LA COSTA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WORLD PREMIERES, SEMINARS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

The La Costa Film Festival (LCFF) is returning to Carlsbad for four days of screenings, panels and special events, September 10-13, 2015. The Festival is annually scheduled to begin on the first Thursday after Labor Day. Screenings and events will be held at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas-La Costa and the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium at the Carlsbad Dove Library. Founded by Carlsbad residents Michael and Ruby Callihan in 2013, the Festival combines an incomparable coastal destination with the mystique of Hollywood in celebration of the art of motion pictures.

This year, the La Costa Film Festival will screen over 45 films from around the world. The festival will debut up to 5 World Premieres as well as a special tribute to renowned actor John McGinley and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.

On September 10th, the La Costa Film Festival opens with the ‘Sip & Savor’ Gala on the Valley Promenade at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. It will feature many of the areas finest restaurants, wineries and breweries including Agave Del Mar, Baker & Olive, Bistro 65, Blue Fire Grill, Blue Ocean Robata & Sushi, Blue Ribbon Pizza, Café Secret, Carruth Cellars Winery, Chandlers Restaurant, Chuao Chocolatier, Cinepolis, The Craftsman, Gaia Gelato, Green Dragon Tavern & Museum, Gregorio’s, Hatfield Creek Vineyards, Iron Fist Brewery, Latitude 33 Brewing Co., Legacy Brewing Company, Old Harbor Distilling Company, Powell Mountain Cellars Winery, Sabor de Vida Brazilian, Solterra Winery, Susie’s Cakes, Twenty/20 Bar & Grill, Vigilucci’s, Urban Plates, to name a few.

The Festival continues under the stars on Center Court’s 30x17 foot screen with the opening night feature film, All In Time, a dramatic comedy about life, love, passion, and a few twists you might not expect along the way. Actors Lynn Cohen, Sean Modica, Laura Shay, and Pritesh Shah as well as Co-Director/Co-Writer/Producer, Marina Donahue will be in attendance for Q & A afterwards.

Friday Night ‘We Remember’ screening and After-Party

Omni La Costa’s Center Court will present a special tribute honoring our military families in remembrance of 9/11. The following feature film for the evening will be The Great Alone, the inspiring comeback story of champion sled dog racer, Lance Mackey, one of the greatest sled dog racers of all time. He will be available along with one of his magnificent dogs, as well as Director Greg Kohs and Producer Jonathan Hock to answer questions. The After-Party will feature comfort food, craft beer, boutique wine and live entertainment.

Saturday La Costa Honors Night Screening & Gala After-Party

Saturday night’s La Costa Honors Awards Gala will be held at the Omni La Costa Resort’s edge pool and will feature a special themed party and entertainment. Prior to the Gala the Awards ceremony will take place at Center Court under the stars following a red carpet reception, and beginning with the Sports Film Competition winners. Esteemed judges on the Sports Jury include Cash Warren, Brad Holland, Paul Rudy, Ginger Helgeson, and Heather Bown. The high school short film competition winners will be announced by our highly regarded guest filmmakers Geoffrey Clark and Jared Hillman, who served as judges, and will present the $1,000 cash prize from ScholarShare. Our annual Legacy Award will be presented to actor John McGinley, who is best recognized as Dr. Perry Cox on the hit show Scrubs. The Ambassador of Sport award will be presented to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who was instrumental in keeping the Kings in Sacramento and will also be supporting the documentary, Down in the Valley, which will screen at the Festival. After the awards the featured screening on Center Court will be Welcome to Happiness, a comedy that follows a children’s book author who is the gatekeeper to a mysterious door in his closet that only allows certain people to enter. When he learns where the door leads, his life is forever changed. Actors Molly Quinn and Brendan Sexton III will be joined by Writer/Director Oliver Thompson and Producer Bay Dariz.

World Premieres

The La Costa Film Festival will present at least three and maybe five world premiere films at press time; 7 Miles of Paradise – Phillip Waller, Geoff Clark; The Play-Peter Vogt; and Leonard Tose-Mike Tollin

Shorts Programs

The La Costa Film Festival will showcase 21 shorts by filmmakers from around the world:

Winter’s Journey

The Man Who Fed His Shadow

The Visit

The Chicken

Becoming Henry

Chaldean

Deserted

Discipline

Mettle

9:30 A.M.

Buon Nuit

Boogaloo & Graham

Sonnet 134

1-0

All American Family

Through the Breaking Glass

The Fake

Bernard Le Grand

Hollywood Blvd USA

Every Day

Red Thunder

Panels

Three diverse panels are being planned as FREE offerings for attendees at this year’s Festival.

1. ‘The Reel Pitch’- watch great ideas and witness one dream fulfilled

2. Game Changer: What Adding Women Can Do For Your Business or Film

3. Action Sports - in the works (confirming final panel participant)