HOLLYWOOD, CA (October 1, 1999)  The City of the Angels Film Festival announces its sixth annual event focusing this year on timeless film classics related to the theme “Embracing Apocalypse:  Visions of Faith and Fear.”  The festival, which is open to the general public, will be held Friday - Sunday, November 5 - 7, 1999 at the Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles.

The purpose of the festival is to bring together contemporary filmmakers, theologians of all faiths and the movie-going public to screen and discuss films that raise vital religious and social issues. 

The opening night film is a special screening of Frank Capra’s “Lost Horizon” (Fri. 8:30 p.m.), a revered classic exploring the possibility of Utopia based on love and mutual trust.  Other films to be screened during the weekend include Terry Gilliam’s “Brazil” (Fri. 4:00 p.m. and Sat. 4:00 p.m.), Wim Wenders’ “The End of Violence” (Fri. 9:00 p.m. and Sun. 4:00 p.m.), Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” (Fri. 11:00 p.m.), Robert Wise’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (Sat. 7:00 p.m.), Gianni Amerio’s “Lamerica” (Sat. 9:15 p.m.), Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” (Sun. 6:30 p.m.) and Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (Sun. 9:00 p.m.).

“As we anticipate the end of one millennium and the beginning of another, these films offer an exploration of the human response to the moment on our individual or collective journeys when everything seems about to end – the moment when revelation can occur.” said Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu, Chairperson of the 1999 Festival.

Opening night festivities on Friday evening will begin with a gala awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. prior to the screening of “Lost Horizon” where the 11th Annual Luminosa Award for Unity will be presented to persons working in media and entertainment for the first time in its history.  The award, given annually by the International Focolore Movement, acknowledges outstanding efforts in creating a more just, unified and loving society.  This year’s recipients are two highly respected Hollywood professionals, Patt and Jack Shea, who are among the City of the Angeles Film Festival’s founders and most loyal supporters.  Patt is the president of Catholics In Media Associates (CIMA) and Jack is serving a second term as president of the Directors Guild of America.

The festival draws participants and audiences from all over the country.  In addition to having the opportunity to see these films on the big screen for perhaps the first time, audiences can stay after the films to listen to – and participate in – discussions led by expert panels of filmmakers and members of the religious community in Southern California.  Among the panelists this year will be screenwriters Fay Kanin, David Rintels and John Furia and religious representatives Sister Rose Pacatte, FSP, Reverend Steven E. Berry and Rabbi Susan Laemmle.

For the second year, the festival will also include a concurrent program of short films and documentaries.  Among these are “Our Parents,” “Night and Fog (Nuit et Brouillard)” and “Waco: The Rules of Engagement.”

Other highlights of the festival include: 

• a tribute to screenwriters on Saturday following “The Day The Earth Stood Still;” 
• a special reflection on the search for utopia in film and in truth to be presented prior to “Lost Horizon” on Friday by noted author, writer/ producer and professor of screenwriting, Ron Austin; and 
• an art exhibit on display throughout the weekend entitled “The Stations of the Cross,” by Emilia and Zbigniew Fitz. 

Cost of admission to each film screening is $10.00 for general admission and $8.00 for students with ID.  School groups (made up of six or more people) are charged $6.00 per person.  An all-day pass is also available for $25.00 (or $20.00 for students with ID).   Admission is free to any and all of the short films and documentaries with the purchase of any ticket to a feature film.

For City of the Angels Film Festival ticket information, call (626) 304-3775.  Details are also available online at http://www.cityofangelsfilmfest.org.

This year’s festival organizers are Fuller Theological Seminary, Family Theater Productions, Catholics in Media Associates, The Focolore Movement, Showtime, The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, The Odyssey Network, Reel Spirituality, Premise, Open Call, Cine and Media, The Lloyd C. Douglas Committee of First Congregational Church, Water’s Edge Communications and Visatel Communications.