Sundance Institute's Next Fest bringing Hollywood to LA

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Sundance Institute's Next Fest is bringing a bit of Hollywood to downtown Los Angeles, TheWrap reported.

The festival, which takes place from Aug. 7 to 10, will premiere six films in L.A. from the 2014 Sundance Festival as well as showcase music from Father John Misty, Tinashe, and Warpaint, according to the lineup released Wednesday.

“Next Fest is a continuation of our efforts to connect film-loving audiences with the next generation of independent filmmakers. The unique convergence of film and music enhances the experience of each and offers fresh insight into the talent and vision of these outstanding independent artists,” said John Cooper, director of the Sundance Festival.

The films will cover a wide range of subjects ranging from Iranian vampires to gang life in Watts. The Next Fest builds on the mission of the “Next” section of The Sundance Film Festival which seeks to highlight adventurous films. Each of the six films will screen at the historic Ace Hotel with a discussion or musical act to follow.

Next Fest will kick off with a 10th anniversary screening of “Napoleon Dynamite” in conjunction with Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

The other events, which will take place at the Ace Hotel, include a Friday, Aug. 8 screening of Jeff Baena's “Life After Beth,” with Aubrey Plaza and John C. Reilly, followed by a performance by Father John Misty; Saturday afternoon screenings of David Zellner's “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter” (with Rinko Kikuchi) and Alex Ross Perry's “Listen Up Philip” (with Jason Schwartzman and Elisabeth Moss, photo at top), both followed by conversations with their creators; a Saturday evening screening of Malik Vitthal's “Imperial Dreams,” followed by a performance by Tinashe; a Sunday afternoon screening of and conversation about Adam Wingard's “The Guest”; and a Sunday evening screening of Ana Lily Amirpour's “Girl Walks Home Alone at Night,” followed by a performance by Warpaint.

The program is a departure from last year's inaugural Next Festival, which showcased 10 feature films and 10 short films, along with a day-long session of panels and conversations, in West Hollywood. Films in that group included the drama “This Is Martin Bonner” and the documentary “Cutie and the Boxer,” which went on to receive an Indie Spirit Award and an Oscar nomination, respectively. The first Next Festival did not have a musical component.