Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director of the San Diego International Film Festival, is keenly aware that film is a uniquely immersive medium with the power to connect people — even strangers. And that power will be evident at Sdiff’s 22nd edition, which will run in person Oct.18-22, with screenings at various venues in the San Diego area. The event will also feature panels, Q and A’s, filmmaker happy hours and more special programming.
The fest will open with Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” (pictured above), a comedy-drama starring Paul Giamatti, Domonic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as an unlikely trio bonding at a New England prep school over winter break.
“Alexander Payne really peels back the layers of the characters,” Mantooth says. “As each one unfolds, he does it in such a way that you laugh – it touches your heart, it makes you cry. But what...
The fest will open with Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” (pictured above), a comedy-drama starring Paul Giamatti, Domonic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as an unlikely trio bonding at a New England prep school over winter break.
“Alexander Payne really peels back the layers of the characters,” Mantooth says. “As each one unfolds, he does it in such a way that you laugh – it touches your heart, it makes you cry. But what...
- 10/20/2023
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Venice. Telluride. Toronto. San Diego.
San Diego? Yes, planting that sequence of film fests in the minds of the industry is the lofty goal of Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director of the San Diego Intl. Film Festival. She wants to make the event part of the mandatory awards calendar, capturing films, stars and — especially — voters as they wend their way to the Oscars.
Now in its 21st year, the fest will take place on Oct. 19-23 at multiple venues in the coastal city, just a hop, skip and a jump south of L.A. — far closer to Hollywood than most other fall fests.
“We’re working to make San Diego an awards stop,” Mantooth says. “We’re looking to program films that target Academy members because we have a huge community here … and many of the films we’re screening are awards contenders.”
These include James Gray’s “Armageddon Time,...
San Diego? Yes, planting that sequence of film fests in the minds of the industry is the lofty goal of Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director of the San Diego Intl. Film Festival. She wants to make the event part of the mandatory awards calendar, capturing films, stars and — especially — voters as they wend their way to the Oscars.
Now in its 21st year, the fest will take place on Oct. 19-23 at multiple venues in the coastal city, just a hop, skip and a jump south of L.A. — far closer to Hollywood than most other fall fests.
“We’re working to make San Diego an awards stop,” Mantooth says. “We’re looking to program films that target Academy members because we have a huge community here … and many of the films we’re screening are awards contenders.”
These include James Gray’s “Armageddon Time,...
- 10/24/2022
- by Peter Caranicas
- Variety Film + TV
Andy Garcia, Regina Hall, Tony Hale and Lisa Ann Walter are among the stars being honored at this year’s San Diego International Film Festival.
In its 21st year, Sdiff will include the return of the Opening Night Film Premiere, the Night of the Stars Tribute and Culinary Cinema. The festival has also announced new additions to this year’s lineup, including the drama “She Said,” with Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, and “The Inspection,” starring Jeremy Pope, Gabrielle Union and Bokeem Woodbine.
Garcia will receive the Gregory Peck Award, Hall will be presented the Cinema Vanguard Award, Hale with the Fairbanks Award and Walter with the Virtuoso Award. As previously announced, Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly) will receive the Spotlight Award following the screening of his upcoming drama film “Taurus” on Oct. 23.
At the Night of the Stars event, “Mending the Line,” starring Brian Cox, Sinqua Walls, Perry Mattfeld and Patricia Heaton,...
In its 21st year, Sdiff will include the return of the Opening Night Film Premiere, the Night of the Stars Tribute and Culinary Cinema. The festival has also announced new additions to this year’s lineup, including the drama “She Said,” with Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, and “The Inspection,” starring Jeremy Pope, Gabrielle Union and Bokeem Woodbine.
Garcia will receive the Gregory Peck Award, Hall will be presented the Cinema Vanguard Award, Hale with the Fairbanks Award and Walter with the Virtuoso Award. As previously announced, Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly) will receive the Spotlight Award following the screening of his upcoming drama film “Taurus” on Oct. 23.
At the Night of the Stars event, “Mending the Line,” starring Brian Cox, Sinqua Walls, Perry Mattfeld and Patricia Heaton,...
- 10/12/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Jeremy Strong as Irving Graff and Anne Hathaway as Esther Graff in ‘Armageddon Time’ (Photo Courtesy of Focus Features)
Writer/director James Gray’s Armageddon Time will open the 2022 San Diego International Film Festival on October 19th and writer/director Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light has been selected as the festival’s closing night film. The 21st annual SDiFF’s lineup will also include the San Diego premiere of Taurus as well as screenings of Close, Good Night Oppy, and The Banshees of Inisherin.
