Four diverse film festivals among highlights this weekend

By Susan King

Oct. 11, 2012 12 AM PT

A diverse quartet of film festivals open this weekend celebrating Spanish cinema, women directors, horror films and international films.

The American Cinematheque’s Recent Spanish Cinema XVIII opens at the Egyptian Theatre on Thursday evening with 2012’s “Blancanieves,” Pablo Berger’s black-and-white silent version of the Snow White story that pays homage to the 1920s European silent film. Berger and actress Angelina Molina will appear at the event. The film is Spain’s official Oscar entry in the foreign language film derby.

On tap for Friday evening are 2011’s “The Sleeping Voice” -- director Benito Zambrano and actor Marc Clotet will be in attendance -- and 2012’s “Unit 7.” Saturday’s offerings are the 2011 animated drama “Winkles” and the 2012’s “I Want You.” The festival concludes Sunday with 2011’s “The Wild Ones” and 2012’s Goya Best Film winner, “No Rest for the Wicked.” https://www.americancinematheque.com

The 8th Annual La Femme Film International Festival, which focuses on films “by women, for everyone,” commences Thursday evening at the Renberg Theatre in Hollywood with “Terrible Angels” starring Michael Madsen. Some 100 independent feature films, shorts, documentaries, commercials and music videos will be screened during the four-day event. The awards ceremony takes place Sunday evening. Katherine Fugate, Mackenzie Phillips, Francia Raisa and Wendi McLendon-Covey will be honored. https://www.lafemme.org

The 12th annual Screamfest Horror Film Festival opens Friday evening at the LA Live Regal Cinemas with “The Collection,” from director Marcus Dunstan (writer of the last four “Saw” films). The festival concludes on Oct. 21. https://www.screamfestla.com

The Bel0Air Film Festival, an independent international film festival, opens Friday and continues through Monday at various locations including an outdoor screening area on Broxton Avenue, UCLA James Bridges Theater and the Showbiz Cafe. Among the 29 films set for screening include the documentaries “Oakenfold 24/7,” “Winter,” “”Momo: the Sam Giancana Story” and “A Band of Rouges.” https://www.belairfilmfestival.com

Film Independent at LACMA celebrates the acclaimed features of Les Films du Losange, the noted French independent production and distribution company founded in 1981 by directors Barbet Schroeder and Eric Rohmer, Thursday evening at the Leo S. Bing Theater. The evening’s programs feature the 1982 Jacques Rivette mystery-fantasy, “Le Pont du Nord,” starring Bulle Ogier and her daughter Pascale, and the 1987 Rohmer charmer, “4 Adventures of Reinette and Mirabelle” with Marie Riviere.
LACMA’s Tuesday matinee features George Stevens’ offbeat 1942 comedy “The Talk of the Town” with Cary Grant, Jean Arthur and Ronald Colman. https://www.lacma.org

The Bernardo Bertolucci retrospective, which began at the American Cinematheque, moves to the UCLA Film & Television Archive’s Billy Wilder Theater on Friday with two of the Italian filmmaker’s earliest works: 1964’s “Before the Revolution” and 1962’s “The Grim Reaper.” And on Monday, the archive’s free “Out of the Past: Film Restoration Today” program presents the 1932 melodrama “No Man of Our Own,” starring Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. Four years after the film was made, the two became a couple. Archivist Bob O’Neil of Universal Studios will be on hand to discuss the restoration. https://www.cinema.ucla.edu

Hollywood Party, a local “tent” of the Laurel and Hardy appreciation society Sons of the Desert, will be meeting and screening films beginning Thursday evening at the Lasky DeMille Barn at the Hollywood Heritage Museum. https://www.hollywoodheritage.org and https://www.hollywoodparty.org

The Association of Moving Image Archivists Student Chapter at UCLA’s presents its monthly program at the New Beverly on Thursday and Friday evening: Sam Fuller’s 1961 noir “Underworld U.S.A.” with Cliff Robertson, and Johnnie To’s 2005 “Election.” On Saturday evening, the New Beverly features its dusk to dawn “5th Annual All-Night Horror Show,” which includes items including 1981’s “Strange Behavior” to 1942’s “Night Monster.” This Wednesday evening, the New Beverly welcomes -- schedule permitting -- director Phil Joanou for the screenings of his 1987 teen comedy “Three O’Clock High” and his 1988 musical documentary, “U2: Rattle and Hum.” https://www.newbevcinema.com

Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre is screening the new 35mm print of Sam Raimi’s 1981 masterwork, “The Evil Dead,” starring Bruce Campbell, Saturday evening at midnight. https://www.cinefamily.org

Former Brat Pack star Andrew McCarthy, now a noted travel writer, will be on hand October 21 at the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre to sign copies of his memoir, “The Longest Way Home: One Man’s Quest for the Courage to Settle Down” and talk after the screening of 1987’s “Less Than Zero,” based on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel, in which he stars with Robert Downey Jr. and Jami Gertz. https://www.americancinematheque.com

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