The Valley Film Festival Returns to Sherman Oaks

Oct. 25, 2011 - PRLog -- Valley Film Festival (VFF) Founder and Director, Tracey Adlai, says that she is “excited to return to Sherman Oaks” for three days, beginning November 11th, at the Whitefire Theatre, located at 13500 Ventura Blvd., in the popular Restaurant Row District.  

With over 30 films on its program, including eighteen premieres and five foreign films, the festival showcases independent cinema from around the Valley and the world.  The selections include a range of short and feature-length films, both documentaries and fiction.  Adlai says that this was “by far the most competitive year, making our selections that much harder.  We wish we could screen everything.”

The VFF continues to promote local independent production, with over fifteen films made by San Fernando Valley residents and/or in the Valley or about it.  Filmed in Van Nuys, FEW OPTIONS, an L.A. premiere directed by George Pappy, is a gritty drama starring Kenny Johnson (“The Shield,” “Sons of Anarchy”) as an ex-con starting over with everything against him.  FEW OPTIONS also features Erin Daniels (“The L Word”) and Rainn Wilson (“The Office”).

The Festival’s documentary showcase includes the L.A. premiere of RATS & BULLIES, the powerful story of fourteen-year old Dawn-Marie Wesley, who, after being repeatedly bullied and receiving death threats at school, hung herself with her dog’s leash. Filmed in Canada and the U.S., this film documents the horrifying incident that outraged a nation and led to a groundbreaking court case in which, for the first time in North America, teens stood trial for bullying.  Also featured is Alexia Anastasio’s ADVENTURES IN PLYMPTOONS!, a profile of animator Bill Plympton.

The “Girls on Film” program of short films includes the U.S. premiere of THE SAFEST PLACE FOR FRUIT IS IN CARMEN MIRANDA’S HAT, a comedy about not fitting in with society’s expectations, directed by Kal Bonner.  

Formerly known as (818), the VFF11 closing night feature, BAD ACTRESS, directed by Robert L. King (“Psycho Beach Party”), is a dark comedy starring Beth Broderick (“Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” “Lost”) as a has-been TV star living in The Valley.  Her career is revived when she’s accused of killing her husband, played by Chris Mulkey (“Saving Grace,” “Twin Peaks”).  The VFF has paired this film with THE POTENTIAL WIVES OF NORMAN MAO, a comedy short directed by Derek Nguyen and narrated by George Takei (“Star Trek”).

Founded in 2000, The Valley Film Festival, a project of Community Partners®, is the first and longest continually running film festival in the San Fernando Valley.  With a mission to join established filmmakers and emerging talent with adventurous audiences in Los Angeles, the VFF has screened a total of over 450 shorts, features, documentaries, animated films, and music videos from all over the world.  While emphasizing independent film, the festival also has occasionally shown studio productions, including Boogie Nights, Chinatown, Encino Man, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Magnolia, Terminator 2, Valley Girl, and World Trade Center.  

In addition to screenings, the festival provides educational panels, social mixers, and awards.  The juried "Ten Degrees Hotter" award is for one short and one feature from a competitive section.  Additionally, there is an award for short films, in the non-competitive section, as chosen by the audience.

THE VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL begins its 2011 season on Friday, November 11th and continues through Sunday, November 13th, with screenings at the Whitefire Theatre, located at 13500 Ventura Blvd., in Sherman Oaks.  Tickets are $10-$15.  For more information and tickets, visit http://www.ValleyFilmFest.com.


THE VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL 2011 PROGRAM


FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11th

7:00 pm – Alumni Shorts Program (Dessert & Suicide, The Further Adventures of Cupid & Eros, League of S.T.E.A.M: Zed’s Clutter Calamity, Made in Japan, Mine, Stalked)

9:30 pm – Feature Program: We Gotta Get Buscemi with Public Museum



SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12th

11:00 am – Panel TBA (topical to independent filmmaking)

1:00 pm – Dramatic Shorts Program (Ghost of Syllables, Kiss, Live for the Day!, Method Actor, Mirk Riders, Valley Relics)

3:30 pm – Documentary Program: Adventures in Plymptoons! with TBA

7:00 pm – Feature Program: Few Options with The Secret Friend

10:30 pm – Comedy Shorts Program (Fish!, The Gran’ Scam of Things, Hold the Mayo, The Hunter, Mrs. Christmas, Two Broken Hearts)



SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13th

11:00 am – Panel TBA (topical to independent filmmaking)

1:00 pm – “Girls on Film” Shorts Program (12 Hours, 52 Seconds, Beyond Essays, Legacy, Mind the Gap, The Safest Place for Fruit is in Carmen Miranda’s Hat)

3:30 pm – Documentary Program: Rats & Bullies with Red Princess Blues

7:00 pm – Closing Night Feature Program: Bad Actress with The Potential Wives of Norman Mao



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