THE VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS ITS EIGHTH ANNUAL SHOWCASE OF CINEMA SO INDEPENDENT IT CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN THE (818)!
The 8th Annual Valley Film Festival announces another thought provoking, entertaining lineup of cinema so independent it can only be found in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley. The premier showcase for the best new work by Valley residents, and American and international independent filmmakers, the 8th Annual Valley Film Festival provides audiences with the opportunity to discover today's most provocative films. In addition to the juried 10 Degrees Hotter Awards for narrative feature, documentary feature, and short film, the Festival presents a collection of short films in four Audience Award sections. The 2008 Valley Film Festival runs September 24-28, 2008, at the historical El Portal Theatre in the NoHo Arts District. The complete list of films is available at valleyfilmfest.com
The Opening Night Film sees the return of Director John Putch to VFF with ROUTE 30, a comedy of three interconnecting stories set in rural South Central Pennsylvania. ROUTE 30 features Curtis Armstrong, Nathalie Boltt, David Cowgill, Dana Delany, David DeLuise, Alicia Fusting, Christine Elise McCarthy, Kevin Rahm, Robert Romanus, Lee Wilkof. John Putch previously screened BACHELORMAN (2003) and MOJAVE PHONE BOOTH (2006) at The Valley Film Festival.
Valley-lensed features making their Los Angeles debut include SO LONG JIMMY, LIVE EVIL, WELCOME TO PORNOLAND and PRETTY UGLY PEOPLE.
SO LONG JIMMY, a dramedy directed by Bradley Ragland, takes an ironic look at the modern-day hitman. A corporate hitman syndicate has set their sites on the last of the mom and pop hitmen. Now steeped in taxes, mileage forms, and vacation requests Marlon Madison has to face the fact that being a hitman in Los Angeles just ain't what it used to be.
Directed by Jay Woelfel, LIVE EVIL is a horror tale of vampires fighting for survival in a world where their blood supply has become polluted by drugs and STD's. It's a twisty, bloody, and sometimes darkly absurd journey into a unique take on the world of bloodsuckers. LIVE EVIL features Tim Thomerson and Ken Foree.
The Valley "After Dark" program, the festival's homage to the other film industry in The Valley, features WELCOME TO PORNOLAND directed by Greg Salman and Brad Brough. This mocumentary follows Ethan as he pursues a career in film and ends up working in the adult film industry. WELCOME TO PORNOLAND is for mature audiences, 18+ only.
The Closing Night Film, PRETTY UGLY PEOPLE, directed by Tate Taylor, tells the comedic tale of Lucy, a formerly "fat friend," who gets gastric bypass and expects her life to be perfect like her friends. However, she soon learns that life isn't always greener on the other side of obesity. PRETTY UGLY PEOPLE features Missi Pyle, Melissa McCarthy, Josh Hopkins, Octavia Spencer, Larry Sullivan, Jack Noseworthy, Phill Lewis, Philip LIttel, Allison Janney, William Sanderson.
The Festival's documentary showcases include DEVILS ISLAND, JOURNEY INTO JUNGLE ALCATRAZ from the Jules Verne Adventure Society, JUDY TOLL: THE FUNNIEST WOMAN YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF, and BLOCKING THE PATH TO 9/11 - an inside look into the controversy surrounding the 2006 ABC docudrama, "The Path to 9/11".
Shorts programs include Comedy, Drama, Horror, and VFF's signature, Made in the (818).
Founded in 2000, The Valley Film Festival, a project of Community Partners®, holds the proud title of the first film festival in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley and is designed to bring together established filmmakers, emerging talent, and their audiences on the studio backlot - just North of Hollywood.
In the last 7 years, The Valley Film Festival has screened over 300 independent shorts, features, documentaries, music videos, pod casts & more, from all over the world: Australia, Canada, El Salvador, England, Germany, Holland, Iran, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland & United States. Studio productions include: Boogie Nights, Chinatown, Encino Man, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Terminator 2, Valley Girl and World Trade Center.
Supporters of the 2008 Valley Film Festival include Cine Gear Expo, Citizen LA, Community Partners, Creative Handbook, Dances With Films Festival, FILM LOOK, Footage Firm, Francis Ford Coppola Presents, The Hollywood Guild, Kirin Brewery, Marine Film Services, NYU Tisch West and TribeHollywood.com
THE VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL will open on Wednesday, September 24 and continue through Sunday, September 28 with daily screenings at the El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. Ticket prices are $10-$15. For more information and tickets, visit www.valleyfilmfest.com.
THE VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL SCREENING SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY - 9/24
8:00pm - Opening Night Feature: Route 30 directed by John Putch
THURSDAY - 9/25
6:00pm - Feature Program: So Long Jimmy with Against the Wind
9:00pm - Feature Program: Live Evil with Down a Dark Road
FRIDAY - 9/26
5:30pm - Horror Shorts Program (Eater, Everyday Joe, Exact Bus Fare, Hollow Halls, and Stuffed)
8:00pm - Feature Program: Float with Abridged
11:00pm - Feature Program: Harvest Moon with Night Visit
SATURDAY - 9/27
12:00pm/Noon - Documentary Program Devils Island, Journey Into Jungle Alcatraz with The Warden
2:30pm - Drama Shorts Program (Le Retour, Murdering Mama's Boy, The Stain on the Sidewalk, and The Vaudevillian)
4:30pm - Documentary Program: Blocking the Path to 9/11 with Secrets
7:30pm - "Made in the (818)" Shorts Program (The Birthday Gift, Death by Boxer, Love Conquers Al, and Stained)
9:45pm - The Valley After Dark Program: Welcome to Pornoland with Je Dis Non, Ali.
SUNDAY - 9/28
12:00pm - Filmmaker Forum: Meet Your Local Vendors
2:30pm - Documentary Program: Judy Toll - The Funniest Woman You've Never Heard Of with F'n Frank
5:15pm - Comedy Shorts Program (Corner Office, Head Heart & Balls, Hollywood Operation, Lady Bait, Office Banter, and Tat Fancy)
7:30pm - Closing Night Feature: Pretty Ugly People directed by Tate Taylor
THE VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL will open on Wednesday, September 24 and continue through Sunday, September 28 with daily screenings at the El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. Ticket prices are $10-$15. For more information and tickets, visit www.valleyfilmfest.com.