The Other Venice Film Festival, which is dedicated to screening full-length, short and animated films that embody “the spirit, energy and diversity” of Venice itself, returns for a second and far busier season this weekend.
In its inaugural year, the festival featured 17 filmmakers. this year more than 40 will take part.
Celebrating its centennial this year, Venice has always attracted Los Angeles artists, writers and filmmakers bent on expanding the language of underground, alternative cinema.
The Other Venice Film Festival showcases the work of the filmmakers who reside on the cutting edge.
It will be based at The Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Avenue Friday through Sunday and Switch Studios, 316 South Venice Boulevard. on Saturday and Sunday.
An Opening Night Mockumentary celebration is scheduled for Friday night at 7 p.m. After a performance by The Dragonfly Project, the world premiere of a short film, Ice Town and M Boys and the screening of Incident at Loch Ness, starring Werner Herzog, will be held. At 10, the party will culminate with Djs, livr video performance art, food and drink from Venice chefs.
Films in competition will be screened Saturday at Switch Studios with new avant-garde/experimental short films shown from 2 to 4 p.m. At 4:20 p.m., world premieres of Massa Confusa, a short, and Phoenix Point will take place.
Two features and two shorts will be shown at the Electric Lodge from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, followed by a performance by surf rock band, The Mermen, which, in turn, will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by the “Local Maverick Spotlight Film,” Riding Giants, with Q&A with Venice filmmaker Stacy Peralta.
At 9:30 p.m., the new music video competition, including the world premiere of Thievery Corporation’s Fluid Dream video, is scheduled.
At midnight, an after-hours party will begin.
Sunday, March 20, at Switch Studios from 2 to 5 p.m, The Ice Cream Man, a short, and a feature film, Road Kings, with music by Snoop Dogg, ODB, Nate Dogg & Mystic will be shown.
Sunday at the Electric Lodge will kick off with a performance by local band Sugarbitch at noon.
From 2 to 5 p.m., short films are scheduled, and from 5 to 7 p.m. there will be a panel discussion – “Doc to Drama: Lords of Dogtown.”
The “Abbot” Awards ceremony and closing party begins at 7.
Tickets and reservations are available at The Electric Lodge in advance and will be sold at the door (based on availability)
For more information and complete film schedule, log onto www.veniceOfilmfest.com