This year’s festival will honor Taurus star Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly) with the Spotlight Award. Baker, who made his acting debut in the Showtime series Roadies, will be presented with the honor following a special Spotlight Screening of Taurus from writer/director Tim Sutton on October 23rd.
“This year, our slate has been curated from over 3000 film submissions from 82 countries with compelling Social...
Writer/director James Gray’s Armageddon Time will open the 2022 San Diego International Film Festival on October 19th and writer/director Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light has been selected as the festival’s closing night film. The 21st annual SDiFF’s lineup will also include the San Diego premiere of Taurus as well as screenings of Close, Good Night Oppy, and The Banshees of Inisherin.
This year’s festival will honor Taurus star Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly) with the Spotlight Award. Baker, who made his acting debut in the Showtime series Roadies, will be presented with the honor following a special Spotlight Screening of Taurus from writer/director Tim Sutton on October 23rd.
“This year, our slate has been curated from over 3000 film submissions from 82 countries with compelling Social...
- 9/7/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
The San Diego International Film Festival has announced its 2022 lineup, featuring the return of Opening Night Film Premiere & Reception, the Night of the Stars Tribute and Culinary Cinema, Variety has learned exclusively.
In its 21st year, Sdiff received more than 3,000 film submissions from 82 countries. The lineup consists of 115 films total, including 27 Narrative Competition films, 11 Documentary Competition films and 77 shorts.
Sdiff’s Gala Features screenings this year include the San Diego premieres of “Taurus,” “Empire of Light” and “The Lost King.” James Gray’s “Armageddon Time” leads the pack of award season studio films at this year’s film fest, which is featured in Sdiff’s Opening Night Film lineup alongside “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Close,” “Empire of Light” and “Good Night Oppy.”
Colson Baker, known professionally as Machine Gun Kelly, will also receive the annual Spotlight Award following the screening of his newest drama film “Taurus” on Oct. 23. Baker made...
In its 21st year, Sdiff received more than 3,000 film submissions from 82 countries. The lineup consists of 115 films total, including 27 Narrative Competition films, 11 Documentary Competition films and 77 shorts.
Sdiff’s Gala Features screenings this year include the San Diego premieres of “Taurus,” “Empire of Light” and “The Lost King.” James Gray’s “Armageddon Time” leads the pack of award season studio films at this year’s film fest, which is featured in Sdiff’s Opening Night Film lineup alongside “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Close,” “Empire of Light” and “Good Night Oppy.”
Colson Baker, known professionally as Machine Gun Kelly, will also receive the annual Spotlight Award following the screening of his newest drama film “Taurus” on Oct. 23. Baker made...
- 9/7/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
When the coronavirus pandemic hit California in March, San Diego Film Festival artistic director Tonya Mantooth briefly considered canceling this year’s program. But when it came down to the final decision, she recalls, her team held her back, saying, “Wait a second, our mission is to use film as a catalyst to bring different perspectives and get them to the forefront. This is exactly why we exist as a festival — we need to stay in there and fight the good fight.”
In a year that is seeing a resurgence of sociopolitical movements challenging systemic racism and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, Sdff’s 2020 edition champions those messages as told through the big screen in a sincere effort to unite communities. With its weeklong program reduced to four days, the fest is scheduled for Oct. 15 to 18, featuring both drive-in events and virtual screenings that can be enjoyed in the comfort of festgoers’ homes.
In a year that is seeing a resurgence of sociopolitical movements challenging systemic racism and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, Sdff’s 2020 edition champions those messages as told through the big screen in a sincere effort to unite communities. With its weeklong program reduced to four days, the fest is scheduled for Oct. 15 to 18, featuring both drive-in events and virtual screenings that can be enjoyed in the comfort of festgoers’ homes.
- 10/15/2020
- by Janet W. Lee
- Variety Film + TV
Now in its 18th year, the San Diego Intl. Film Festival, produced by the nonprofit San Diego Film Foundation, once again steals the movie glamour spotlight from its neighbor to the north, combining major regional premieres with a focus on social and environmental issues.
Running Oct. 15-20, the festival received more than 3,000 submissions from 68 countries, including feature films, shorts and documentaries. The result is a lineup that includes 107 films, with five in the narrative spotlight competition, 20 in the narrative contest, nine in the doc competition and 66 short films, says Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director.
