DIRECTV And American Airlines Are Premier Sponsors Of 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival, Presented By Film Independent

LOS ANGELES, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by Film Independent, in conjunction with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner L.A. LIVE, announced its sponsors for the 2013 Festival. The Los Angeles Film Festival will run from Thursday, June 13 to Sunday, June 23 in downtown Los Angeles. Joining the Festival for its first time are Premier and Closing Night Sponsor DIRECTV, Premier Sponsor American Airlines, and Principal and Family Day sponsor Hasbro Studios. Returning sponsors include Platinum Sponsors and Official Beer Stella Artois, Official Screening Venue Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14, HBO®, Canon U.S.A., Inc., EFILM, Volkswagen of America, and Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

Festival Supporters include Classic Party Rentals, CRE -- Computer & Audiovisual Solutions, Directors Guild of America, Fredericia, Kodak, Los Angeles Athletic Club, Renwood Winery, Shellback Caribbean Rum, Skywalker Sound, and Wildfire Post-Production Studios.

Festival Affiliates include ASCAP, ATK Audio Tek, BMI, CHAYA DOWNTOWN, Fox Audience Strategy, Industrial Light & Magic, Official Water Sponsor Icelandic Glacial Water, JuntoBox Films, JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE, Kinetic Lighting, konsonant/ music for film, Lucky Strike, MelroseMAC, Millennium Entertainment, MOHAWK GROUP, Montana Film Office, Panavision, Picture Head Post Production, SAGIndie, SSG-Wilshire Screening Room & Art Gallery, Studio System, UBER, and Writers Guild of America, West.  Special support is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

For the eighth year, the Los Angeles Times will serve as the Festival's Presenting Media Sponsor and will produce the Official Film Guide, the comprehensive source for all movie info, screenings, locations and related special events. The Film Guide topped the paper on Sunday, June 9 in Los Angeles and Orange County, and will be made available throughout downtown Los Angeles during the ten-day event.

Through a wide-ranging partnership with AEG, a majority of the screenings will take place at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Stadium 14. Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 is a state-of-the-art theatre with digital projection in all 14 auditoriums. The Premiere House at L.A. LIVE is a premium environment which seats 800 guests and features a 70-foot-wide screen. 

Premier Sponsor, DIRECTV, is proud to be a first-year partner with the LA Film Festival as sponsor of the Closing Night Screening and After-Party of The Way, Way Back, the Narrative and Documentary Competition Films and sponsors of the DIRECTV Narrative and DIRECTV Documentary Awards, as well as the DIRECTV Theatre/Regal 9. This partnership reflects DIRECTV's commitment to supporting established and emerging filmmakers. DIRECTV Cinema's premium pay-per-view movie service for DIRECTV customers offers access to exclusive new releases before they premiere in theaters, a library with thousands of movies to watch instantly with DIRECTV On Demand, and the most movies available in 1080p HD. DIRECTV the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services delivering an unparalleled video experience through state-of-the-art technology and unmatched programming to more than 35 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America.

As the official airline sponsor of the 2013 LA Film Festival, American Airlines is excited to help some of the world's leading and emerging filmmakers travel to the event. American focuses on providing an exceptional travel experience across the globe, serving more than 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories. With more than 500 new planes scheduled to join the fleet, including continued deliveries of the Boeing 737 family of aircraft and new additions such as the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, American is building toward the youngest and most modern fleet among major U.S. carriers. American's website, aa.com®, provides customers with easy access to check and book fares, and personalized news, information and travel offers. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir or Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

