Downtown Film Festival - LA

Opening Night Gala Celebrate Downtown, present and past! The festival's Opening Night Film, In Search Of A Midnight Kiss, uses contemporary downtown L.A. as a backdrop for what promises to be the independent love story of the year. (Think "Once.") The film will be presented at the magnificently restored Orpheum Theater, built in 1923 and home to early vaudeville acts by legendary performers Judy Garland and Sally Rand. An exclusive audience Q&A with the director and principal cast will follow the film's screening.
Gala Party 9:30pm Pacific Electric Lofts Following the screening of In Search of a Midnight Kiss, the festivities continue with the Opening Night Gala party at the expansive penthouse atop the historic Pacific Electric Lofts, offering stunning views of the downtown cityscape. Built in 1905 by mogul Henry Huntingdon and a notable example of Beaux Arts and Romanesque architecture of that era, the building was once the tallest west of the Mississippi River and today offers stunning views of the downtown cityscape. Enjoy catering by Patina, cocktails by Tommy Bahama Rum and beer by Karl Strauss Brewing Co. Live entertainment by DJs throughout the night.
In Search Of A Midnight Kiss 7:30pm, Wednesday, Aug. 13th Orpheum Theater Special benefit for the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation, www.lahtf.org
With a sharp, insightful script and stunning black and white photography that evokes Woody Allen’s Manhattan, In Search of a Midnight Kiss is a love letter to Los Angeles as it captures a downtown that is rarely seen and is certainly an unlikely backdrop for modern romance. Wilson (Scoot McNairy), a twenty-nine-year old aspiring writer new to Los Angeles, has just had the worst year of his life. Adrift in a strange terrain with an unsold script and no girlfriend, he’s convinced L.A. is where love comes to die. But egged on by his best friend, and with New Year’s Eve looming, he posts a message on the personals page of Craig’s List where he meets the sexy, sarcastic, seemingly-date-from-hell Vivian, and the two embark on an unexpected, chaotic, sometimes awkward, but tender journey, and in the process discover something special about the city, each other, themselves and love. Writer, Director: Alex Holdridge Producers: Seth Caplan, Scoot McNairy Executive Producer: Anne Walker Cinematographer: Robert Murphy Editors: Frank Reynolds, Jacob Vaughan Cast: Scoot McNairy, Sara Simmonds, Nic Harcourt, Katy Luong, Brian Matthew McGuire	Buy Ticket for: Buy Ticket for:
Director's Bio Alex Holdridge Director Alex Holdridge from high school valedictorian to straight-A college graduate to English major drop out. He says movies are to blame. He eked out his first feature, Wrong Numbers, while delivering chicken, waiting tables, and seeming like the could-have-been-something child. It went on to win the audience award at the Austin Film Festival and attracted attention from multiple studios in Hollywood. Working with his good friend, Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On, Stick It), he developed it as a re-make with Red Wagon (Gladiator). When the opportunity came to direct another script he had written, Sexless, he took it. Sexless won both the Jury and the Audience Award at the SXSW Film Festival and is the only movie to have done so since its inception. In Search Of A Midnight Kiss is inspired by his transition to full-time life as a writer, director and human in L.A.
In Search of a Midnight Kiss will be preceded by a screening of: Yours Truly 2006, UK, 8 mins. Animation and live action collide in the story of Frank and Charlie, a dark romance of psychological tension that unfolds as the two men sacrifice their morals in search of what they love. Director/Writer: Osbert Parker Co-Writer: Ian Gouldstone Editor: Matthew McKinnon Key Animators: Laurie Hill & Meghana Bisineer

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