The Valley Film Festival Expands Programming Into West Valley w/October 7th Screening

Contributed by Georgia Menides

When we say, The Valley Film Festival, we mean THE WHOLE DARN VALLEY

For the past 17 years, The Valley Film Festival has produced annual independent

cinexplosions at the Laemmle NoHo 7 with adjunct programs and parties running all the way up and down “the Lankershim strip” in the NoHo Arts District. VFF continues to hold court as the largest and longest running film festival in the San Fernando Valley, bringing in about 12K total foot traffic each year.

Yes, Laemmle NoHo 7 is in The Valley.  But the name, “The Valley Film Festival” refers to a lot more than just our venue’s location. The name is reflective of our targeted- to-Valley-folk programming. We primarily focus on films with concrete production or cast ties to the (818). Or we program foreign films that speak to the specific cultural needs of The Valley’s strongest international demographics.  In short, we are of, from, and all about The Valley.

As traditional movie theatre audiences continue to decline, more and more theatres are willing to take a chance on a film festival in efforts to raise revenue. The result has been a propagation of small festivals popping up all over The Valley and in the world at large. So how can The Valley Film Festival continue to differentiate itself from the herd when every day it seems like someone else in the (818) is starting yet another festival?

I spoke to VFF’s new co-producer, David Kraus to learn more about his efforts to expand the presence, financials, and outreach for VFF, making sure that filmmakers, distributors, and audiences know that we represent the whole valley.

David Krouse - “2017 has been a ground-breaking year for the festival. We’ve grown in every direction; expanded programming, venue additions, partnerships with online and broadcast tv stations, sponsors, staff, and social media. We are also growing our distribution wing. Next year we will be hosting a film market to help connect hundreds of local filmmakers with the companies who acquire content.

My overarching vision for VFF is to become THE Valley Film Festival – as the single most important annual cultural  event in the San Fernando Valley, from the West Hills to Burbank. To achieve these visions, we needed to expand.”

The focus has been on evolving our programming to now host year-round community screenings, parties, events, and panels on every aspect on filmmaking. We are now able to offer exhibition to a wider range of filmmakers, branching into episodic and VR media. Additionally, now we have an opportunity to import more international cinema into The Valley. Our international community deserve a chance to see films on screen in their own language. The more we can provide, the better.

DK - “One of my first thoughts for a screening venue (far away from North Hollywood) was the elegant but cozy 75 seat theatre and spacious reception area at Columbia College Hollywood in Tarzana. I approached the film school about partnering with us and are so excited to have them in board. So far, it’s been a perfect fit and we have already hosted 3 crowded, successful panels.”

The Valley Film Festival’s first Community Screening will be on Saturday October 7^th with a “real talk” discussion about the highs and lows of mumblecore (microbudget filmmaking). 

Both the dramatic feature, “Jack and Cocaine” and comedic short “Rock This” were produced for barely any money. But neither filmmaker let money get in the way of realizing their dreams.  Even the most successful filmmaker usually started out, at some point, with an idea, a camera, and few friends in a frenzy of passion, cheap and fast, on a mission to just get the story out.  

The Valley Film Festival is so excited about this screening. We feel it will inspire artists and non-artists alike to take a crack at this art form that, thanks to today’s technology, is no longer just for the rich and connected.

I'll have more to say about our expansion as it continues to unfold. But for now, just remember, when we say, "Valley Film Festival," yes, we mean the whole darn Valley!! 

RSVP Here

Saturday, October 7, 2:30pm

@ Columbia College Hollywood (Tarzana)

18618 Oxnard Street, Tarzana, CA 91356

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The 17th Annual Valley Film Festival runs October 25-29, 2017 @ Laemmle NoHo7. 

It's HOT! HOT! HOT! Can You Feel It?

Contributed by Georgia Menides

There are two types of "heat" that describe Los Angeles. There's the heat which refers to the rest of the city floating around the (818) all innocent and perpetually moving. Then, there's the Soul Sucking Heat Monster of Hell that lives within the (818) proper. Every summer, he comes, and no amount of tribal rituals, AC, or central air will keep him away. 

To be honest, I've always the been the lone Valley Film Festival programmer who didn't live in The Valley, until this winter, when a job beckoned my roommate and I to Sherman Oaks. Overall, we love it here! We love the farmers markets, galleries, mom and pop stores, canyons for running, snow capped mountain views, proximity to Lankershim and Magnolia (aka the VFF strip), the parks, the bars, and the best ethnic food ever.

The only issue..it's hot! Even my Greek blood can't handle the assault. I used my air conditioner for the first time last week (ask my roommate, Becca, it's true I've never turned it on before). I was  lying helpless on the couch until the temperature finally fell. 