Principal Sponsor, Hasbro Studios will be presenting FAMILY DAY, to be held at Nokia Plaza at L.A. LIVE on Saturday, June 15 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. FAMILY DAY will feature an exciting lineup of activities inspired by the popular My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Kaijudo, Transformers Rescue Bots, Transformers Prime and Littlest Pet Shop animated programs produced by Hasbro Studios. A day of fun for the entire family will feature character appearances, a digital gaming area, a photo booth, a Play-Doh creativity station, balloon animals, face painting, and an entertainment lounge. Kids can also enjoy a real fire truck and police car interactive experience, as well as a "Ponyfication Station" fashion experience. Following FAMILY DAY, the Los Angeles Film Festival will premiere, My Little Pony Equestria Girls, a brand new full-length feature by Hasbro Studios which will introduce a whole new dimension into the world of My Little Pony. The screening will take place at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14.  Hasbro Studios is the Los Angeles-based production division of Hasbro, Inc. The studio develops and produces shows based on Hasbro's world-class brands, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and FAMILY GAME NIGHT.

Entering into its third year as the Los Angeles Film Festival's Official Automotive Partner, Volkswagen of America has decided to showcase two of its hottest products. Back for 2013, the Beetle Convertible is a modern reinterpretation of a timeless classic with a more dynamic silhouette and the latest features. The newest member of the compact sedan family is the new 2013 Jetta Hybrid. As the industry's first turbocharged hybrid, the Jetta also combines tremendous value, competitively priced at $24,995. To learn more about the entire Volkswagen line up, or to find your local dealer, please visit www.vw.com.

EFILM brings its vast expertise in post-production to Film Independent through the company's involvement as a sponsor of the Filmmakers' Retreat and the Los Angeles Film Festival. EFILM, along with its on-location dailies division, EC3, is the world leader in providing on-location dailies and to feature film projects wherever they shoot, in addition to its Digital Intermediate services. EFILM's recent and upcoming Digital Intermediate titles include: Fast and Furious 6, Despicable Me 2, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. EFILM is part of Deluxe Creative Services Group.

In addition to sponsoring the Filmmaker Retreat, Platinum Sponsor Dolby Laboratories, Inc., will host Dolby's The Sound of Your Story, taking place on June 22, featuring a case study of breakout Festival film Ain't Them Bodies Saints and talk with writer/director David Lowery, sound designer/mixer Kent Sparling and members of the music team about how their bold, exquisite and innovative use of sound enhances the story of estranged lovers in this critically acclaimed Texas outlaw saga. Panelists include writer/director David Lowery and sound designer/mixer Kent Sparling, other panelists TBA. The case study will be moderated by Glenn Kiser of the Dolby Institute. The case study will be moderated by Glenn Kiser of the Dolby Institute. Dolby Laboratories is the global leader in technologies that are essential elements in the best entertainment experiences. Best known for high-quality audio and surround in environments from the cinema to the living room to mobile devices, Dolby creates innovations that enrich entertainment at the movies, at home, or on the go. For more information about Dolby Laboratories Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is pleased to return to the Los Angeles Film Festival as a platinum sponsor.   At last year's Canon Celebrates Cinematographers event, Canon announced the establishment of the quarterly Canon Filmmaker Award Program in partnership with Film Independent, which awards Canon Cinema EOS C300 camera packages to selected Film Independent Fellows, alumni of the Los Angeles Film Festival, and Spirit Awards nominees and winners to create their next film. This year, Canon will expand on the success of the program to offer the entire range of Cinema EOS products to Filmmaker Award winners and will host Canon Celebrates Storytellers on Saturday June 15^th--an event to bring together directors, producers, cinematographers and post-production professionals to honor the art of collaboration. Guests will experience firsthand the acclaimed Cinema EOS line through an interactive touch-and-try lounge. The following morning, June 16, Canon will continue to celebrate the storytelling process by presenting a panel discussion that explores the technical aspects of making a film with Canon's Cinema EOS technology. Attendees will view never before seen clips of the LA Film Fest official selection Life of a King, followed by a discussion with the key creative and technical minds behind the film.  For more information about Canon Cinema EOS, visit http://cinemaeos.usa.canon.com/.

The Festival is excited to welcome acclaimed cinematographer Robert D. Yeoman to this year's Kodak Focus on June 16. Best known for his long-time collaboration with Wes Anderson, Yeoman's works spans genres and sensibilities and he will discuss his craft and screen three reels from his work. Sponsored by Kodak, this panel is moderated by Kodak's Aaron Saffa.

