Both Festivals Plan Tributes, Awards

Hollywood is hosting two film festivals this month back-to-back, but organizers say each has a singular slate of films and programs to offer.

The Hollywood Film Festival begins a five-day run today, while the larger, more established American Film Institute will hold its 11th annual Los Angeles International Film Festival from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1.

This year, AFI is moving its festival in a new direction, hoping to one day position itself as one of the world’s premier film festivals.

The festival will showcase more than 50 films with a new emphasis on American independent filmmakers with panel discussions, tributes to filmmakers, and an official competition section as well as opening and closing night galas.

This year’s AFI festival opens with the U.S. premiere of Beeban Kidron’s romantic drama “Swept From the Sea.” Other films include Henry Jaglom’s “Deja Vu,” Zhang Yimou’s “Keep Cool” and Jakubisko’s “An Ambiguous Report About the End of the World.”

AFI has also instituted a New Visions category that will highlight American independent low-budget features made by first- and second-time directors. Among the films scheduled in that category are “Sweet Jane” from director Joe Gayton and “The Big Empty” from director Jack Perez, both world premieres.

Still another category called World Cinema will exhibit talent from around the globe, including Zhang Yuan’s “East Palace, West Palace,” Agnes Merlet’s “Artemisia,” Bruno Barreto’s “Four Days in September” and Daniel Petrie Sr.’s “The Assistant.”

The AFI also is planning a special tribute to Jessica Lange, a hospitality suite at the Galaxy Theaters in Hollywood that will serve as a meeting place for filmmakers and distributors, and a Web site: https://www.afionline.org/fest/cinema.

The festival will also feature the first Spotlight awards ceremony, by invitation only, with awards for best picture, best actor and actress, best new director, best new writer and best student short film.

A festival pass that grants access to a VIP lounge and all events except for the awards ceremony can be purchased for $350, while walk-up prices for individual screenings will range from $5 for a matinee to $7.50 for an evening showing. All panels are open to the public.

The AFI is also hosting two special events to raise money for the AFI: an art auction with works donated by top filmmakers and a “cigar night.”

AFI’s venues will be at the Galaxy Theaters and Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood and Laemmle’s Monica Theatre in Santa Monica.

The Hollywood Film Festival, meanwhile, is scheduled to open with Francis Delia’s “The Time of Her Time” along with such films as James Brolin’s “My Brother’s War” and Zoe Clarke-Williams’ “Men.”

A lifetime achievement award will be given to Kirk Douglas, organizers say, and there will be a nightly showings of films by director Orson Welles.

The festival will be capped by the Hollywood Discovery Awards, with prizes going to winners in such categories as best film, short, documentary and animated film along with best Internet Web site.

A festival pass costs $595, while walk-up prices for individual screenings will run $8, organizers said.

The Hollywood Film Festival will screen its films at the Galaxy in Hollywood, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Alfred Hitchcock Theater at Universal Studios.