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AFI FEST 2003 Opened with North American Premiere of Nigel Cole's "Calendar Girls"
LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 6 - 16, 2003. AFI FEST 2003 opened on Thursday November 6th with the North American Premiere of CALENDAR GIRLS, from director Nigel Cole. CALENDAR GIRLS is based on the true story of eleven women who bare all, or nearly all, for charity and become international celebrities as a result. The Women's Institute, in Great Britain, encourages the ancient skills of jam-making, flower pressing, knitting and baking. So when a group of extraordinary women are looking for a new way to raise money, they decide to take the annual WI calendar, normally featuring landscapes or flowers, and create something traditional - but with a twist. Behind the baked goods, the apple pressing and the flower arranging, the women are completely nude. "Calendar Girls" is a comedy of outsize proportions.
AFI-American Film Institute now in it’s 17th year, brings to the Archlight Theaters the newest, best and brightest films of the season. This Festival is one of the most eagerly anticipated film festivals in North America and the longest running film festival in Los Angeles. Capturing the cultural diversity of Los Angeles, AFI FEST provides new and established filmmakers with a crucial avenue of exposure to the film community, while celebrating the accomplishments of their colleagues from around the world. Some films are straight from Toronto International Film Festival or others are world premieres. No matter where the films are from AFI is known for quality and excellence in a film festival.
The Festival will feature over 140 films through an International Competition of features, documentaries and shorts, as well as ambitious regional showcases of international cinema including Asian New Classics, European Film Showcase, Latin Cinema Series, American Directions and returning for a second year the popular Made in Germany series. AFI FEST 2003 will also continue its traditions of Opening Night, Centerpiece and Closing Night Premieres, along with the highly anticipated Tribute and Retrospective.
Schedule for the various Gala’s are: Centerpiece Gala, is DreamWorks Pictures' HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG (WORLD PREMIERE) The Tribute is to the gifted actor Omar Shariff, Sony Pictures Classics THE STATEMENT (WORLD PREMIERE) Centerpiece Gala, COLD MOUNTAIN and the Collaborative Art of Anthony Minghella, and Closing Night Newmarket Films' MONSTER (WORLD PREMIERE)
In the past, AFI FEST has premiered such films as ANTWONE FISHER; ARARAT; CITY OF GOD; DARK WATER; SWEET SIXTEEN; NOWHERE IN AFRICA; THE QUIET AMERICAN; NO MAN'S LAND; MONSTER'S BALL; LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL; THE CIDER HOUSE RULES; BEFORE NIGHT FALLS; O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? And AMORES PERROS.
Films of note scheduled to screen are: THE COMPANY, Robert Altman's new film, starring Malcolm McDowell, Neve Campbell, James Franco, and Malcolm McDowell, Errol Morris' timely THE FOG OF WAR Gabriele Salvatores' I'M NOT SCARED, a haunting, suspenseful thriller from the director of MEDITERRANEO. Jim Sheridan's IN AMERICA, written by Sheridan and his daughter based on their own story, stars the radiant Samantha Morton in a tale of an immigrant family's survival on the tough streets of New York, Sue Brooks' debut feature, JAPANESE STORY, stars Toni Collette in a touching personal story set against the backdrop of the awesome Australian Outback, Siddiq Barmak's Afghani produced, award-winning OSAMA, based on the true story of a young girl living under the harsh rule of the Taliban, From Poland, Jan Jakob Kolski's PORNOGRAPHY is an edgy tale of war and its devastating effect upon civilians, Jesper Jargil's THE PURIFIED is an insightful documentary about the DOGMA 95 Manifesto and the filmmakers who set fire to hidebound cinematic conventions.
AFI will take place at the Archlight near Sunset and Vine, located in the heart of Hollywood. Tickets are available on line at www.AFI.com
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