Cinevegas 2006!

I didn't think Cinevegas could outdo itself from last year. But it did! Now in it's sixth year, the Cinevegas Film Festival is like the seed that is growing into a fine flower.

Bobcat Goldthwaite was one of the guests at the Most Dangerous Filmakers Lecture. He was so funny, I couldn't stop laughing.
Photo Copyright © Silver Fire Productions, 2006

The Cinevegas party was specatular - put on by Vegas.com, it was set in the massive outside pool area outside a currently undisclosed location - from holograms above the pool to scantily (but tastefully) clad dancers on top of the bridge to celebrities and VIPS.. Not to mention the stars, producers, directors, publicists and press of Cinevegas. Below is a picture of
Deborah Kara Unger from "The Game" and currently "Lies and Alibis" coming out in September.

Photo Copyright © Silver Fire Productions, 2006

Half-life awards were given to the likes of Sylvester Stallone while celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Rocky.
Christina Ricci was a gracious guest during her conversation before the showing of her film The Opposite of Sex. She was funny, personable, witty and had good stories to tell. One - she was working with Johhny Depp and needed to work out her character for a film, she said she felt like punching the wall, but of course one can't do that. But Depp told her, "You do whatever you have to do, punch a wall, whatever..." The interviewer from Premier Magazine asked her how she picks her films. She said, the director picks them for you, they see what's in you and match you up to them. She also said that they exploit what talents you have within you and that one should do exploit their own talents for good. Wise words from a young and talented actress.

New and upcoming films shown at the festival include the modern day comedy Park, starring Billy Baldwin, Cheri Oteri of SNL fame, and Ricki Lake to the very intriguing Shorts, including Induction and Bugcrush to the thought-provoking French film 13 Tzameti, the festival proved it's worth once again. Wild Tigers I Have Known, a coming-of-age film with beautifully rendered images and sounds, originally shown at Sundance, by director Cam Archer proves that the daring spirit of the 'independent' film still reigns. Revisit the 70's space era with Interkosmos, a tongue-in-cheek homage to the dry communist films that used to be made to tout their philosophy. Quite funny. I recommend it. A film by surrealist director Jan Svankmajer entitled Lunacy inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe and the Marquis de Sade leaves you wondering what true lunacy really is. Lies and Alibis, the closing night film, and U.S. premiere, was a perfect ending to an exciting week. Intriguing from the start, it catches your attention and never lets go. Coming out in September, it's one to keep in mind. With a stellar cast including Steve Coogan, Rebecca Rominj, James Marsden, Selma Blair, James Brolin, Sam Elliot, Henry Rollins, Jaime King, John Leguizamo, and Deborah Kara Unger, this is a hit. Watch for it!

The world premiere of G.I. Jesus culminated as the Jury Award winner for Cinevegas 2006. A film about a Mexican national who went to Iraq in exchange for U.S. Citizenship returns to California only to suffer more trauma related to battle experience as well as his family life.

There were many more films here - too many to mention. Cinevegas is certainly the injection of culture we need here in the arid desert of Las Vegas..

Enjoying myself in the pool at the VIP section of the closing night party. What a night! One I'll never forget..