Those looking to catch a movie Saturday at AMC Broadway 4 won’t be joining The Plastics of "Mean Girls," and they won’t be finding out who the "real" agent Argylle is. Instead, they’ll be part of a longstanding local tradition honoring the best in quality independent filmmaking.
The Broadway theater on the Third Street Promenade plays host to the 18th annual Santa Monica International Film Festival, offering a full day of films that explore a myriad of themes. Starting at 11 a.m., five feature-length pieces and 13 short flicks will be screened, followed by question and answer sessions with filmmakers. After the cavalcade of cinema, awards will be given out in multiple categories at 6:15 p.m., followed by a reception at 7 p.m. at LouLou.
Behind the festival operation is a local voice, David Katz, who grew up and went to school in both Malibu and Santa Monica. An auteur in his own right, receiving the Chutzpah Award from The Hollywood Reporter for his 2010 film "Kissing Strangers," Katz wanted to open a new avenue for independent efforts like his own.
"When I started out as a filmmaker, I submitted to the big film festivals like Sundance," Katz said. "At that time, there were only a few very big film festivals and getting into one was near impossible for an independent filmmaker. Santa Monica seemed to be a picture perfect location for a film festival. I started [the festival] to create a boutique [event] that focuses on quality films from emerging filmmakers and performers."
Joining Katz on the team are creative director Nikki Carbonetta, an Emmy nominee for her makeup artistry on the hit NBC competition show "The Voice," along with a host of entertainment industry professionals and union members. Together, they sought to provide an annual film gathering that "reflects the city of Santa Monica" through diverse stories from all walks of life.
"We program diverse voices because we trust our audience to suspend their judgment and view these works from the lens of curiosity, tolerance, openness, empathy, and respect for the sheer determination and effort required to make a work of collaborative art such as film," Katz said.
Representing Santa Monica proper in the 2024 festival is Brendan Beachman, who directed the short film "A Wedding Day" about the tribulations of two newlyweds. The short will be screened alongside other short selections "Onions" and "What Ever Happened to Jonny Faith" beginning at 2:15 p.m.
Along with diverse local voices, film subject matter provides similar variance and depth, such as "Stolen Dough," directed by AFI Award Winner Stefano Da Frè. The film tells the real-life story of a lawsuit between food conglomerate Pizza Hut and young chef Anthony Mongiello, who patented the "stuffed crust" specialty pizza. Another highlight is "Influence," directed by Ryan Moore and starring Cheyenne Perez as a filmmaker turned kidnapper of a famous social media influencer.
Perhaps the most talked about piece of Saturday’s crop is the festival’s opening film, the documentary "We Will Not Be Silenced" by director Luis Solarat. The documentary follows the controversial London-based podcaster Brian Rose and the shutdown of his YouTube channel, and the official selection of the famous Cannes Film Festival will have its Los Angeles premiere on Saturday.
The awards ceremony will have recipients in the categories of Best Feature Documentary, Best International Documentary, Best Narrative Feature, Best Experimental Film, Best Comedy, Best Drama, Best Episodic Pilot, Outstanding Performance and Best Documentary Short. According to Katz, however, just having a film screened at the festival is a worthy feat in its own right.
"Film festivals are valuable to filmmakers in that they can gain exposure and receive valuable feedback from a live audience and their peers," Katz said. "Filmmakers may gain insight to the craft by participating in, and listening to others, during the Q&As at the end of screening blocks. Additionally, laurels tend to beget more laurels. When other festivals have noticed laurels on a film from a festival with a sterling reputation, they tend to look closer at that film."
Tickets for the festival can be purchased on Eventbrite or the festival’s website, $10 for one screening and $25 for a day pass, and readers of the Santa Monica Daily Press have access to receive 50% off screening and awards tickets using the promotional code "smdp" at checkout. Those that cannot make it on Saturday will be able to take part in a virtual festival experience, with films available on the Xolo.TV platform for $4.99 beginning Feb. 15.
