Not a city afraid of attracting attention, flash, brash Las Vegas, a.k.a Sin City, is the perfect host for the boisterous annual CineVegas Film Festival. A six-day rollercoaster of movies and fabulous parties, the ride starts on June 10, 2009.
Original Programming at CineVegas
Established in 1998, the CineVegas Film Festival started out as a humble event, set up by a group of film lovers, filmmakers and industry veterans. The program featured ‘The Best of the Fests’, independent movies that were creating a buzz at other film festivals.
From the start, CineVegas has strived for original programming, using the unpredictability and extravagance of Las Vegas as a backdrop to present works by what it terms “innovative, uninhibited and renegade artists.”
Over the years, the festival has moved away from its ‘Best of the Fests’ format to include new releases (in the aptly named Jackpot Premieres section), a competitive section for groundbreaking documentaries, independent movies and advance screenings.
The Area 52 section of the festival is reserved for underground and cult movies, which this year will include Nathan Juran’s 1950s classic Attack of the 50ft Woman, screened in a specially recreated open-air drive-in cinema in the downtown area.
2009 CineVegas Opening and Closing Movies
Appropriately, the festival will open with Saint John of Las Vegas (2009), which stars Steve Buscemi as an ex-gambler who comes back to Las Vegas to investigate an insurance fraud.
Closing night sees Robin Williams in the lead role of Bobcat Goldthwait’s World’s Greatest Dad (2009). A dark comedy about the allure of fame, the movie tells the story of Lance, a high school poetry teacher with a not-so-great relationship with his son. When Lance is struck by tragedy he is presented with a difficult choice, but one that could fulfil his secret dream of being a successful writer.
In between are a host of movies from fresh talent as well as established directors such Douglas Tirola (All In - The Poker Movie), Wim Wenders (Palermo Shooting), and Armando Iannucci (In the Look).
Jon Voight and Willem Dafoe to Be Honored
This year’s festival will honor the actors Jon Voight and Willem Dafoe. In recognition of his artistic excellence and professional accomplishment, Voight will receive the Marquee Award. Defoe will be presented with the Vanguard Actor Award for his distinctive and frequently controversial performances. With more than 70 movies to his name, he can shortly be seen in Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist.
Party Program
Upholding Las Vegas’ reputation as a city of hedonism and pleasure, CineVegas’s party program is almost as extensive as its movie program. In fact, there is a separate schedule just for the parties - and they are no sedate drinks events.
From the opening party on Wednesday in 12,000-square foot club Privé, part of the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, to dancing in the “multi-sensory” nightclub Rain on Friday to the beats of Nichole Richie’s ex DJ AM; and from a boozy brunch with live entertainment on Sunday morning to the closing party in the Playboy Club on Sunday night, these parties are designed to impress.
Full festival and party programs, location and ticketing details can be found on the festival website. A selection of over 20 shorts can also be viewed for free in the Shorts Online section of the site.
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