Actor Richard Dreyfuss. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Film Festival)
The San Diego Film Festival, which is equally adept at throwing celebrity shindigs and showing movies, moves into Reading’s Gaslamp Theatre for five days starting September 23. The eighth annual festival features 85 films and almost as many special guests.
This year’s lineup includes films of all types and running times. There are first-run features, documentaries, short films, music videos, movies for kids, locally produced pictures and a special environmental series appropriately titled “Green Screen.” In addition to the screenings, the festival offers several panels and workshops aimed at giving you “industry access.”
The celebrity guest roster includes established professionals (Hal Holbrook, Joe Pantoliano, Seymour Cassel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Cromwell) and seasoned cult figures (William Shatner, Adrienne Barbeau) as well as small screen favorites (Dixie Carter, Lacey Chabert, James Van Der Beek) and a few not so instantly recognizable names (Kate Lowes, Maxwell Perry Cotton, Ben Gourley).
This year’s most illustrious guest is Richard Dreyfuss. The Oscar-winning actor, best known for playing edgy, emotionally complex characters like Duddy Kravitz, Mr. Holland and Dick Cheney, will appear onstage for a Q&A on Saturday, September 26.
The Festival Pass is the way to go. $99 grants you access to all regular festival screenings, panels (without having to pre-select programs or pay for individual tickets), plus special Festival events and parties.
Scott Marks is an SDNN contributor.
Event info
What: The San Diego Film Festival
Where: Reading’s Gaslamp 15, 701 5th Ave.
When: September 23-27
How much: Prices vary from $12 per individual screenings to $99 for an all-access pass.
For more information: www.sdff.org/index.html
Tags: Adrienne Barbeau, Film Festival, Gaslamp Quarter, Gaslamp Theater, Hal Holbrook, James Cromwell, Joe Pantoliano, movies, Richard Dreyfuss, Richard Dreyfuss in person, San Diego Film, San Diego Film Festival, SDNN, William Shatner
