Film Independent at LACMA kicks off October 13

September 13, 2011

Earlier this year, we announced our partnership with Film Independent—the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival—to collaborate on a new film program, presented by The New York Times. We’re now excited to share the first programming schedule for the new series, Film Independent at LACMA, with an opening line-up that represents the broad range of the program.

Under the curatorial leadership of film critic Elvis Mitchell, Film Independent at LACMA will present classic and contemporary narrative and documentary films; artists and their influences; emerging auteurs; international showcases; and special guest-curated programs, all rounded out with conversations with artists, curators, and special guests.

The series launches on October 13 with the world premiere of The Rum Diary, the long awaited passion project produced by its star, Johnny Depp, who is scheduled to be in attendance that evening, along with director Bruce Robinson and co-stars Amber Heard and Aaron Eckhart.

The introductory line-up also includes a Live Read, conceived by award-winning director Jason Reitman who will serve as the series’ first guest artist, bringing classic screenplays to life with some of today’s best actors. For the Live Read debut, Reitman has selected the John Hughes’ classic The Breakfast Club (1985), with a surprise cast who will read the script together for the first time and allow the audience to see them shape start-to-finish performances on the fly.

The series kick-off will also include a members-only screening of Martha Marcy May Marlene, by writer-director Sean Durkin which won him the Directing Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival; a restored print of Modern Times (1936); and director Pier Paolo Pasolini’s first film Accattone (1961) that forever changed the definition of Italian Neorealism. The regular weekly schedule for Film Independent at LACMA will begin October 27, and complement the museum’s ongoing Tuesday matinee series and film programs presented in conjunction with special exhibitions.

Christine Choi