Stella Artois returns as the Official Beer Sponsor of the Los Angeles Film Festival. Proud to support the spirit of Independent film, Stella Artois is involved in a variety of film industry programming and has a longstanding commitment to those who entertain audiences around the world. This year, Stella Artois introduced Stella Artois Cidre, a crisp and refreshing European-style cider made from hand-picked apples and available for sampling at the event. To learn more about Stella Artois and Stella Artois Cidre, go to www.stellaartois.com.

"As the Official Spirit of the Los Angeles Film Festival, Shellback Rum is pleased to partner with such a respected program that celebrates the progressive milestones of film," said Gerard Thoukis, Senior Director of Marketing, Shellback Rum. At this year's LA Film Fest, Shellback Rum, a brand whose nautical heritage and Shellback namesake naturally aligns with the adventurist sport of sailing, is thrilled for the opportunity to show, "The America's Cup - 150 Years in the Making," in partnership with the film's director, PJ Panzica on Wednesday, June 19 from 6 pm - 9 pm in the Filmmaker Lounge. 

As huge fans of the film industry and the many talented people who work to bring their craft to the public Renwood Winery is excited to be the Official Wine Sponsor of the Los Angeles Film Festival. As winemakers Renwood Winery understand the importance of artistry and entertainment.  Join Renwood in the filmmaker lounge on July 17 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, to meet the "King of Zin" Kent Rosenblum and sample Renwood's Arido and Tomero wines.

The Montana Film Office and JuntoBox Films will sponsor the Filmmaker Reception at the Ritz-Carlton Pool Deck hosted by Zach Braff on Sunday, June 16.

Montana is independent -- it's a place of diverse landscapes, character-rich towns and talented, versatile film professionals. As a location, it fits indie film. Their incentives do too. The new Big Sky Film Grant puts cash in hand 30 to 60 days into production. Their tax incentives push max returns to 20% with no minimums or sales tax. Throw in free professional support for locations, logistics, permits, equipment and crew, and it's easy to see -- Montana is the ultimate indie location. Apply for the grant. Get the Montana Film production guide app. And let's get your picture made.

JuntoBox Films is a collaborative film studio and social community for filmmakers and fans to connect, create and ultimately, make films. In short, filmmakers can upload their projects to the JuntoBox site and members then rate and vote on projects that will ultimately be selected and greenlit.  The company merges the collaborative energy of a social platform with the more traditional in-house film development process including greenlighting, financing, marketing and distribution. For more information, find us at www.juntoboxfilms.com or @juntoboxfilms or follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JuntoBoxFilms.

The Los Angeles Athletic Club returns for the third year as the 2013 Official Host Hotel.  With a multi-million dollar hotel renovation, the new Hotel at The Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) has unveiled 72 renovated urban chic hotel rooms with nine distinctively themed suites.

On June 20, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosts "The Iconic Moment," sponsored by BBC.com and The Magnet Agency. On June 22 the Festival will hold "Women in the Cut: A Celebration of Women Editors," sponsored by MelroseMAC.

The Festival's annual Coffee Talks will take place on June 16 and are sponsored by BMI, Directors Guild of America, SAGindie, and Writers Guild of America, West.

The Diversity Speaks day, hosted by Blackhouse Foundation will take place over the course of one day at The Conga Room at L.A. LIVE on June 15. Panels include  "Inside HBO: A Conversation With HBO Development Executives" "The "New American" Independent Cinema sponsored by Platinum Sponsor HBO, and "Computer Love: Color Adjustment on the Web," sponsored by BET.

The Future Filmmakers Luncheon, sponsored by PBS SoCaL will take place on June 15 and features filmmaker Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation, Never Say Never, Step Up 2) as the keynote speaker.  On June 17, the Festival, along with moderator Dana Harris, Indiewire's editor-in-chief, unveils the Meet Indiewire's Influencers list of the smartest, most innovative and forward-thinking filmmakers, content producers, distributors, financiers and curators who are turning the creative world on its head. Sponsored by Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television.