Opening night at the historic Balboa Theatre will see the premiere of “Jojo Rabbit,” a World War II black comedy written and directed by Taika Waititi. Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” starring Robert De Niro, opens the screenings at the ArcLight Cinema La Jolla on Oct. 17. “A Hidden Life,” a drama set during WWII, written and directed by Terrence Malick,...
Running Oct. 15-20, the festival received more than 3,000 submissions from 68 countries, including feature films, shorts and documentaries. The result is a lineup that includes 107 films, with five in the narrative spotlight competition, 20 in the narrative contest, nine in the doc competition and 66 short films, says Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director.
Opening night at the historic Balboa Theatre will see the premiere of “Jojo Rabbit,” a World War II black comedy written and directed by Taika Waititi. Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” starring Robert De Niro, opens the screenings at the ArcLight Cinema La Jolla on Oct. 17. “A Hidden Life,” a drama set during WWII, written and directed by Terrence Malick,...
- 10/15/2019
- by Iain Blair
- Variety Film + TV
The San Diego International Film Festival will honor Laurence Fishburne with the annual Gregory Peck Award, Jared Harris with the Cinema Vanguard Award and Jillian Bell with the Fairbanks Award, Variety learned exclusively. The festival, produced by the San Diego Film Foundation, will present the awards at the Night of the Stars Tribute on Oct. 18 at downtown’s Pendry San Diego hotel.
The festival, celebrating its 18th year, will take place Oct. 15-18, including six gala features screenings: “Jojo Rabbit,” “Motherless Brooklyn,” “A Hidden Life,” “Kill Team,” “Clemency” and “Marriage Story.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to honor Lawrence, Jared and Jillian for their roles in the industry. These awards are merely an indication of all the fine work they have already done, and will continue to do so in the future,” said Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director of the festival.
Fishburne’s many roles include Morpheus in the “Matrix” series.
The festival, celebrating its 18th year, will take place Oct. 15-18, including six gala features screenings: “Jojo Rabbit,” “Motherless Brooklyn,” “A Hidden Life,” “Kill Team,” “Clemency” and “Marriage Story.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to honor Lawrence, Jared and Jillian for their roles in the industry. These awards are merely an indication of all the fine work they have already done, and will continue to do so in the future,” said Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director of the festival.
Fishburne’s many roles include Morpheus in the “Matrix” series.
- 9/5/2019
- by Dano Nissen
- Variety Film + TV
Alex Wolff and Dominique Fishback will be honored at the San Diego Intl. Film Festival, while gala presentations will include Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite” and Joel Edgerton’s “Boy Erased.”
The fest, produced by the San Diego Film Foundation, runs Oct. 10-14, and will include 115 films in various sections. The festival is in its 17th year.
The seven gala features, all making their Southern California premiere, are “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”; “Everybody Knows” (Asghar Farhadi); “Widows” (Steve McQueen); “Wildlife” (Paul Dano); and “The Hate U Give” (George Tilman Jr.); “The Favourite;” and “Boy Erased.”
Wolff is the recipient of the Auteur Award. Aside from this year’s horror hit “Hereditary,” Wolff appears in the Polly Draper-directed “Stella’s Last Weekend,” which will screen in the Spotlight section at the festival. Fishback, from the gala presentation “The Hate U Give,” will be given the Rising Star Award. Both honors...
The fest, produced by the San Diego Film Foundation, runs Oct. 10-14, and will include 115 films in various sections. The festival is in its 17th year.
The seven gala features, all making their Southern California premiere, are “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”; “Everybody Knows” (Asghar Farhadi); “Widows” (Steve McQueen); “Wildlife” (Paul Dano); and “The Hate U Give” (George Tilman Jr.); “The Favourite;” and “Boy Erased.”
Wolff is the recipient of the Auteur Award. Aside from this year’s horror hit “Hereditary,” Wolff appears in the Polly Draper-directed “Stella’s Last Weekend,” which will screen in the Spotlight section at the festival. Fishback, from the gala presentation “The Hate U Give,” will be given the Rising Star Award. Both honors...
- 8/29/2018
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Business is moving forward for Killer Holiday with the addition of a new well traveled horror musical score writer. Kurt Oldman will join the project and will set the ambiance with his musical talents.
