HALLE BERRY, SAMUEL L. JACKSON Serve as Co-Chairs for 2004 IFP/LA Film Festival, Neil Young is Artist In Residence

Halle Berry and Samuel L. Jackson are serveing as Honorary Co-Chairs for the 2004 Los Angeles Film Festival. Also, musician and filmmaker Neil Young is assisting as Artist in Residence for this year’s festival.

“Both Halle Berry and Samuel L. Jackson have been able to use their stature in the industry to support independent film, the Spirit Awards, and now the Los Angeles Film Festival,” said Executive Director of IFP/Los Angeles Dawn Hudson. “IFP/Los Angeles appreciates their championing the cause of independent film and raising awareness for new artists.”

“Music has been a strong component of the festival for the past few years and we are thrilled to have such a talented innovator as Neil Young join us,” said Festival Director Rich Raddon.

As Honorary Co-Chair of the festival, Berry will host Closing Night festivities, where she will give out two Target Filmmaker Awards: The Target Filmmaker Award for Best Narrative Feature carries with it an unrestricted cash prize of $50,000 funded by Target Stores, offering the financial means for filmmakers to transfer their vision to the screen. The largest cash prize bestowed by a major U.S. film festival, the award recognizes the finest American narrative film at the festival. The award is given to the winning director of the Narrative Feature Competition. A special jury selects the winner. All narrative feature-length films screening in the Narrative Competition section are eligible.

The second award is the Target Documentary Award for Best Documentary Feature. This award recognizes the finest American documentary feature at the festival and is awarded to the winning director of the Documentary Competition. The award carries with it an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000 funded by Target Stores. A special jury selects the winner. Documentary features screening in the Documentary Competition section are eligible for the Target Documentary Award.

As Honorary Co-Chair of the festival, Jackson will host the annual Filmmaker Reception held on Monday, June 21. The Filmmaker Reception serves as a forum for VIPs to mingle with filmmakers whose work is being showcased at the festival.

As Artist In Residence, Young has selected two films which will screen at the festival: Jim Jarmusch’s “Dead Man,” starring Johnny Depp and Gary Farmer; and George Lucas’ “THX 1138,” starring Maggie McOmie and Robert Duvall. Also screening at the festival is “Greendale,” Young’s first foray into film, featuring a cast which includes his wife, Pegi Young, and longtime collaborator, Ben Keith.

IFP/Los Angeles, a nonprofit membership organization, champions the cause of independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. IFP/LA provides its members with professional advice, educational programs, affordable camera and equipment rentals, and discounts to hundreds of industry-related businesses. IFP/LA’s Filmmaker Labs offer writers, directors, and producers the opportunity to develop their projects. IFP/Los Angeles also produces the IFP Independent Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international independent cinema. With more than 6,000 members, IFP/Los Angeles is Southern California’s largest non-profit organization for independent filmmakers.

The 2004 Los Angeles Film Festival is sponsored by Premier Sponsors – In Style and Target Stores; by Principal Sponsors – American Airlines, the Directors Guild of America, Eastman Kodak Company, and Sofitel Los Angeles; by Platinum Sponsors – 8000 Sunset, CFI, IFC, and Moviola; and by Promotional Sponsor the Los Angeles Times. Special support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. WireImage is the official photographer for the 2004 Los Angeles Film Festival. The 10th Annual Los Angeles Film Festival is held from June 17 and continues through June 26.
Keiko Beatie