Ranked as one of the top film schools in the world by The Hollywood Reporter, Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television (SFTV) in Los Angeles, CA offers undergraduate degrees in animation, production, screenwriting and recording arts; and graduate degrees in production, screenwriting, and writing and producing for television. This year, SFTV and Film Independent are partnering on SFTV¹s Incubator Lab, a one-year program that provides selected alumni with resources and tools to help them build their creative portfolio and transition into the industry. The 2013-2014 Incubator Lab cohort will be announced on June 17, 2013 at 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival's Meet Indiewire's Influencers panel. Get more information at sftv.lmu.edu or facebook.com/lmusftv.

Film Independent's signature program, Project Involve, celebrates the 20^th Anniversary of Project Involve on June 22 and is sponsored by Department of Cultural Affairs, LA Country Arts, Art Works, HBO, Sony, Time Warner, Fox Audience Strategy and Wildfire Post Production Services. The Festival will commemorate the 20^th Anniversary of Project Involve with the world premiere of Life of a King.

The Los Angeles Film Festival offers three free outdoor community screenings, open to the public. The 20^th Anniversary screening of Dazed and Confused on June 14, from director Richard Linklater and Brasslands on June 15 are hosted by Fig@7th. A Dance-A-Long screening of John Waters' Hairspray in honor of its 25^th Anniversary will take place at Grand Park.

Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, CHAYA combines urban chic and European sensibility with Japanese hospitality. For the fourth year CHAYA Downtown will sponsor and host the Los Angeles Film Fest Awards Brunch on June 23, honoring the juried competition and audience award winners.

For the first time ever the Los Angeles Film Festival in collaboration with Archinect and Designer pages hosted a special Filmmaker Lounge Design Competition. Designed by blnko, Festival Supporters FREDERICIA and Kinetic Lighting provided furniture and décor for this bold step forward in the festival experience.

CBS 2 and KCAL 9 once again serve as the Official Broadcast Television Partners. The largest local television duopoly in the country, CBS 2 and KCAL 9 provide Southern California with a combined 11-and-a-half hours of award-winning local news coverage on a daily basis. In addition, CBS 2 serves as the West Coast flagship of CBS, America's most-watched network; while KCAL 9 is the local broadcast home of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Promotional Partner Clear Channel has brought its portfolio of commercial radio stations, including 102.7 KIIS FM, KOST 103.5 FM, 104.3 MYfm, HOT 92.3, and Star 98.7 FM together to promote the Festival on air and online. Other promotional partners include American Cinematographer Magazine, Animation Magazine, CBS Outdoor, Deadline Hollywood, Downtown Center Business Improvement District, EntertainmentCareers.net, ForYourArt, IMDbPro, Indiewire, KCRW 89.9 FM, KLCS TV, KLOVE 107.5 FM, LA 411, Los Angeles Confidential, Metro, Para Todos, POPSUGAR, PR Newswire, The Hollywood Reporter, TheWrap, Unimas 46, Univision 34, Variety, WireImage and Yelp.

Film Independent's Industry Circle Members are a prestigious group of entertainment industry companies who are championing the cause of independent film and are committed to presenting the Festival as a major community and cultural event in the city of Los Angeles. Industry Circle members include AEG Worldwide, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Bill Condon, Creative America, Film Finances, Inc., Focus Features, For Your Consideration Films, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment, Greenberg Glusker, Kodak, Landmark Theatres, Lionsgate, Millennium Entertainment, NowLive, Participant Media, Quantum Leap Investments, Sony Pictures Classics, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Werc Werk Works, and William Morris Endeavor.

WireImage is the Official Photography Agency and PR Newswire (www.PRNewswire.com), is the Official Breaking News Service of Film Independent.

SOURCE Film Independent

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