FESTIVAL WATCH

L.A. Festival Details: While still declaring that they will wait until February to confirm any programming decisions, Los Angeles Festival organizers are beginning to leak more details about the September, 1990, festival. According to new programming director Claire Peeps, the Pacific-themed festival will host 25 to 30 visiting performing companies, and will include 25 to 40 curated events featuring local artists. In addition, about 40 films by at least 30 local and international film makers will be shown. General Manager Michael Vargas said that a total of about 200 international artists from “at least 25 nations” will perform at the festival, and that all the international artists will be housed in an artists’ village at UCLA. The organizers said that confirming the attendance of the 32-member National Dance Company of Cambodia was “the thorniest” of all programming activities. But according to Executive Director Judith Luther, who has been negotiating the matter with U.S. diplomats (the United States does not recognize the Cambodian government): “I think that if civil war does not erupt there again, we will be able to bring the artists back. I don’t think the (U.S.) government is going to take a hard and fast stance against (it).”