Imperial Valley Film Festival

BLOCK ONE

Voyage To the Moon, DirectorMagdalena Ramirez, General Short – 2:54

Against All Odds (Contra Viento y Mareas), Director Julian Velosa, Documentary – 15:29

Persistence of Motion, Director John Menvielle, General Short – 6:53

Placebo, Director Angel, General Short – 5:00

Sides, Matias Nilsson, General Short – 15:00

Sticky Pancakes, Director Justin Burquist, General Short – 9:00

Suicide Box, Band: Therapist, Director Adrian Carmona, Music Video – 2:51

Pancho y Blanca, Director Ivan Alejandro Martinez Zazueta, Documentary – 14:00

Pizzaffection, Director Chris Radomski, General Short – 10:00

Miedos (Fears), Director Ilse Davila, Documentary – 6:00

Dandelions for Dylan, Director Justin Burquist, General Short – 25:00

BLOCK TWO

The Record Girl, Director Frank Ortega, General Short – 25:00

Grace, Director Ryan Perez, General Short – 4:23

Un Oportunidad de Vida, Director Andrea Durazo, General Short – 15:15

Un Dia Por el Centro (A Day Downtown), Dir. Miguel Manjarrez, Documentary – 2:00

Ties That Bind, Director Justin Burquist, General Short – 16:00

Manuel, Director Alicia Carrillo, Documentary – 7:30

Imperial Valley Through A Lens Of A Camera, Director Adrian Carmona, General Short- 6:00

El Camion (The Bus), Director Moroyoki Brothers, Documentary – 11:00

Trumps, Director Robert H. Gwinn, General Short – 8:50

Vanity, Director Andrea Durazo, General Short – 9:18

Los Ninos de la Casa Metafisica (Children of the Metaphysical Home), Director Fernando Corona, Animation- 4:00

The schedule for the Sundance Film Forward program has been released, Film Forward promotes cultural dialogue through independent documentary and narrative film, using film’s unique ability to tell stories that explore universal themes to ignite meaningful conversations. A total of 10 films and filmmakers from the U.S. and abroad were selected by Sundance Institute and the partners to participate in this program, traveling to four domestic and five international locations. Filmmakers participate in screenings, extended Q&As, workshops, and master classes at Universities, film and cultural centers, museums, libraries and other community, educational, and cultural venues cultivating engaged dialogue, fostering appreciation of other viewpoints, and developing new audiences for independent film.

See the schedule

The Imperial County Film Commission announced today that the feature film, ”For Lovers Only,” will open the second annual Imperial Valley Film Festival and Artist Showcase. The feature will be screened out-of-competition, opening the festival on Friday evening, May 4. Actor and Screenwriter Mark Polish, as well as the film’s editor, Cary Gries, will be on hand after the film for a Q&A session.

“For Lovers Only,” an award-winning film from the Polish Brothers, is a black and white homage to the French New Wave.   It is a meditation on two past lovers, portrayed by Mark Polish and Stana Katic (Castle.)   After seeing each other for the first time in years while on separate work assignments in Paris, a MAN (Polish) and a WOMAN (Katic) flee together and travel by train, car and motorcycle, as their love affair takes them across France – from Normandy to St. Tropez. Throughout their trip, both characters experience long periods of carefree bliss and unrepentant joy, punctuated by brief moments of guilt and confusion. The final outcome of the affair is left open to interpretation.  Shot in two weeks on a whirlwind tour through the most romantic Old World cities of Europe – “For Lovers Only” is inspired by Claude Lelouche’s “A Man and a Woman.” It is bare, simple and complicated at times, where every word counts – every moment meaningful – not a breath wasted.  The film was released directly to iTunes, where it stayed at number 1 for three consecutive weeks.  It has been one of the most talked-about successes of digital distribution since its release in the Summer of 2011.  For more information on “For Lovers Only,” please visit the film’s website at http://www.forloversonlymovie.com.

