2nd Annual Mammoth Lakes Film Fest Includes Tribute to Joe Dante & Beware the Slenderman Screening
Debi Moore
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The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, set in the majestic setting of Mammoth Lakes, California, has announced its lineup of screenings and events for the festival’s second edition; and it’s shaping up to be quite memorable!
Below is a general summary of the Fest plus the horror (or horror-ish) highlights, including a documentary about real-life creepy crawlies from the Amazon.
The five-day festival will take place over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, May 25-29, 2016, and includes a tribute to legendary director Joe Dante with Robert Picardo also in attendance, four other Gala events, and narrative and documentary competition sections. The festival will present 14 films in Narrative and Documentary Competition, as well as additional events and special screenings.
Along with the Centerpiece Sierra Spirit Award Presentation to Dante, MLFF’s Gala events include the Opening Night Screening and Party for Operation Avalanche, Spotlight Screening of acclaimed documentary Beware the Slenderman, a Gala Closing Night Screening for Sonita, and a closing night Awards Party.
Taking place five hours north of Los Angeles by car and thirty minutes south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park, the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival delivers an intimate and unique experience for festival-goers, filmmakers, and industry guests, with the opportunity to experience screenings and events in a beautiful mountain setting. The festival presents a diverse selection from world premieres to film festival favorites, short film screenings, Q&As, and a Saturday morning indie cartoon program for children over the five days. The festival will also include nightly events that celebrate the excitement and discovery of visionary filmmaking.
“Our excellent film programs this year will thrill audiences and build on our tremendous success from last year. We are a destination film festival for audiences who want to experience the best in cinema while surrounded by the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Mammoth Lakes,” said Mammoth Lakes Film Festival Founder Shira Dubrovner. “I am particularly excited for our Centerpiece Gala, where we will present the first Sierra Spirit Award to legendary Hollywood director Joe Dante and screen his classic film Innerspace”.
“This is our strongest selection yet of exciting and innovative films from around the world. Our mission is to go beyond trends to bring inspired and timeless independent filmmaking undiluted–directly to our audiences,” said Paul Sbrizzi, Director of Programming.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available now. Ticket sales and additional festival information can be found at MammothLakesFilmFestival.com. Discounted lodging through the festival’s lodging partner, Sierra Nevada Resort & Spa, can be purchased with a 20% discount by calling in or booking online at thesierranevadaresort.com (CODE – Theater).
All screenings and special events will take place in Mammoth Lakes at venues including the Edison Theatre, the Forest Service Visitor’s Center Theater, the Minaret Cinemas, as well as the Mono Lake Visitor’s Center. Narrative and Competition films will be eligible for multiple awards: The winning Documentary Feature receives a RED Scarlet digital camera; Panavision will provide the winning Narrative Feature with a $10,000 USD camera grant for their next project and a two-day color correction session from Light Iron.
An Audience Award will be presented to feature films in both narrative and documentary categories. Jury Awards will also be presented to short films. The Jury will be comprised of select film industry members, including producer John Fiedler (Serial Mom), writer/producer John Wirth (“Hell on Wheels”), Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker John Scheinfeld (The U.S. vs. John Lennon), producer Allison Amon (Queen of Versailles), and Amanda Salazar, Vice President of Film Acquisitions at Fandor.
OPENING NIGHT GALA SCREENING & PARTY
Operation Avalanche (USA) -Director: Matt Miller
In 1967, during the height of the Cold War, four undercover CIA agents sent to NASA to pose as a documentary film crew discover one of the biggest conspiracies in American history. Opening Night Party will include entertainment by Ouroboros Shadow Pictures, an innovative shadow picture company.
SPOTLIGHT GALA SCREENING
Beware the Slenderman (USA) – Director: Irene Taylor Brodsky
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky tells the story of a Boogeyman lurking on the internet and two 12-year-old girls who would kill for him. Ms. Taylor Brodsky will be present for Q&A.
*Also in documentary feature competition
CENTERPIECE GALA TRIBUTE & SCREENING – HONORING JOE DANTE
On Saturday evening we honor legendary director Joe Dante with our inaugural Sierra Spirit Award. The Sierra Spirit Award is given to an iconic and visionary filmmaker who inspires audiences, breaks boundaries, and has created visionary entertainment that has touched generations. Joe Dante’s tremendous body of work exemplifies storytelling passion and skill. We are proud to present a screening of Mr. Dante’s classic 1987 film Innerspace, followed by a conversation with Mr. Dante. Special guest appearance by actor Robert Picardo (Innerspace, Gremlins 2).
NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
All the Colors of the Night (Brazil) – Director: Pedro Severin
Iris wakes up in her spacious seafront apartment, discovers a body in the living room and enlists the help of other women, setting off a spiral of redemption in an atmospheric drama of dark imagery and questionable reality.
Baby Bump (Poland) – Director: Kuba Czekaj
11-year-old Mickey House is no longer a child. But who is he? He has no clue. He has no friends. He hates what’s happening to his body. Reality and imagination blend together in a toxic mix. Growing up is not for kids.
Bodkin Ras (Netherlands) – Director: Kaweh Modiri
A young fugitive searches for a nonexistent home in a small town called Forres, a Scottish town well-hidden between the Highlands and the North Sea. The characters in this town are all real people with traumas whose stories are incorporated into the film script, in which documentary and fiction are blended together.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
Learning to See (USA) – Director: Jake Oelman
Insect photographer Robert Oelman’s transformational journey to find and document the Amazon’s strangest creatures. His quest culminates with a New York City gallery show where he finally shares his striking and magical images with the general public.
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