rhys Ifans and Samantha Morton on October 16.
As per its mandate, bridging the gap between Hollywood and the global creative community, this year's festival will focus on celebrating both World and European Cinema by bestowing the "Hollywood World Awards" and "Hollywood European Awards" during the prestigious Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday, October 18.
The festival is also presenting the "Hollywood Horror, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Festival" showcase of horror films in alliance with Film Threat, which will include a presentation of the "Hollywood Horror Film Award" to filmmaker Don Coscarelli.
The festival's program includes films from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States among other countries.
"The films that were selected for the festival are truly outstanding and showcase a wide array of talented filmmakers," commented Mr. de Abreu. "This year's line-up will present an excellent cross section of independent cinema from Europe and around the world," he added.
"THE CUTTING EDGE: THE MAGIC OF MOVIE EDITING" the festival's Opening Night World Premiere on Tuesday, October 12, is a documentary directed by Wendy Apple. It takes the viewer on an entertaining journey inside the editing room and examines the editor's vital role in the filmmaking process. It explores how the editor/director relationship has changed over the years from silents to the present day, where collaboration between editors and directors can span twenty years or more. Directors such as Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, and many others, reveal the close collaboration with their editors, and show how, by reshaping scenes and intensifying emotional nuances, the editor has reinvented and honed in the editing room what was originally shot on the set. Editors such as Walter Murch ("The Godfather," "Apocalypse Now"), Dede Allen ("Bonnie and Clyde"), Carol Littleton ("ET"), Donn Cambern ("Easy Rider"), TOM ROLF ("Taxi Driver"), Sally Menke ("Kill Bill," "Pulp Fiction") Chris Lebenzon ("XXX," "Gone in Sixty Seconds"), Alan Heim ("All That Jazz"), and others, demonstrate how editing has always been at the heart of 100 years of cinema -- with the editor its unsung hero. "The Cutting Edge" was produced by Wendy Apple and Alan Heim and written by Mark Jonathan Harris.
"FINDING NEVERLAND," the festival's Centerpiece Premiere on Wednesday, October 13, was directed by Marc Forster. Starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Radha Mitchell and Dustin Hoffman, "Finding Neverland" is a tale of magic and fantasy inspired by the life of James Barrie, the real-life author of the children's classic "Peter Pan." The film is a fictional account of Barrie's creative journey to bring "Peter Pan" to life, from his first inspiration for the story up until the play's premiere -- a night that changes not only Barrie's life, but the lives of everyone close to him. From Miramax, the film was produced by Richard N. Gladstein and Nellie Bellflower, from a screenplay by David Magee based on Alan Knee's
play.
"EULOGY," from Lions Gate Films, will be a Centerpiece Premiere on Wednesday, October 13. It was directed and written by Michael Clancy and stars Azaria, Jesse Bradford, Zooey Deschanel, Kelly Preston, Ray Romano and Debra Winger. "Eulogy" is about what happens when three generations of a deliciously dysfunctional family gather to bury the family patriarch and the beloved granddaughter of the deceased is given the task of delivering the eulogy. In the days leading up to the funeral, she tries to hold her lunatic clan together as secrets are revealed, old grudges resurface, and the household erupts with renewed vigor. The film was produced by Steven Haft, Richard B. Lewis, and Kirk D'Amico.
"I AM DAVID," from Lions Gate Films, will be a Centerpiece premiere on Thursday, October 14. Directed by Paul Feig, the film stars Ben Tibber, Joan Plowright and Jim Caviezel, and was produced by Clive Parsons, Davina Belling, and Lauren Levine. An extraordinary family adventure, I Am David follows a twelve-year-old boy as he boldly escapes from an East European prison camp and makes an incredible personal journey to freedom. Fleeing with only a compass, half a loaf of bread, and a sealed, secret letter he must carry across the continent, David cannot foresee the dramatic odyssey that awaits him. From stowing away on a ship bound for Italy, to facing his fears of the dangerous outside world, to the unexpected revelation of his true identity, David discovers for the first time the real meaning of courage, trust, laughter, and hope.
"UNDERTOW," from United Artists, will also be a Centerpiece Premiere on Thursday, October 14. Directed by David Gordon Green, "Undertow" is a stylish and atmospheric film that takes place in rural Georgia, where Chris, a teenage troublemaker, and his brother, Tim, live with their widowed father, who is suddenly visited by his brother, an ex-con with scores to settle. A confrontation between their father and uncle prompts Chris and Tim to flee -- with their uncle in hot pursuit -- and they are caught in a terrifying game of cat-and-mouse. "Undertow" was written by David Gordon Green and Joe Conway and produced by Lisa Muskat, Terence Malick, and Edward R. Pressman.
"P.S.," from Newmarket Films, will be a Centerpiece Premiere on Friday, October 15, In "P.S.," directed by Dylan Kidd, a thirtysomething divorcee's life gets a seriously sexy jolt when she meets a twentysomething grad student who just happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to her high school sweetheart who died twenty years earlier. Starring Laura Linney, Topher Grace, Paul Rudd, Lois Smith, Gabriel Byrne, and Marcia Gay Harden, "P.S." was written by Helen Schulman and Dylan Kidd and produced by Robert Kessel, Anne Chaisson, John N. Hart and Jeffrey Sharp.
"THE MACHINIST," from Paramount Classics, will be a Centerpiece Premiere on Friday, October 15. Directed by Brad Anderson and starring Christian Bale and Jennifer Jason Leigh, "The Machinist" tells the story of Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale) who hasnıt slept in a year, which has led to a shocking deterioration of his physical and mental health. In this psychological thriller, Trevorıs only solace comes from his call-girl girlfriend (Jennifer Jason Leigh) when his world becomes a living nightmare as cryptic notes turn up in his apartment and he has visions of a co-worker no one else can see. Are these mysteries part of a plot to drive him mad? Or has fatigue simply robbed him of reason? Determined to find answers, he embarks on a journey of self-awareness; yet the more he learns, the less he wants to know. "The Machinist" was produced by Julio Fernandez.
