This Thursday, the Long Beach Cinematheque is hosting the official Kick-Off Mixer for the 2013 Long Beach Film Festival. The mixer, which is being held at Honduras’ Kitchen, located at 1909 East 4th Street, is both a fund-raiser and community event. They’re seeking input from everyone to help make sure the Festival is a success. The mixer has a suggested donation of $10, which will go to support the Festival. The Kitchen is presenting free hors d’oeuvres.
The Long Beach Cinematheque has helped to reignite our City’s love affair with film. Under the leadership of founder Logan Crow, and with grass roots, business, and institutional support from all corners of the City, the Cinematheque has presented Moonlight Movies on the Beach, classic films with live soundtracks, temporary drive-ins, Q&As with directors, and Midnight Movies.
In August of last year, Shawn and Roberta King, whose Long Beach Film Foundation has kept the ‘Long Beach Film Festival’ brand alive for years, joined forces with Logan’s Cinematheque to begin strategic planning for a 2013 Long Beach Film Festival. The Festival is in partnership with independent businesses on 4th Street’s Retro Row, some who will host screenings and other events during the Festival.
Shawn’s love of movies goes back to his childhood.
“Film has always been a part of my life,” Shawn said. “I started making my own home movies in my early teens. As a filmmaker, I know the intricate details of what it takes to make one; time, money, people and resources. If I’m not making a movie, I want to be a at least helping someone make their film. For me this is one of the core motivations for hosting The Long Beach Film Festival.
“When I’m involved in creation, whether it be a film or a painting, this puts the world on pause for me, and all the negativity we see just seems to disappear.”
Shawn and Roberta both served on the board of the 2nd City Council Art Gallery and, at that time, they got the idea to create a ‘Backyard Cinema’ series in the Sato Garden, there.
“I had a passion,” Shawn continued, “to create a venue for local film makers in Long Beach where we could share our films, create, meet and greet, and talk film. There just wasn’t a place to do that. From that desire sprang the idea of having a full film festival here in Long Beach. We knew L.A. had a film festival and Newport Beach had one, so it was kind of natural to have one here.”
Roberta agrees.
“The festival,” she said, “will expose the community to a wealth of cinematic history, and showcase the creative works of the diverse cultures, races and lifestyles that make up this unique and historically important city.”
“I love the eclectic nature of a multi-day film festival,” Logan said, “in terms not only of film selection, but the mixture of artistic disciplines. The best film festivals I’ve been to incorporate live music, spoken word events, fashion – all manner of visual, performing, and literary arts.”
“Long Beach,” Roberta said, “offers unique, award winning, gourmet dining experiences, play houses, cultural events, eclectic art galleries, quaint coffee houses, an explosive music scene, classic cinema and, at the same time, it has an independent underground rebellious life to it. It needs a film festival, too!”
I asked Logan why they chose to set the festival on 4th Street.
“There are so many communities,” said Logan, “throughout Long Beach that would be great hosts for such an event, but 4th Street in particular seems perfect as it houses an historic movie house as well as a variety of independent businesses of diverse products and services, dedicated charity and community- based institutions, and wonderful locations for great food and fine wine. Also, the 4th Street community’s enthusiasm about the event has been incredibly inspiring – already businesses like {open} and Inretrospect have offered their spaces to cinema and art for the weekend.”
The Festival organizers are committed to serving the community.
“We’ve already received great feedback and ideas from the community,” Logan crowed, “and I encourage film and arts lovers to keep sending their ideas our way. We’re all ears, as we all truly want to produce an event that reflects Long Beach’s vibrant and diverse community.”
“Our goal now,” Shawn said, “is to redefine the film festival experience here in Long Beach. Roberta and I have poured ourselves, and invested much, into making that dream a reality.”
“I have always believed,” said Logan, “that a spirit of collaboration with one’s community is paramount to a successful and memorable event, so from just early conversations with 4th Street business owners and members of the community, I have no doubt next year’s event is going to be truly magical.”
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To learn more about the Long Beach Film Festival, visit LongBeachFilmFestival.com
To learn more about Long Beach Cinematheque, visit LBCinema.org