With a combined 100 years in the filming business, director, producer, actor Sydney Pollack (left) and famed
cinematographer Lazslo Kovacs meet for the first time
at the Inaugural Mendocino Film Festival Opening
Night Gala last May.
Local Film Festival Plans
Sequel to Last Year’s Hit
For four days locals and visitors to the Mendocino Coast
enjoyed the diversity of more than 65 independent films (feature
length, documentary, shorts, animation, and foreign entries) at
the first Mendocino Film Festival last May 2006.
Attendees delighted in an Opening Night Gala, a Lighting
Workshop featuring Mendocino’s own “Aggie” Aguilar and Laszlo
Kovacs ACE, (Easy Rider, Paper Moon, Ghostbusters, Mask and
more), panel talks including a special talk with Shyam Balsé a
graduate from Mendocino Community High School in 1992
who has become a writer, producer, director and his short film
“Timing” was shown at the festival, Q & A discussions with visiting filmmakers from around the country, and an Awards Ceremony with guest host Carl Lumbly of television’s Alias fame.
Special guest Sydney Pollack, winner of four Academy
Awards®, produced or directed such notable films as Three Days
of The Condor, Out of Africa, Tootsie, The Way We Were, Sense
and Sensibility, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Cold Mountain,
among others. Mr. Pollack graciously held “A Conversation With
Sydney Pollack” where he spoke to the crowd about his various
films and answered questions, a Q & A after the screening of
Three Days of The Condor, and good naturedly talked with the
young filmmakers.
For the 2nd Annual Mendocino Film Festival, this May 17-20,
expect to experience the same excitement. The festival’s special
guest will be acclaimed documentarian Albert Maysles, whose
credits include Grey Gardens and Gimme Shelter among many
others.For ticket information call 707 937-0171. Visit on the web
at: www.mendocinofilmfestival.org
