SUPERSTARS PLUS SECRETS & SURPRISES FOR THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CINEVEGAS FILM FESTIVAL—PART 1
In just six-days now the 10th anniversary CineVegas Film Festival premieres and a slew of Hollywood stars, actors and actresses promise to make it the most glittering celebration in its decade-long history. It all kicks off next Thursday (June 12) and runs for 10 days through till Saturday, June 21.
Today Luxe Life presents Part 1 of our exclusive interview with the festival’s artistic director Trevor Groth who runs down all the star appearances and then Monday in Part 2 he’ll review several of the film highlights.
On Tuesday we’ll feature our exclusive interview with Festival chairman, actor Dennis Hopper, just back from the Cannes Film festival and a European movie shoot. On Wednesday we’ll have the full 10-day calendar of movies and then each day of the star-studded Festival we will bring you the daily listing of movie screenings and events and our exclusive photo reports.
I asked Trevor first for a brief overview of this year’s CineVegas Film Festival. He told me: We are taking advantage of celebrating the 10th anniversary by a combination of things. We are continuing to do what has been very successful, presenting world premieres of independent films from cutting edge film makers as well as presenting honoree and career achievement awards and actors who represent challenging work. We also wanted to add some new things to celebrate the 10th anniversary that add to the mix of the festival. We have a charity sneak premiere of Get Smart for Dwayne Johnson’s “The Rock Foundation.”
“He is here in Vegas filming the Disney Witch Mountain sequel. We can’t let him leave town without visiting CineVegas. It is a very cool movie and we have Planet Hollywood Resort lined up for the glamorous festivities. It is a funny film and he will add a nice element to the festival for sure. As of right now, it is looking like Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway won’t be able to attend so our event is centered around Dwayne Johnson.
“Our Ocean’s 13 charity premiere from last year worked out so well for us last year. We did that big studio film as a part of CineVegas, which is more about Independent films. It was so good to do that for a good cause and we raised so much money. This year we will raise money for needy kids here and in third world countries and we are excited to do that.
“Right from the start with our opening film CineVegas is about stars. Thinking that Ocean’s 13 was so great last year, I knew I couldn’t top that but I wanted to kick off the festival with a similar splash and I saw this film called The Rocker starring Rainn Wilson from the Office with Steve Carrell. It is absolutely hilarious and I thought it would provide energy and laughter to kick off the festivities. Rainn is known as a TV actor, but I think that when people see him as a movie lead, they will realize he really has the chops. There are really funny comedians coming as well, a few are on Saturday Night Live. It is going to be a laugh fest. Christina Applegate, Jason Sudakis, Emma Stone and director Peter Caetanio who directed the Full Monty. It is a really great cast and crew.
“Getting in to our honorees. I love every one of these actors. They represent the spectrum of risky actors to edgy independent films. They do it all.
Angelica Houston is terrific; she comes from a terrific Hollywood family. I love her too because she is one of those people who does studio films and does these independent films including Choke this year which she did with Sam Rockwell. I realty admire her with that. She could do anything she wants at this point and she does these independent films. We have Don Cheadle back from Oceans 13 last year, Rosario Dawson, Viggo Mortsensen, Sam Rockwell and James Caan who will be honored with the Festival’s special Icon Award for being an actor who embodies the spirit of Vegas and has delivered memorable performances in films and shows set here.
“As we do our last minute tinkering I really am very pleased with this year’s festival. I have been learning what works in this city and at the festival and I was able to get all of those in place for this year. We have world premieres of films that are innovative; we have a film that stars Bill Pullman called Your Name Here. He will be here with co-star Bijou Phillips and we hope that former porn-actress Tracey Lourdes who is now mainstream in this film will join them. Bill is coming and is passionate about this film and supportive, so he will be a great addition to the festival and the film is going to provoke people and get them to respond to it. We have this intriguing movie Women in Boxes, which is about women who never get any credit for being skewered to death by magicians. The filmmakers have invited Criss Angel, Penn & Teller and Lance Burton who are in the film. It would be great to have them there. It is an interesting film.”
Here are the initial key star-spotting dates:
*Thurs June 12: Opening Night: The Rocker at the Brenden Theaters in the Palms.
*Sat June 14: The world premiere of neo-noir musical Dark Streets with Bijou Phillips and Grammy winning blues musician Chris Thomas King who will team for a Palms poolside concert after the screening.
*Sun June 15: The Get Smart charity premiere for Dwayne Johnson’s “Rock Foundation” at Planet Hollywood Resort. While here for CineVegas, Johnny Brenden, president of the host Brenden Theaters at the Palms will present Dwayne with his own lobby celebrity star.
*Fri June 20: The Honorees with James Caan, Don Cheadle, Anjelica Huston, Rosario Dawson, Viggo Mortsensen and Sam Rockwell.
*Sat June 21: Closing Night with The Great Buck Howard premiere with John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt and Tom Hanks.
We’re also expecting the amazing The Beatles Love musical movie behind-the-scenes documentary Altogether Now to be premiered at the Festival with Cirque du Soleil founder Guy LaLiberté and the cast of The Mirage show with recording genius Sir George Martin. I hope to have that date for you on Monday.
Almost all the movies of the festival are screened at the Brenden Theaters in the Palms with actors, directors and filmmakers of each one attending the screenings for meet-the-press and film enthusiast Q&A sessions.
Trevor summed up for me: “I do think that people are supportive of CineVegas because they want to come to Las Vegas. It is an enticing destination. I think the idea of a successful film festival in Vegas makes everyone happy. This will be our best year yet and it truly is an amazing lineup of premieres and fascinating first showings of independent films. I’m feeling very happy and comfortable with it all. We all have reason to be very proud.”