The ninth annual Las Vegas Film Festival begins Tuesday, June 7th and runs through Sunday, June 12, 2016. Returning to Downtown Las Vegas, films will be presented at Inspire Theater and Fremont Country Club along with a Throwback Thursday CineVegas Celebration at Brenden Theaters inside the Palms Casino. This six-day event will showcase more than eighty original films and documentaries, adding passionate storytelling and energy to the thriving downtown Las Vegas community.
CineVegas’ Throwback Thursday Celebration at Brenden Theaters will be Thursday, June 9. This celebration features the much anticipated film “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” a story about a national manhunt ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle (played by Sam Neill) who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush. Premiered in January 2016 at Sundance Film Festival, this New Zealand based film broke box office records during its opening weekend. Then, “Directors Cut” starring Penn Jillette from “Penn & Teller” will round out the night with a special appearance from Penn himself.
The film festival is thrilled to host a selection of local films based out of Las Vegas including Frank and Lola, a love story between a chef and a mysterious young woman; and Dealer, a dark comedy/action flick about a blackjack dealer that is forced to sell drugs for the day resulting in disaster. Local production companies Lola Pictures and Silver State Production Services (producers of Frank and Lola) are leading the Nevada Film Incentive Task Force in its effort to refund the tax incentive for production companies to film in Nevada. In addition to the film screenings, the festival includes a collection of eccentric parties and mixers. Kicking off the festival is a Yelp sponsored mixer at the official filmmaker lounge inside Backstage Bar and Billiards. The event is open to the public for one day for everyone to get a glimpse of the festival screenings and events schedule. Tuesday, June 7 will be the opening night party hosted in the Real World suite downtown at the Gold Spike, sponsored by Las Vegas based production company Oogoog. Thursday night will be a CineVegas Reunion party hosted at Ghostbar inside the Palms Casino. The festival closing night party will feature live music from local bands in the rotunda of the Zappos headquarters on Saturday, June 11 at 9 P.M.
The Young Cinema Lab is making a triumphant return for its second year in a row with the film festival. Elementary and middle school children are given the wonderful opportunity to write their own story for a film. To bring their ideas to life, they are paired with UNLV Film students that mentor them on the art of writing and filming. The collection of 2016 Young Cinema Lab short films will premiere at Inspire Theater Saturday, June 11 at 12 P.M.
The festival includes the third installment of the Music Video Lab. Bands from around the Las Vegas area are paired with local directors to create dynamic music videos to be shown at the festival. This year’s local bands include: O WILDY, WNTRBRK, HASSAN, GLASS POOLS, DUSTY SUNSHINE, and ALASKA. Tickets for the festival start at $12 for individual screenings, and passes for all access range from $120 to $250. VIP passes Include admittance to all films, panels, parties, special events, mixers, and parties throughout the festival. For show times and more information on how to purchase tickets and passes please visit www.lvff.com.
THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:
The city of Las Vegas offers a variety of free and low-cost entertainment options during June at its cultural arts centers and Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza. The month begins with performances by the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre presenting “(W)rites of Passage” June 3-4 at 7 p.m. at Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza, 720 Twin Lakes Drive in Lorenzi Park. Additional performances will be offered June 10 at 7 p.m. at The Black Box Theatre at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, and June 11 at 7 p.m. at The Art Square Theatre, 1025 S. First St., Suite 145. All performances are free and open to the public. Humorous and warm, touching and tender, this collection of student writings present a glimpse at the joys and challenges of growing up in Las Vegas — a must-see for all kids and the parents who watch them grow. Thanks in part to a generous grant from Cirque Du Soleil, (W)rites of Passage will be presented in three different locations. For more information, call 702-229-6553 or visit www.artslasvegas.org.