Directed by Marty Thomas, Killer Holiday promises to introduce viewers to a new face of fear in Melvin "Spider" Holiday (Michael Copon), a predator who stalks the roads and leads his victims into a creepy abandon amusement park. (Personally I've never come across an abandon amusement park in my travels. But if I ever happen upon one, you can bet your sweet ass the last thing I'm going to do is go poking around in there.)
In addition to Copon, Killer Holiday stars Rachel Lara, Alex Mandel (Do you think he can blow up a rubber glove and slide it on his head like his old man? Those were the days!) and Rachel Wixom.
More about...
Directed by Marty Thomas, Killer Holiday promises to introduce viewers to a new face of fear in Melvin "Spider" Holiday (Michael Copon), a predator who stalks the roads and leads his victims into a creepy abandon amusement park. (Personally I've never come across an abandon amusement park in my travels. But if I ever happen upon one, you can bet your sweet ass the last thing I'm going to do is go poking around in there.)
In addition to Copon, Killer Holiday stars Rachel Lara, Alex Mandel (Do you think he can blow up a rubber glove and slide it on his head like his old man? Those were the days!) and Rachel Wixom.
More about...
- 9/21/2011
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
Killer Holiday is an independent horror film from director Marty Thomas. In the film, a killer named Spider haunts youths on Hwy. 66 and then into a local amusement park. Here, these friends become trapped in the Spider's web, where every room is full of sharp glass and death. Production on this feature completed in August of this year and now, it has been announced that composer Kurt Oldman (Babysitter Wanted) will score this piece, before a theatrical run October 14th. Oldman has also composed for the horror titles Hot Rod Horror, Robert A. Masciantonio's Neighbor and many others. Michael Copon (Night of the Demons) stars in a film that is sure to put serial killers back on the map. Have a look at the thrilling trailer below.
Release Date: October 14th, 2011 (Limited Theatrical).
Director: Marty Thomas.
Writer: Jon Zuber, and Marty Thomas.
Producers: Michael Copon, Jon Zuber, Marty Thomas,...
Release Date: October 14th, 2011 (Limited Theatrical).
Director: Marty Thomas.
Writer: Jon Zuber, and Marty Thomas.
Producers: Michael Copon, Jon Zuber, Marty Thomas,...
- 9/15/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Ah, spring break. The parties, the raging alcohol consumption, the glistening hardbodies, the carefree sexual experiences. Such a shame that this annual reincarnation of Sodom has to so frequently be the backdrop for slasher film carnage. Can't we just let the girls wiggle around in their skimpy bikinis? Is all the filleting of young flesh really necessary?
In the new film Killer Holiday someone thinks it is. And that someone is the newest slasher on the block, Melvyn "Spider" Holiday (Killer Holiday, get it?), played by Michael Copon. He tracks his prey along Route 66, eventually following them to an abandoned amusement park (Come on victims, an abandoned amusement park? You're just begging for it! Didn't you see Funhouse?) where all sorts of nastiness is promised.
Killer Holiday is the first film in what is hoped to be a new horror franchise from Ridiculous Pictures with an expected 2012 premiere.
From the Press Release
Ridiculous Pictures,...
In the new film Killer Holiday someone thinks it is. And that someone is the newest slasher on the block, Melvyn "Spider" Holiday (Killer Holiday, get it?), played by Michael Copon. He tracks his prey along Route 66, eventually following them to an abandoned amusement park (Come on victims, an abandoned amusement park? You're just begging for it! Didn't you see Funhouse?) where all sorts of nastiness is promised.
Killer Holiday is the first film in what is hoped to be a new horror franchise from Ridiculous Pictures with an expected 2012 premiere.
From the Press Release
Ridiculous Pictures,...
- 8/4/2011
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
Ridiculous Pictures, LLC today announced it has wrapped principal photography on Killer Holiday , the first feature film of their new thriller motion picture franchise. Proving that vacations can truly be frightening, Killer Holiday literally hit the road, filming on location along the historic Route 66. The film was directed by Marty Thomas, who shares story and producing credits with screenwriter, Jon Zuber, and executive producers Tonya Mantooth and Michael Copon. In the iconic tradition of Jason Vorhees, Michael Myers and Freddie Krueger, Michael Copon brings to life a chilling new villain, spinning a web of terror as Melvin "Spider" Holiday. Spider stalks his prey, eight high school friends on a Spring Break road trip, luring them to a 1960s abandoned...
- 8/3/2011
- shocktillyoudrop.com
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