WELLNESS playing at AFI FEST

Jake Mahaffy, whose second feature WELLNESS is playing at AFI FEST
Fri. Nov 7, 9:30 pm, Mann 03 and Sat. Nov 8, 12:45 pm, Mann 06 http://filmguide.afifest.com/tixSYS/2008/filmguide/films/0245 was nominated for the “Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You” category for this year’s Gotham Awards. The category highlights films that have yet to receive theatrical distribution.

Here’s your chance to see it in the Theatre!

AFI FEST starts in 10 days!

AFI FEST is right around the corner!

We have an awesome line up of films again this year, especially, if you like finding new films and some directors and actor that aren't household names YET! - this is my ninth year programming at AFI FEST, and I think this is one of the strongest years for discovering new talent and one of the best years to see films you might not get a chance to see anywhere else!

One of the best parts of programming in Los Angeles, besides the weather! - there are 3.8 million film lovers living in LA who speak 224 different languages – it’s one of the most diverse cities in the world. This year at AFI FEST we have 151 films, representing 38 countries. You can see some amazing films from all around the world next week from Oct. 30 - Nov. 9th.

Come see some movies!

Everyone always asks what are your favorite films? That is an impossible question to answer... I like the one playing when you can come! We have 8 theatres this year, so trust me - there is a "not to be missed" film playing whenever you can make it to the Arclight or the Mann Theatre anytime from Oct. 30 - Nov. 9.

In no particular, some of my favorites and I'm sure I'm missing some: I'M GONNA EXPLODE, IDIOTS AND ANGELS, TWO LOVERS, DIVIZIONS, AFTERSCHOOL, FINALLY LILLIAN AND DAN, KISSES, SKIN, A QUIET LITTLE MARRIAGE, THREE BLIND MICE, WELLNESS, WORLDS APART, BLOOD APPEARS, LION'S DEN, LA RABIA, 3 WOMEN, ACNE, BETTER THINGS, THE HIGHER FORCE, INVOLUNTARY, LAKE TAHOE, TANAREXIA, NILOOFAR, NIRVANA, POUNDCAKE, PROPER EYES, THE REST OF THE NIGHT, GOGOL BORDELLO NON-STOP, HI MY NAME IS RYAN, SHAKESPEARE AND VICTOR HUGO'S INTIMACIES, KASSIM THE DREAM, THE LAST DAYS OF SHISHMAREF, OF ALL THE THINGS, PLAYING COLUMBINE, PRODIGAL SONS, BEFORE THE FALL, THE JUCHE IDEA, STILL ORANGATANS, and ALL THE SHORTS PROGRAM ARE AWESOME!

Please forward this to all your film loving friends and spread the word - there's nothing like seeing films in the theatre and for many of these films - this might be your only chance to catch them!

In case you are looking for a particular kind of film - here are some links!

If you're interested in African/African-American Films:


If you're interested in American Independent Cinema:


If you're interested in Animation:


If you're interested in Argentine Films:


If you're interested in Asian Films:


If you're interested in Brazilian Films:


If you're interested in Chinese Films:


If you're interested in Comedy:


If you're interested in Digital Films:


If you're interested in Documentary Films:


If you're interested in Environmental Films:


If you're interested in Experimental Films:


If you're interested in French Films:


If you're interested in GLBT Films:


If you're interested in Horror/Thriller Films:


If you're interested in Iranian Cinema:


If you're interested in Japanese Films:


If you're interested in Korean Films:


If you're interested in Spanish Language and Latino Films:


If you're interested in Mid Eastern Films:


If you're interested in Mexican Films:


If you're interested in Music and Music Documentaries:


If you're interested in Oscar Foreign Language Films:


If you're interested in Political Films:


If you're interested in US Premiere, North American Premiere, World Premiere Films:


If you're interested in Scandinavian Films:


If you're interested in Short Films:


If you're interested in Sport Films:


If you're interested in Films by Women Directors:


See ya next week!

Shaz

What? Why?

Just saw this 3 comedy films in a box set at Amoeba of the governor.... who buys something like this?








David Cronenberg's THE FLY!

This photo is from an AFI FEST screening of SPIDER - Miranda Richardson is saying, "Nice pants!"

Next week Sept. 3rd we're screening a new print of THE FLY at the Dome right before the Opera of THE FLY.

I already have my tickets for both the film and Opera!

I love David Cronenberg. I have a kind of "game" I like to play to weed out new people I meet as to whether or not we should be friends. When I first meet a new person - I ask them whether they liked Cronenberg's CRASH or not? You can tell alot about a person when talking about Cronenberg!

Go see the movie and opera and then let's meet for drinks to discuss in depth.