The Dynamic Trombone Quartet will perform a concert for all ages Saturday, June 4, at 2 p.m. at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., and it’s free and open to the public. The concert will feature longtime Las Vegas professional musicians Walt Boenig, Curt Miller, Andrew Boostrom and Sonny Hernandez. The Quartet presents a lively concert with a repertoire spanning many styles and genres, including classical, popular and contemporary songs. For more information, call 702-229-6383 or visit www.artslasvegas.org.
Tickets are already on sale for the annual DjangoVegas! Gypsy Jazz Festival, to be held Saturday, June 18, at 6 p.m. at the Historic Fifth Street School Auditorium, 401 S. Fourth St. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for cocktails and pre-show entertainment (no host bar). This annual celebration of the music of Django Reinhardt and other gypsy jazz musicians past and present will feature the Frank Vignola Trio, The Rhythm Future Quartet, Hot House West and The Hot Club of Las Vegas.
Tickets, priced at $15 in advance and $20 at the door (if not sold out), are available at www.artslasvegas.org or by calling 702-229-ARTS. For more information on the artists, visit www.frankvignola.com, www.hothousewest.com, www.rhythmfuturequartet.com/ and www.hotclublv.com. The parking garage between Third and Fourth streets at Clark Avenue, across from the Historic Fifth Street School, is free on weekends. If your family is in the mood for some festive fun, entertainment, shopping, historical storytelling and good food, then check out the 16th Annual Juneteenth Festival Sunday, June 19, 6 to 9 p.m. at Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park, 720 Twin Lakes Drive. Free and open to the public, this event for all ages is presented by the Rainbow Dreams Educational Foundation and sponsored by the city of Las Vegas. Refreshments will be available for purchase; outside food will not be permitted. Bring low-back lawn chairs or blankets to be more comfortable on the lawn. Go online to www.june19lv.com for details or call 702-229-2390 for more information.
“Let’s Hang On!,” one of the nation’s top Frankie Valli tribute shows, will bring the choreography and sounds of the Four Seasons to the Suncoast Showroom June 11 and 12. “Let’s Hang On!” is a full-stage production complete with a live band and The Four Seasons’ biggest hits, including “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Working My Way Back to You,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Let’s Hang On,” “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night),” “Rag Doll,” “Bye, Bye, Baby” and “Big Man in Town.”
The cast of “Let’s Hang On!” includes Richard Bresenhan, Josh Eleazer, Chris Barletta, Jared Slater, Samantha Fousek, Heather Krueger, Bill Norman and Bob Schubert. The Four Seasons, with Valli as the lead vocalist, achieved international success in the 60’s starting with their 1962 hit “Sherry.” The band charted five #1 singles and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Showtime each evening is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available from $22.00, plus tax and fees, and can be purchased at any Boyd Gaming box office, by calling 702-284-7777, or visiting www.suncoastcasino.com
The City of Henderson will shine a little brighter this Father’s Day weekend. The inaugural Glow Worm 5K Fun Run is at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 18 at Equestrian Park South, 1200 Equestrian Dr. Registration starts at $35 per person. The evening event is open to runners and walkers of all ages. Participants, who are encouraged to light up with glow sticks, neon clothing and glow-in-the-dark accessories, will glimmer as they run, jog or walk along a 3.1-mile course on Equestrian Trail.
Participants may pick up their packet from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 16 at Heritage Park Aquatic Complex, 310 S. Racetrack Rd., or from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. the day of the Glow Worm 5K Fun Run at Equestrian Park South. The Glow Worm 5K Fun Run is part of the City of Henderson’s Healthy Henderson initiative. The fitness, health and wellness program rewards members who participate in fitness-related classes, workshops and events such as the 5K run, or use recreation facilities to work out. Customized membership packages are available for purchase at any of the city’s six recreation centers and Heritage Park Senior Facility.People interested in participating in the first-ever Glow Worm 5K Fun Run may register online or in person at any of the city’s recreation centers. For more information on the event, visit cityofhenderson.com or call 702-267-4050.
Well, gang, that’s about it for this week.