Since I didn't move to LA to sprawl helplessly on my couch all day, I decided to research the community for how other Valley folk made it through the hottest months of August and September. So out of a compassionate favor to myself, I've complied a list of things to do when you're so hot you just can't move. I hope they help you as much as they have helped me.

1. Ice Skating

Yes, before the days of the ice skating rink, it made sense to go skating during the winter to avoid falling into patches of cold water and drowning. But, post ice skating rink? I mean, if you think about it, why are we forgetting to go ice skating during the hottest time of the year? It's on those sweltering days when it feels like heaven to not just cool off, but actually  get cold. We all love a good workout and an opportunity to show off our rarely worn hats and mitten sets, so give your skates a new lease on life (or just rent a pair) and get on board with this new trend. 

Where: Head to Valley Ice Center or Iceland in Van Nuys, or Pickwick Ice in Burbank for free skates days and nights. 

Photo by Benson Kua

2. Pools

I mean, hopefully, you have one, like I do. Or you know someone really close who has one and you can say, "Listen, it's too hot to live, I'm coming over." When the Soul Sucking Heat Monster of Hell comes out, and your own pool is unavailable, then it's time to peruse the little blue book. Analyze your Facebook walls and cross reference a list of potential pools. Now, look, your friends will know you've got an ulterior motive, so come prepared to shower them with chilled wine, fresh music, and eye candy. They're benefitting too. What a wonderful way to cool down from heat stroke, while pretty much broadcasting how cool they are to all of your friends.  And if you can't find a friend's pool, The Valley is full of options.

Where: The Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Aquatic Center, East Valley YMCA, or, if you're closer to Burbank, the Verdugo Aquatic Center. 

Photo from Pixabay

3. Parks and Recreation Centers

The beauty of a Valley-based recreation center, is that there are tons of options to exercise  (both indoor and outdoor) and equally as many to not exercise. Or just sit and enjoy the weather, always temperate inside and out, due to air conditioning and tall shady groves of trees around tiny bodies of water. 

Hike through the woods in any of these beautiful parks and you'll find rivers, ponds, lakes, and animal tracks. 

Where: Lanark Rec Center (Canoga Park), Lake Balboa (Encino/Van Nuys) or NoHo Recreation Center (North Hollywood)

Photo courtesy of Georgia M.

4. Shopping/Museums

Museums sell themselves, especially on a hot day. I've known friends to go to The Getty for the sole reason of beating the heat, but shopping needs more of an explanation. Now when I say shopping, I don't mean the exhaustive process of hauling the kids into a car, driving around in the heat, and fighting over city parking. I'm talking about the kind of stores you can actually drive to, walk in, and let your kids run loose in. LA is full of stores that promise several hours fun for adults, children, and the kid within. 

Where: Museums - The Getty Center (Sepulveda) & Valley Relics (Chatsworth) and Fun Stores - Puzzle Zoo (several locations in LA), Wacko Soap Plant (Los Feliz), and The Dinosaur Farm (South Pasadena)

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

5. The Movies

No brainer here! Why do you think the word "Summer Blockbuster" is so important to big studios? Luckily, the (818) has several options for you to dip into for a blast of cold air. 

Where: Laemmle NoHo7 (the home of The Valley Film Festival) and the Regency's Valley Plaza 6, also in North Hollywood, to name a few.  What's your favorite theatre in The Valley? 

Photo by Ilja von Nagel

6. The Beach

Finally, if all else fails, there's the beach. The (818) is so close to the Pacific Ocean and you don't even have to drive there! Park at any metro station and make your way to the Orange Line; Get off at Warner Center and grab LA's official Beach Bus for only $1. Sit back, enjoy the hour-long ride through Topanga Canyon, and you'll be at the best place to beat the heat in the whole city. The best part? This service runs year-round! 

Where: Warner Center Station (Woodland Hills)

Photo courtesy of Georgia M.

VFF17 ~ T-Minus 100 Days

It's our annual 100-day countdown to The Valley Film Festival, so we thought unveiling our 2017 poster would get you excited for the return of great, independent cinema in North Hollywood, October 25-29, at Laemmle NoHo7. Thanks to the creative genius at iBlakeStudio for listening to our concept and, once again, surprising us with something special. 

VFF17 ~ Save The Dates: October 25-29 @ Laemmle NoHo7

While we get our non-profit paperwork in order, ink our 2017 dates in your calendar: October 25-29 @ Laemmle NoHo7! Looking forward to seeing you all there.

...And That's a Wrap on VFF16!

