If you love film (who doesn’t, really?), live in the area of southern California, and are looking for something fun to do this coming weekend, the Coronado Island Film Festival is for you!
Here is a little information about the Festival:
CORONADO ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL INAUGURAL LAUNCH JANUARY 15-18, 2016
The Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF) cordially invites makers and lovers of film everywhere to join us, and the entire community of Coronado, in this unique historic seaside village. We promise you a winter holiday weekend to remember. Our legendary hospitality, award-winning beaches, perfect weather, proximity to Hollywood and, of course, the world-famous Hotel del Coronado, CIFF’s Presenting Sponsor, have made us a favorite go-to spot for Hollywood royalty since the days when the likes of Frank Capra, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin strolled the Avenue. That same avenue, with its specialty shops, blooming gardens and alfresco dining, has recently been named one of the five “Most Romantic Main Streets” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
LOCATION, LOCATION…..
Coronado and “The Del” have provided the perfect location for shooting a film since the art form’s early beginnings, becoming an integral part of Coronado’s rich history. We like to say it’s an enduring love affair that began a hundred years ago and continues to this day. Venerable oldies such as Clark Gable’s Hell Divers and James Cagney’s Devil Dogs of the Air, two of several that highlighted Coronado’s glamorous days of early Naval aviation, were filmed here. Scenes from the compelling 2011 Act of Valor were shot in Coronado, home of our good neighbors, the US Navy SEALs.
Errol Flynn’s 1939 Dive Bomber, featuring scenes of the Del and Coronado’s Naval Air Station North Island, will be screened at our festival and introduced by his daughter Rory Flynn. You’ll also enjoy the timeless classic Some Like it Hot, to be introduced by Jack Lemmon’s son, Chris Lemmon, and the quirky and brilliant The Stunt Man, which will be introduced by its Academy-Award-nominated director Richard Rush.
WHAT’S IN STORE
Bring your walking shoes, because most of our venues are an easy walk from one another. For the less ambitious pass holders, there will be a free trolley named “Felicity” looping the island. You can count on four jam-packed days of fun, including the latest in filmmaking excellence from filmmakers of every level of their craft, from emerging newcomers to seasoned pros. In addition to a dazzling lineup of festival parties and lively panel discussions with industry veterans such as our Honorary Jury President Leonard Maltin, actor/author Chris Lemmon, son of Jack, will give two live performances of his hit one-man musical show, A Twist of Lemmon, in the role of his father. We’re also planning a special salute to honor the extraordinary life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his namesake holiday weekend. A special Celebrity Tribute will recognize favorite film legends, whose contribution to the world of film has inspired us, amazed us, and touched our hearts in so many ways.
CORONADO CONNECTIONS
This will be a film festival with a definite Coronado heart. Our three Head Jurors are Lisa Bruce, producer of the Academy Award winning film The Theory of Everything, who grew up in Coronado, Ira Wohl, winner of the 1979 Academy Award for Best Documentary, who has a home in Coronado, and Jim Gallagher, Head of Theatrical Marketing at Dreamworks Animation SKG, who is a CIFF board member. An important part of our festival programming will be special screenings of award-winning documentaries by filmmakers with strong Coronado connections.
We promise you a lineup of movies that are smart, beautifully shot, well written, thought-provoking and, above all, entertaining. We’re also partial to movies that take the human spirit to a higher place. Categories include narrative features, short films (both narrative and animated), and documentaries of every genre. There will be awards in all categories and student films will be judged separately. A special Service to Country Award will reflect Coronado’s longtime relationship with the men and women who serve in our armed forces and have lived among us since our earliest days as a City.
The Coronado Island Film Festival also has a Star Wars connection! Doug St. Denis, the founder of the Festival, is the cousin of John Morton, Dak from The Empire Strikes Back!
See more about the Festival in this report from KUSI News in San Diego: http://www.kusi.com
You can download a PDF of the full program for the Festival here: http://coronadoislandfilmfest.com/the-2016-film-festival-full-program/
Purchase tickets here: http://www.eventbrite.com
Image taken from the Coronado Island Film Festival Facebook page.