"ENDURING LOVE," from Paramount Classics, is the Centerpiece Premiere on Saturday, October 16. The film was directed by Roger Michell, produced by Kevin Loader, and stars Daniel Craig, Rhys Ifans, and Samantha Morton. A picnic on a perfect day in the English countryside becomes a sudden moment of crisis as a hot air balloon plunges from the sky. A young boy is in danger and Joe (Daniel Craig), and three other men race to the rescue. In their attempt, one of the men meets a spectacular and totally unpredictable death. Joe is haunted with guilt for his part in the matter. Another rescuer, intense and obsessive Jed (Rhys Ifans), fixates on Joe and sets about to systematically destabilize his life, his career, and his connection with his longtime girlfriend, Claire (Samantha Morton). A thriller about the need to find meaning in accident, "Enduring Love," based on Ian McEwanıs best-selling novel, explores the conflict between affection that destroys and affection that heals.
"A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG" is the festival's Closing Night U.S. Premiere on Sunday, October 17. Shainee Gabel's feature film writing and directorial debut, the film stars John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson, Gabriel Macht and Debra Kara Unger. "A Love Song for Bobby Long" tells the story of an independent young woman who returns home two days late for the funeral of the mother who abandoned her. She finds herself seeking answers through those who loved her mother, while she boards with her mother's alcoholic ex-lover. The film was produced by Paul Miller, David Lancaster, and Bob Yari.
The 2004 Annual Hollywood Film Festival, which will take place from October 12 to 18, incorporates in its activities the HOLLYWOOD FILM CONFERENCE, HOLLYWOOD FILM SCREENINGS, and HOLLYWOOD FILM AWARDS. The screenings and conference will take place at the Arclight Theatres in Hollywood. The Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Monday, October 18.
This year's industry professionals who will be honored for their achievements at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony include John Travolta for lifetime achievement, Newmarket Films' president Bob Berney for leadership, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Dean Robert Rosen for film preservation, Michael Mann for directing, Leonardo DiCaprio and Annette Bening for acting, Mel Gibson for producing, John Logan for screenwriting,
Caleb Deschanelfor cinematography, Sally Menke for editing, Thomas Newman for film composing, John Dykstra for visual effects, Albert Wolsky for costume design, Stuart Craig for production design, Ve Neill for make-up, Debra Zane for casting, and DreamWorks' "Shrek 2" for animation. In addition, Jamie Foxx and Keira Knightley will be honored with the festival's Breakthrough Actor and Actress awards, and Zach Braff with the "Hollywood Breakthrough Director of the Year Award."
For complete line-up, please scroll down.
For more information contact
Hollywood Film Festival®
433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 600
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310-288-1882
http://www.hollywoodfestival.com
2004 HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL LINE-UP
http://www.hollywoodfestival.com
"Automation" by Todd Albright
"Beaster" by Vin Morrone
"Bert Prentice, CEO" by Kevin Nibley
"Breaking Dawn" by Mark Edwin Robinson
"Conversations" by Ben Rock
"Dandelion" by Mark Milgard
"Dead & Breakfast" by Matthew Leutwyler
"Dysmorpho" by Martin Kjellberg and Magnus Soderstedt
"The Easter Egg Escapade" by John Michael Williams
"Easter Sunday" by Alex Kamer
"Everything Has a Reason" ("Alles Komt Ergens Van") by Pieter Verhoeff
"Flypaper" by Raygan Henley
"Forbidden Warrior" by Jimmy Nickerson
"Girl Power" ("Kwinnokraft") by Per Carleson
"Goodnight, Joseph Parker" by Dennis Brooks
"The Halfway House" by Kenneth J. Hall
"Illusive Tracks" by Peter Dalle
"John and Mia" by Christian Bjarke Dyekjaer
"Josh Jarman" by Pip Mushin
"The Kindness of Strangers" by Claudia Myers
"Knots" by Greg Lombardo
"Kyle" by James Franco and Merriwether Williams
"Last Night on Earth" by William August
"The Little Match Girl" by James Ricker
"Lucky" by Bobby Heaney
"Mayra" by Julie Declercq
"Mr. Rivet" by Luc Chamberland
"Neighbourhood Watch" ("Grannsamverkan") by Peter Berlach
"Out of Season" by Jevon O'Neil
"Peaches" by Craig Monahan
"Pravilo Veri" ("The Rule of Vera") by Peter Stepin
"Prison Ball" by Jason Moriarty
"Pure" by Gillies Mackinnon
"Rendez-Vous" by Damien Chemin
"Replaced" by Sean Carter
"Sabine and the Two-Headed Baby" by David Seltzer
"Scrambled Eggs" by Lorenzo Manetti
"Scream for Me" by Christopher Alan Broadstone
"Seventy-8" by Erik Clapp
"Somewhere Near Kokoda" by Brad Haynes
"Stella Street" by Peter Richardson
"Timed Call" by Matthew Macknamara
"The Trickster's Toys" by Benjamin Schupp
"The Two" by Katya Grokhovskaya
"Untitled: 003 - Embryo" by Mike Goedecke
"Vinzent" by Ayassi
"Vizontele Tuuba" by Yilmaz Erdogan
"Werner" by Remi Benichou
"What Remains of Us" by Francois Prevost and Hugo Latulippe
"Whistlin' Dixie" by Morgan Schechter
"Yugotrip" by Nadya Derado
"Young Kees" by Andre Van Duren
