L.A. Fest Debuts Hellboy II, Wanted

Because of past successes with SF genre-related movies, the Los Angeles Film Festival is spotlighting debuts of two major genre-related summer films, Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D and Hellboy II: The Golden Army, at the festival, which runs from June 19 to 29.

The opening night debut is Wanted, based on Mark Millar's graphic novel, which is directed by Timur Bekmambetov of the Night Watch series. "This year's festival displays a collection of vibrant and diverse films that maintain Film Independent's spirit, quality and originality," said Dawn Hudson, executive director of Film Independent, the year-round filmmaker organization that produces the festival. "The festival is a chance for the film industry and filmgoers to have direct access to each other ... [and build] an interest for diverse films in art houses and multiplexes alike."

Last year, the festival closed off the Westwood area of Los Angeles and had all the theaters show Transformers to 4,000 guests; the closing-night film was Danny Boyle's Sunshine. This year, tribute screenings and anniversary screenings will also include The Planet of the Apes (1968), Peter Pan (1953) and The Lost Boys (1987) and will feature many question/answer sessions with SF genre filmmakers.

"I am proud of the festival's ongoing growth within the community and pleased that we continue to attract world-class filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro and Timur Bekmambetov," said festival director Rich Raddon. Bekmambetov's Wanted will kick off the festival on June 19 with stars James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann, Common and Angelina Jolie. McAvoy stars as Wesley Gibson, an unremarkable young man who he meets a mysterious woman named Fox (Jolie) and is recruited into the secret Fraternity.

Hellboy II, written and directed by del Toro, will close the festival on June 28. It stars Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor and John Hurt. Journey to the Center of the Earth stars Brendan Fraser and screens as part of the Family Day Screenings and Events on June 29. Other genre-related premieres include Cinematic Titanic, a combination of comedy and B-movies, by the Mystery Science Theater 3000 team; Terminus, about a strange dancing creature; I Love Sarah Jane, about a post-apocalyptic suburb, bullies and zombies; Let the Right One In about a prepubescent vampire; and others.

The festival will also include animated films such as Magnetic Movie, La Saint Festin, I Have Seen the Future, Half-Life, John and Karen, Fear(s) of Darkness, Dog and Chonto. Chats include one with del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy); Antonio Banderas (Spy Kids, 13th Warrior); cinematographer Guillermo Navarro (Pan's Labyrinth, Cronos, Hellboy); Ivan Reitman (Evolution, Ghostbusters) and his son, Jason (Juno); and director Edgar Wright (Spaced, Shaun of the Dead), hosted by South Park's Matt Stone.

Tickets and additional information can be found online. --Mike Szymanski