Award-winning writer, actor and director Mark Polish, a native of El Centro, CA, broke onto the independent scene in 1999 with his first feature film “Twin Falls, Idaho,” which he co-wrote and starred in with his identical twin brother, Michael.  In 2000, this was followed by another original independent film, “Jackpot,” starringJonathan Gries, Garrett Morris, Daryl Hannah and Adam Baldwin.  “Jackpot” went on to win the 2001 Independent Spirit Awards’ John Cassavetes Best Independent Film Award and the 2001 Seattle International Film Festival’s New American Cinema Award, cementing the Polish Brothers as “working class” filmmakers and key figures in the independent film world.  “Northfork,” a surreal fantasy starring Nick Nolte, Darryl Hannah and James Woods, premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and was hailed as a “triumph of vision” and was snapped up for release by Paramount Classics.  After completing their “American Dream” trilogy, the Polish Brothers, along with their producing partner Jonathan Sheldon, wrote The Declaration of Independent Filmmaking: An Insider’s Guide to Making Movies Outside of Hollywood. (Harcourt/Brace, 2005.) This book, a how-to guide for first-time do-it-yourself filmmakers, has become the textbook for would-be indie filmmakers.  In 2006, Warner Independent released Polish’s fourth film, “The Astronaut Farmer,” starring Billy Bob Thornton as a former NASA astronaut who has been obsessively building the rocket of his dreams in his barn.  Critics noted the strong style of filmmaking and Ebert and Roper gave the film Two Thumbs Up.  In 2008, Mark completed the comedy “Manure,” starring Billy Bob Thornton and Tea Leoni, followed by the comedy “Stay Cool,” starring Winona Ryder, Hillary Duff, Mark Polish, Josh Holloway, Chevy Chase, Sean Astin and Jon Cryer.  In 2010, Mark went to France to film the award-winning film “For Lovers Only,” a meditation on two past lovers, starring Mark Polish and Stana Katic.  Mark recently completed filming the teen comedy “Hot Bot” in Utah.  In addition to his own films, Mark pens screenplays for such major studios as Disney, Sony Pictures and Warner Brothers Pictures.  He also has directed commercials for national brands such as Transamerica Life Insurance, Ambien and Levolor.

We are please to announce that there will be a special screening of the documentary “Looking for Lenny” at 6pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the Cinemark Theaters located in the Imperial Valley Mall.

“Looking for Lenny,” produced by El Centro natives Carla Polkinhorn and Matt Amar, is an in-depth, controversial documentary that uses Lenny Bruce’s legacy to explore the present condition of the fear of words and expression. It also tackles the issue of new limitations that the government and society are placing upon freedom of expression in the artistic and political discourse. It speaks directly to recent attempts by political figures to instill fear into American society by labeling, manipulating, and inflaming people’s fear of the spoken word.

Carla Polkinhorn, a native of El Centro, CA, works as an attorney and independent film producer.  In 2005 Carla founded Borderline Films and has developed, written and produced various feature length films as well as TV show pilots both internationally and in the U.S.  “Looking for Lenny” is her first feature documentary film.

Matt Amar, also a native of El Centro, CA, and a graduate of Central Union High School, is an actor, writer and producer.  He found acting by accident when picked out of a crowd for a background scene in “Acapulco Heat” while vacationing with friends.  He went on to study acting with Lee Strasburg protégé Allen Bridgwater, and then at the prestigious Actor’s Studio in New York City.  In July 2010, Mr. Amar founded Leomar Pictures and has optioned a television pilot to TV and film director Allen Coulter for development.  Additional credits include “Descension” (2007,) “Hollywoodland” (2006,) and “5 Minutes” (2005.)

This film contains strong language and content. May not be suitable for all audience.

The dates for the 2nd Annual Imperial Valley Film Festival and Artist Showcase will be May 4th and 5th.  We will also be having a special Sundance Film Forward screening May 1-4th, this will feature 10 films from the Sundance Film Festival.  For more info visit the Sundance Film Forward website.

This is the new website for the annual Imperial Valley Film Festival, check back here to stay up to date on the most recent news and info for next years festival.