We proudly close the curtain on another great lineup of cinema so independent it can be found only in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley. This year, VFF screened over 50 thought provoking and entertaining films from 9 countries. Thanks to our volunteers, filmmakers, supporters, fans, and the Laemmle NoHo7 staff for making VFF16 rock!

Please take a moment to congratulate our 2016 award winners with us: 

AUDIENCE AWARDS:
BECOMING A MAN, directed by Jared Lara
CHIPPY, directed by R.D. Womack II
FRIEDA'S TURN, directed by Jay J. Levy
SLOW FADE TO AUTUMN, directed by Marie Tang Urquidi

"10 DEGREES HOTTER" JURIED AWARDS:
Narrative Feature: CHANGEOVER, directed by Estes Tarver
Documentary Feature: IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE STORY: Conversations with Alan Ladd, Jr., directed by Stanley Isaacs
Narrative Short: BLACK COMEDY, directed by Luigi Pane
Documentary Short: WEST EMPIRE, directed by Mathieu Le Lay

BEST OF (JURIED AWARDS):
Music Video: STORIES UPON YOUR LIPS, directed by Bastien BronTrailer: SYNAPSE, directed by David Bertran

The Sixteenth Annual Valley Film Festival (VFF) Announces Complete Line-Up

North Hollywood, California - The sixteenth annual Valley Film Festival (VFF) announces its feature selections and complete line-up.  

VFF returns in full force with a five-day festival showcasing over 50 of the best independent films, from the (818) and from around the world, September 28-October 2 at Laemmle NoHo7 in the NoHo Arts District. Tickets are $12 and available at ValleyFilmFest.com.

The Festival kicks off Opening Night, Wednesday, September 28, with the dramatic feature, A LIFE LIVED, the story of a single dollar and the many lives it passes along the way. Directed by Riley Wood and produced by Chris Cashman (VFF07, Carts) A Life Lived features Denise Richards (Wild Things, Love, Actually), Jennifer Taylor (Two and a Half Men), Brendan McCarthy (True Blood), Lili Bordan (Battle Star Galactica: Blood and Chrome) and Marshall Manesh (How I Met Your Mother, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End).

Currently nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series category, HER STORY, Directed by Sydney Freeland, lights up the NoHo7 screen with the friendship of two trans women in Los Angeles who have given up on love, when chance encounters give them hope. Executive produced by Eve Ensler (“The Vagina Monologues”) and Katherine Fisher, the cast includes Jen Richards and Laura Zak.

VFF16’s Centerpiece Screenings include the World Premiere of BADSVILLE, Directed by April Mullen, about a violent greaser gang ripped apart when their leader finds love and is determined to leave BADSVILLE - a town where love doesn't exist. Cast: Robert Knepper (Prison Break, Heroes) Emilio Rivera (Sons of Anarchy) and Tamara Duarte (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and ELECTRIC SLIDE, a chronicle of the life of furniture salesman turned bank robber Eddie Dodson, Directed by Tristan Patterson and featuring Jim Sturgess (Cloud Atlas, 21) Chloë Sevigny (Bloodline, Big Love, American Horror Story) Isabel Lucas (Red Dawn, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Kate Micucci (Garfunkle and Oates, The Big Bang Theory) and Academy Award Winner, Patricia Arquette (Boyhood, Medium, True Romance).

The World Premiere of DRUGS & OTHER LOVE, Directed by Noah Applebaum, closes out The 2016 Valley Film Festival. In this comedy, a charming, terrible older sibling keeps his stoner brother high on drugs so he can win the heart of a lady dope dealer who happens to owe money to a gangster. Cast: Noah Applebaum (VFF12, Route 30, Too, VFF14, Route 30 Three!), John Weselcouch (The Purge), Angelina Spicer (Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live), Whitney Moore (Birdemic: Shock and Terror, Birdemic 2: The Resurrection) and Teri Fruichantie (Hollywood is Hard).

The Documentary selections launch with an intimate oral history of the trials, tribulations, heartbreak and joy of bringing some of the most iconic and memorable motion pictures to the screen in IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT THE STORY: CONVERSATIONS WITH ALAN LADD, JR., Directed by Stanley Isaacs, featuring interviews with Alan Ladd, Jr., Jay Kanter, Michael Gruskoff and Mel Brooks. “The Creative Life” documentary program also includes FOSSE: RECREATED, Directed by Wolfgang Glattes (All That Jazz, Star 80, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory) and #NONAHENDRYX: TRANSORMATION from VFF alumni and two time Emmy Award winners, Renee Sotile and Mary Jo Godges (VFF06, Christa McAuliffe: Reach for the Stars).

