The 5th Annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival has announced their 2005 line-up of 50 competition films, screening from April 13 – 17, at the Writers Guild Theater (135 South Doheny Drive) and Clarity Theater (100 North Crescent Drive) in Beverly Hills, California. The festival also features Guild sponsored panel discussions and networking events, culminating in the Awards Night Gala
held at the Beverly Hills Hotel (9641 Sunset Blvd.) on April 17, 2005.
Opening night (Wednesday, April 13) at the Writers Guild features a ceremony honoring the California Film Commission, a special Los Angeles screening (non-competition) of David Duchovny’s directorial debut, “House of D” (Lions Gate), starring Erykah Badu, Duchovny, Frank
Langella, Téa Leoni, Robin Williams and Anton Yelchin, following the Los Angeles Premiere of the short film “Mr. Dramatic,” starring Oliver Hudson.
Festival director Nino Simone says, “We are a competition festival recognized for our approach in showcasing new indie filmmakers. While most festivals screen several hundred films with only a select few in competition, the Beverly Hills Film Festival keeps its efforts focused on just over 50 films — all of which are vying for fest laurels. We selected the best 7 features, 7 documentaries and 40 shorts out of 1,800 submissions this year. We are taking the ‘film festival’ concept back to its roots for the benefit of the filmmakers.”
2005 Competition films include:
“Waking Up Dead,” (West Coast Premiere) a rock and roll documentary starring Phil Varone (formerly of Skid Row), directed by Emmy Award-winning journalist Fabio Jafet.
“Kordavision,” an award-winning documentary directed by Hector Sandoval about the world renowned Cuban photographer Alberto Diaz “Korda” — famed for his iconic portrait of Che Guevara, one of the most recognized photographs of the 20th Century.
“Aryan Couple,” (feature) an award-winning WWII drama directed by John Daly, about a German/Jewish industrialist (Martin Landau) in occupied Hungary who, in order to ensure his family’s safe passage out of Germany, is forced to hand over his business to the Nazis.
“The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror,” (World Premiere) a documentary from filmmakers Gerard Ungerman and Audrey Brohy.
“Stephen King’s Luckey Quarter,” (West Coast Premiere) an
award-winning short by director Robert Cochrane who directed the Grand Prize winning “Roland Meets Brown” from Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” Series. (Cochrane optioned the script from King for $1.25 — one dollar and one “lucky quarter.”)
“Flypaper,” (World Premiere) a short directed by Shawn Thompson, the 2003 BHFF winner for Best Short Film, “Shotgun Wedding,” which he made for $500.00. He subsequently landed a $15 million production deal from
Crystal Sky.
“Trip in a Summer Dress,” (West Coast Premiere) an award-winning short by actor turned director Janine Turner (“Steel Magnolias,” “Dr. T and the Women”).
“Easy Six,” (LA Premiere) an award-winning dark comic short by Chris Iovenko, starring Jim Belushi, airing on Showtime in June.
“The Carpenter and His Clumsy Wife,” an award-winning black comedy short.
“Chaos Theory,” a comical short by Suny Behar, soon to air on IFC.
“In the Morning,” (LA Premiere) an award-winning short by
director/writer/producer Danielle Lurie. Based on a true story, the film recounts the true events of an actual ‘honor killing.’
For more info, visit the Beverly Hills Film Festival website.