AFI’s Directors Screenings presented by Audi – ArcLight Hollywood CINERAMA DOME
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 8:00 PM

https://www.arclightcinemas.com/ArcLight/faces/MovieDetails.jsp?movieName=AFI+Directors%26%2358%3B+THE+FLY&pageInfo=AFI

THE FLY
1986 95 MIN RATED R
DIR David Cronenberg SCR David Cronenberg and Charles Edward Pogue, from a story by George Langelaan CAST Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz, Leslie Carlson

THE FLY is an extraordinary example of Cronenberg’s particular brand of “body horror”; flesh transformed by disease. Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is an eccentric scientist, whose experiments with teleportation go awry, leading to one of the horror genre’s most disgusting and gory physical transformations. Ultimately, David Cronenberg’s version of THE FLY – based on a short story by George Langelaan and the 1958 film that starred Vincent Price — is a dark romantic tragedy about the wasting away of a brilliant man who mutates into an insect as his loved one looks on helplessly.

AFI, in association with the LA Opera, presents a brand new print , to coincide with the US premiere of the opera The Fly.

Plácido Domingo conducts the LA Opera-commissioned opera written by Oscar®-winning composer Howard Shore (LORD OF THE RINGS), with libretto by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly). This also marks the LA Opera debut of Academy Award-winning production designer Dante Ferretti (THE AVIATOR, SWEENEY TODD). More information about the opera is available at TheFlyTheOpera.com.

A Q&A with David Cronenberg and Howard Shore will precede the screening.

I'm sad....

I'm sad today, because Todd might leave AFI... so I found this video to make me smile!

The Greatest Yardsale Ever!

How awesome to see two matching dragqueen liberty short short pantsuits next to a pink Natori jacket at a yard sale!

Can you believe no one bought them?
I still have them.

www.shazbennett.com

Be Kanye!

So I was watching late night TV and this ad came on... at first I thought it was the wine talking... hilarious.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Diablo Cody at the New beverly!

One of my favorite theatres in LA is the New Beverly because it reminds me of the trashy "art" theatres of my college days.

I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and there was one art house that was in the basement of this building close to downtown SLC.

We'd watch old movies, weird new movies, disturbing animation and foreign films and then go to the IHOP and talk about life, philosophy all the amazing films we had seen.

So, i just read, (i know, i'm behind! but i've been watching film submissions all night for my job)... anyway, just read that Diablo Cody is guest curating a week or so of films at the New Beverly.... yay.

check it out!

I'm spending Pioneer Day with Diablo and Pretty in Pink!
If you don't know what Pioneer Day is... you have to go to Utah on the 24th of July - you will forever make an annual pilgramage.

JULY 23-24 - Chick Night
DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN
PRETTY IN PINK

Echo Park Lotus Memorial

I love this blog about LA Life (Echo Park in particular).
Saw this link about an awesome art memorial to the lotus in Echo Park.

http://www.laobserved.com/echopark/

sit n spin thursday june 26, 2008

Yo! I'm performing tomorrow night at Sit n' Spin!
Come check it out!

with:
jordan birnbaum
alan olifson
kristen ciasulli
shaz bennett
carlos kotkin
the lonely men's chorus

and music by chani!

sit n spin takes place every other thursday at 8 pm at the comedy central stage at the hudson theatre- 6539 santa monica blvd- hollywood, 90038

call for reservations~ the show is incredibly free! 323-960-5519

RIP George Carlin

Just heard that George Carlin died. So sad, I used to memorize and
practice George Carlin routines off the LPs when I was a kid!
ah hell...

www.shazbennett.com

Yow! California rocks!

So proud to be a Californian! I had the great honor of officiating at the third!!! wedding, making it finally legal, of my good pals P.David and Todd.

I love this article on about the first couple to marry on monday at 5:01.

Jean-Pierre and I are psyched to be getting married in the second summer of love!

Blackout with Rufus Wainwright!

I'm sitting in the dark this saturday with Rufus!

http://www.blackoutsabbath.org/

The Pier is cool.

Just spent the morning at the Santa Monica Pier with the coolest 3 yr
old in the world. Check it his name is Axel. That's hard.
www.shazbennett.com

AFI FEST early deadline June 13th!

This could be you.

Submit your film to AFI FEST - the early deadline for submissions is a week from Friday, June 13th! It's a lucky day!

www.AFI.com/AFIFEST

David Lynch 55 second short!

David Lynch rocks, this is David Lynch's 55 second short filmed with an original Lumiere camera. 40 international directors were asked to make a short film using the original Cinematographe invented by the Lumière Brothers, working under conditions similar to those of 1895. There were three rules: (1) The film could be no longer than 52 seconds, (2) no synchronized sound was permitted, and (3) no more than three takes.

You can see more awesome Lynch videos here.

David Lynch 52

Oh my god! I can't wait.

I just heard from the awesome staff at Cinevegas that as a juror I'll get a reserved seat to go to this show at the Wynn! I can't freaking wait!

As a part of the 10th Annual CineVegas Film Festival, a site specific installation featuring an animation piece by renowned international artist Takashi Murakami will be featured at Wynn Las Vegas for one night only on Monday, June 16, 2008.

I have dreams of doing something like this at AFI FEST on the Cinerama Dome or at the Kodak.

Last week to catch California Video

The amazing video show California Video that has been running since May in Los Angeles ends June 8th!
It's not too late to catch a few more of the pieces and installations.
some super cool work - check it out.

Viva Public Art!

This is so amazing!

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.