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Prepare your stomach for large diet cokes and buckets of popcorn oozing with butter – the CineVegas Film Festival kicks off this week with five days of world premieres you won’t see anywhere else. Nine films will make their debut at the 11th annual CineVegas, which starts this Wednesday, June 10, and lasts through Monday, June 15, at the Palms Casino Resort’s Brenden Theatres.
“Featuring more world premieres than ever before, this year’s CineVegas will rock anyone looking for exhilarating new films from uninhibited and adventurous filmmakers,” stated CineVegas Artistic Director Trevor Groth. “These films, plus our now legendary parties celebrating them, combine to make up 6 days and nights in Vegas that you won't want to miss a second of…good thing they pump oxygen into the casinos."
The movie-going starts on Wednesday night with the premiere of Hue Rhodes’ Saint John of Las Vegas, starring Steve Buscemi as an ex-gambler-turned fraud investigator who must return to Las Vegas to investigate an insurance claim by a wheelchair-bound Vegas stripper looking to recover $200,000 in lost lap-dance wages. Saint John of Las Vegas also stars Sarah Silverman and Emmanuelle Chiriquí.
CineVegas will also feature eight “Jackpot Premieres” in narrative competition; “Pioneer Documentaries,” a selection of documentaries; “Diamond Discoveries,” the best new independent films; “Sure Bets,” advance screenings of high-profile films; “Area 52,” a collection of midnight, underground, and cult films; and shorts and features from Nevada filmmakers.
The festival closes down with World’s Greatest Dad, a dark comedy from Bobcat Goldthwait, whom you might know best as the guy from the Police Academy movies with the squeaky voice. Starring Robin Williams as high school poetry teacher Lance Clayton, World’s Greatest Dad follows Lance as he desperately tries to connect with his teenage son and an art teacher. After a freak accident, Lance suddenly faces the worst tragedy of his life and the greatest opportunity.
Other highlights of the five-day movie-fest include a “dive-in” screening of Yellow Submarine at Mandalay Bay Beach on Saturday, June 13, sponsored by Cirque du Soleil’s LOVE; an outdoor drive-in screening of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman at the Fremont Street Experience on Monday, June 15; and CineVegas’ award ceremony honoring stars and directors of film on Sunday, June 14, at Rain nightclub.
Tickets for the festival are currently available at Brenden Theatres’ box office; individual movie tickets are $10 per person except for the June 10th opening night world premiere of Saint John of Las Vegas, when individual tickets will cost $25 each. That ticket also includes entry into the opening night after party at Prive, however, so it’s definitely worth it.
Stay tuned to BestOfVegas.com through the week as we offer more coverage on CineVegas, including which stars will be honored at the festival and which celebs will be arriving in town for the premieres. Who needs Hollywood when you’ve got Las Vegas and the CineVegas film festival?
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