SEPTEMBER 21, 2009 -- The 8th annual San Diego Film Festival runs from September 23-27. Looking back, SDFF executive director Robin Laatz credits actor James Woods with helping her survive the emotional rollercoaster that was the first festival.
“It was 2002,” says Laatz. “Scott Baio had given me a hard time during check-in about his hotel room. I was near tears. [Recall that Baio played Chachi on TV’s Happy Days.] The wonderful James Woods, who’d arrived at the hotel when this happened, goes up on stage at the closing party. And he’s addressing the audience and says, ‘I see Chachi is here tonight. Isn’t Chachi Italian for small penis?’”
Laatz, who started the festival with her filmmaker husband, Karl Kozak, says Woods’ onstage redress probably encouraged her to put up with all the organizational headaches the following year.
Thanks goodness. Last year, the SDFF attracted more than 14,000 people to its movie screenings, industry panels and nightly parties. This year, box office sales are reportedly up 20 percent over last year. (For more information, go to sdff.org.)
More than 85 movies will be shown at downtown’s Gaslamp Theater. A few films have some buzz, including Like Dandelion Dust, a tear-jerker starring Barry Pepper and Mira Sorvino, which opens the festival on Wednesday.
There will be two high-profile world premieres: a comedy called Repo, and The Job, which stars Joe Pantoliano (Risky Business, The Sopranos). Both movies will be screened on Saturday and Sunday.
Keep an eye out for: Official Rejection. It’s a documentary by Paul Osborne about the film festival circuit, and includes footage from the 2007 SDFF. Look for a cameo by Laatz.
San Diego’s film festival was recently ranked among the top 10 in the United States. Laatz hopes the national recognition helps ignite local interest.
“The thing I want people to catch on to with the festival is that for 95 percent of the films, the actors and directors are in the house,” she says. “This isn’t about going into a multiplex, sitting for 90 minutes and leaving. You can ask questions afterward. It’s very interactive.”
Celebrities scheduled to be on hand include James Van Deer Beek, Richard Dreyfuss and William Shatner, whose latest cinematic effort is called William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet. If you’ve got questions, it airs Friday.
