With potential blockbuster sequels 22 Jump Street and How to Train Your Dragon 2 teasing attendees in pre-festival screenings ahead of the actual fireworks, the nine-day Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF) returns to downtown Los Angeles for its 20th iteration on June 11.
The sci-fi thriller Snowpiercer officially opens the LAFF on June 11 and is the English-language film debut of acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho, who directed critically acclaimed projects such as Mother, The Host, and Tokyo!
Making its world premiere at the film festival as the closing night film on June 19 will be Clint Eastwood’s Jersey Boys, the silver screen version of the Broadway hit musical.
A handful of films return to the big screen at the LAFF after their respective releases in the 1980s and 1990s, including Clueless, Friday, La Bamba, and the 30-year anniversary screening of Repo Man.
Love Is Strange, which is directed by Ira Sachs and stars John Lithgow opposite Alfred Molina, is on of the LAFF’s Gala Screenings. The film features Lithgow and Molina portraying two companions who seek to get married but run into a speed bump along the way.
Also headlining the Gala Screenings is The Two Faces of January. The film is Hossein Amini’s directorial debut and stars Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst. Described as a “sleek thriller” by the festival, The Two Faces of January is set in 1962 Greece and Turkey.
Amini was the writer for Drive.
In all, more than 200 films – including 23 world premieres – will screen at the LAFF between June 11 and June 19.
The LAFF, which is organized by Film Independent, will be taking place at L.A. Live, which is home to a multi-screen Regal Cinemas on the property’s northwest corner. For more information about the LAFF, including film screenings, timings, and other festival events, please visit its website at www.lafilmfest.com.
Attendees are advised to plan in advance for the film festival, as the Stanley Cup Final will overlap with certain dates. A viewing part is expected to be held at L.A. Live for Game 4, which will be played in New York City. The Los Angeles Kings could potentially win the Stanley Cup that night, meaning celebrations could occur during and after the screening of Snowpiercer at Staples Center and L.A. Live property.
