Los Angeles Film Festival: ‘Seoul Searching,’ MTV’s ‘Scream’ set as galas

Benson Lee’s romantic teen comedy “Seoul Searching” and MTV’s self-referential slasher series “Scream” will be featured as gala screenings at this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival, organizer Film Independent announced Tuesday.

Starring Justin Chon and Jessika Van, “Seoul Searching” is a John Hughes-inspired romp about a group of high schoolers who run wild in a South Korean propaganda camp in the summer of 1986. The film is scheduled for release this summer.

The premiere of “Scream,” based on the horror film franchise, will mark the first time the LAFF has presented a TV series in one of its gala slots. The show begins airing June 30.

The LAFF, which is sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, also unveiled the first of its master classes, a series of moderated conversations with accomplished film artists. This year’s participants include animation guru Pete Docter (“Inside Out,” “Up”), editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), and composer Mark Isham (“Crash,” “42”).

And organizers announced the 10 films in the LAFF’s buzz section, which showcases standout films from other festivals around the world. The selections include Illinca Calugareanu’s “Chuck Norris vs. Communism,” Maya Forbes’ “Infinitely Polar Bear” and Sebastian Schipper’s “Victoria.”

The Los Angeles Film Festival runs June 10-18 at the Regal Cinemas L.A. Live. “Grandma” will open the fest, and the full lineup will be revealed May 5.

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