While previous festivals have been studded with star names receiving honors, this year’s event is geared toward those who are the reason for its inception.
By Laura Tate/Editor
Harking back to its first, sparkling grand year, the 3rd annual Malibu Film Festival is kicking off Aug. 16 with a black-tie gala fundraiser at the Castle Kashan, sponsored by Lilly Lawrence.
Founder and president of the festival David Katz has lengthened the festival to its original seven days (last year’s event took place over just three days), and more than 70 independent films from around the world will be screened at the New Malibu Theater, last year’s venue.
An awards dinner will take place at Taverna Tony on Aug. 21.
In departure from the two earlier festivals, this year’s festival honorees are not drawn from a star-studded list, but from among the filmmakers whose works are in the festival. The earlier events honored such notable filmmakers as the late director John Frankenheimer (“The Manchurian Candidate,” “Bird Man of Alcatraz”), directors James Cameron (“Titanic”) and Arthur Hiller (“Love Story”), and actors Shirley Maclaine, Charles Bronson, Nick Nolte and the late Lloyd Bridges, among others.
The first festival kicked off at Lawrence’s castle, astounding many with the lavish spectacle of a stretch Humve limo shuttling guests up to a court where trumpeting heralds greeted them, and where sliced lobster, caviar and flutes of champagne were on hand to whet their appetites.
The actual festival itself was not so glamorous, with screenings taking place in leaking cold tents, and inadequate parking.
The second festival took place after a year hiatus, and in the rain as well, but films were viewed at the New Malibu Theater, keeping patrons dry. However, workshops took place in huge white tents with rain-soaked carpets and no heaters.
The opening night gala and awards dinner at the elegant Fairmont Miramar Hotel’s Starlight Ballroom in Santa Monica were deemed a success by all. The events showcased a fashion show, banquets and stars aplenty, including the reclusive former Malibuite Sean Penn.
While this year’s opening night gala may be a doozy, indicated by the $250 ticket price and because of sponsor Lawrence’s famed generosity, Katz wants to keep the festival geared toward those who are the subject of the event.
“The focus of the Malibu Film Festival is to showcase independent filmmakers and new talent,” Katz said.
Katz wrote and directed a short film that will be showcased at the festival called “You Ain’t Nothing in This Town.” He was also the cinematographer for the film.
Several other films by Malibu locals have been chosen either as showcases or as contest entries.
James Keach directed actor Jane Seymour in “A Journey to Impression,” a documentary on the actor’s artwork. Last year’s showcase, “A Bittersweet Tale of Hollywood Failure,” by directors Bara Byrnes and Allyson Adams, is entered for judgment and features Alec Baldwin, Troy Donhue, Martin Landau and Byrnes. It is a tale of a promising Hollywood starlet’s rapid rise to the top and her slow, downward spiral, and her subsequent triumph over gambling, promiscuity and drug addictions.
Even local City Hall folk are involved in the festival. Jena Chanel, the city’s telecommunications specialist, is broadening her scope and submitted her short film, “I’m Dying,” a comedy/musical.
The opening night this year is a fundraiser, Katz said, to support the festival, local schools and John Paul DeJoria’s environmental charity, United Universe.
DeJoria was a major sponsor of last year’s festival and is joined this year by Washington Mutual, Jaguar of Thousand Oaks, the City of Malibu as well as Lawrence, Wallace Theaters, The Malibu Times, among others.
Katz said the impetus for a festival in Malibu was to have a Sundance-like event that “gave the film industry the opportunity to stay close to home and acquire new film and talent.”
More information about the film festival can be found on the Web site, malibufilmfestival.com, where a schedule of film screenings, synopses and bios of directors are listed. Tickets for the gala, awards dinner and screenings can also be purchased at the Web site or through Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232 (Only 100 tickets will be available through this outlet). Individual screening tickets can also be purchased starting Aug. 12, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and during the festival at the New Malibu Theater at 3822 Cross Creek Rd.