The Festival remains fully committed to supporting local independent production by showcasing twenty-six films made by Angelenos, Vals, and shot in or about the glamorous San Fernando Valley, while continuing to promote diverse films from around the world, with shorts from Canada (Chaos Management, Flush, The Silence), France (West Empire), Germany (Chamber Music), Italy (Black Comedy), Kazakhstan (The Sky Over Berlin of my Childhood), Korea (I Am Grace), Serbia (Play!), Switzerland (Stories Upon Your Lips) and the United Kingdom (Dead Fred, I Used to be Famous).

Other features include:

BAD PEOPLE/U.S.A./World Premiere (Director: Alex Petrovitch) - Bad People is a dark comedy feature film that begs us to laugh at the absurdity that is all around us: crack smoking politicians, prostitutes turned reality stars, religious charlatans, sex obsessed online dating, elitist parents, infidelity, and political correctness. Told through the lens of several short stories, the film examines the hysterical dark side that permeates our society today. Cast: Ben Gleib (Showtime's Neurotic Gangster), Leah McKendrick (Bad Moms) Andy Mackenzie (HBO's True Detective Season 2), Christopher Goodman (Showtime's Ray Donovan), Jason Faunt (Power Rangers Time Force) and Jordan Wall (A&E's The Glades).

CHANGEOVER/U.S.A./Los Angeles Premiere (Director Estes Tarver) - After Haley suffers the loss of her parents in a fatal car wreck, she moves in with her almost estranged single uncle and his young son. Together the trio must attempt to move on and make a life as a new family. Cast: Madeline Taylor (John Adams, The Girl Next Door), Estes Tarver (Under the Dome, Finding Carter) and Carter Godwin (Solace).

THE RICH WOMAN/Vietnam/World Premiere (Director: Le-Van Kiet) – When an international business owner informs authorities that her partner has criminal ties, she is forced to face her enemy to save her daughter. Cast: Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, Truong Quynh Anh and Quang Su.

VIRTUAL REVOLUTION/U.S.A./France (Director: Guy-Roger Duvert) – The year is 2047 and most of the population spends their time online, connected into virtual worlds where they can fulfill all of their fantasies, losing all interest for reality and leaving it to a small minority. A shadow Agent is tracking and eliminating terrorists who want to destroy this system. Cast: Mike Dopud (Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe, 300) and Jane Badler (V).

THE BUSINESS OF NOSTALGIA/U.S.A./Los Angeles Premiere (Directed by Mark DiNatale) – This documentary offers a glimpse into eleven business owners who own, operate, or create something that harkens back to a previous era.

The Valley Film Festival 2016 will open on Wednesday, September 28 and continue through Sunday, October 2 with daily screenings at the Laemmle NoHo 7, located at 5240 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. Tickets are $12. For more information and tickets, visit ValleyFilmFest.com.

THE VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL 

2016 SCREENING SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY – 9/28

8:00 pm - Opening Night Feature: A Live Lived with I Used to Be Famous and Hands Up (music video)

THURSDAY – 9/29

7:30 pm - Dramatic Shorts Program: Becoming a Man, Frieda’s Turn, Protocol: New Orleans, Rain, The Serene Heartache, Shackled, The Sky Over Berlin of my Childhood, Three-Legged Stool and West Empire.

10:00pm - Feature Program: Bad People with The Unconventional Gourmet and Dead Fred (Trailer)

FRIDAY – 9/30

7:30pm - Feature Program: Electric Slide with Welcome to the Party and Stories Upon Your Lips (music video)

10:00pm - Feature Program: Virtual Revolution with 2BR02B and Synapse (trailer)

SATURDAY – 10/1

12:00 pm/noon – “The Creative Life” Documentary Program: It’s Always About the Story: Conversations with Alan Ladd, Jr. with Fosse: Recreated and #NonaHendryx Transformation

2:00pm – Feature Program: Changeover with I Am Grace

4:30pm – “The Past is Present, and for Sale” Documentary Program: The Business of Nostalgia with Dockery & Son

6:30pm – Feature Program: The Rich Woman with Boxer and Chaos Management

9:00pm – Centerpiece Screening: Badsville with Black Comedy and Caihong City (trailer)

SUNDAY - 10/2

12:00 pm/noon – “Voices of Troubled Youth” Documentary Program: Be More with The Silence and Play!

2:00pm – Celebrating the LGBTQ Community: Her Story with The Prisoner

3:45pm – Girls on Film Shorts Program: Chamber Music, Chippy, Doble 9, Fanny Pack, Flush, Jordan Almonds, The Last Course, Slow Fade to Autumn and Tea & Therapy

6:00pm – Closing Night Program: Drugs & Other Love with The Invitation to Armageddon and $5