LAFF ’08 | Universal Pics “Wanted and “Hellboy II” Bookend Los Angeles Fest in June

Universal Pictures‘ “Wanted” by Timur Bekmambetov will open the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival June 19 in Westwood, organizers announced Tuesday. Based upon Mark Millar‘s graphic novel series the film tells the story of one apathetic nobody’s transformation into an unparalleled enforcer of justice. Closing the festival, which is organized by Film Independent, is writer/director Guillermo del Toro‘s “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” also from Universal on June 29. Sundance 2008 doc “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” will screen as the Centerpiece June 26 at the Ford Amphitheater in a program that will include live musical performances and “special guests.” “I am proud of the festival’s on-going growth within the community, and pleased that we continue to attract world-class filmmakers like Guillermo Del Toro and Timur Bekmambetov,” said festival director Rich Raddon in a statement. “The Los Angeles Film Festival celebrates the best in filmmaking as well as discovering new voices from around the world.”

Narrative Competition:
“Big Heart City,” directed by Ben Rodkin
“HottieBoombaLottie,” directed by Seth Packard (world premiere)
“I’ll Come Running,” directed by Spencer Parsons (world premiere)
“Medicine for Melancholy,” directed by Barry Jenkins
“The Pleasure of Being Robbed,” directed by Josh Safdie
“The Poker House,” directed by Lori Petty (world premiere)
“Prince of Broadway,” directed by Sean Baker (world premiere)

Documentary Competition:
“Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story,” directed by Stefan Forbes
“Dirty Hands: The Art & Crimes of David Choe,” directed by Harry Kim (world premiere)
“Finishing Heaven,” directed by Mark Mann (world premiere)
“Largo, Andrew van Baal,” directed by Mark Flanagan (world premiere)
“Loot,” directed by Darius Marder (world premiere)
“Must Read After My Death,” directed by Morgan Dews (world premiere)
“Paper or Plastic?,” directed by Justine Jacob and Alex D. Da Silva (world premiere)
“Pressure Cooker,” directed by Jennifer Grausman and Mark Becker (world premiere)
“Thing With No Name,” directed by Sarah Friedland
“Trinidad,” directed by PJ Raval and Jay Hodges (world premiere)

International Showcase:
“The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela,” directed by Olaf De Fleur Johannesson – Iceland/Philippines/USA
“Captain Ahab,” directed by Philippe Ramos – France
“The Choir,” directed by Michael Davie – South Africa (North American premiere)
“Exodus,” directed by Pang Ho-Cheung – Hong Kong
“Fear(s) of the Dark, Blutch,” directed by Charles Burns, Marie Caillou and Pierre di Sciullo, Lorenzo Mattotti, and Richard McGuire – France (IFC Films)
“Four Wives – One Man,” directed by Nahid Persson – Sweden/Iran
“Hafner’s Paradise,” directed by Guenter Schwaiger – Austria/Spain (US premiere)
“Heartbeat Detector,” directed by Nicolas Klotz – France (New Yorker Films)
“Hello, Stranger,” directed by Kim Dong-hyun – South Korea (North American premiere)
“Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go” directed by Kim Longinotto – England (Women Make Movies)
“Hotel Very Welcome,” directed by Sonja Heiss – Germany
“Infinite Border,” directed by Juan Manuel Sepulveda – Mexico (US premiere)
“La France,” directed by Serge Bozon – France
“Mechanical Love,” directed by Phie Ambo – Denmark
“Sonetaula,” directed by Salvatore Mereu – Italy/France/Belgium
“Tricks,” directed by Andrzej Jakimowski – Poland
“Useless,” directed by Jia Zhang-ke – China
“When Clouds Clear,” directed by Anne Slick and Danielle Bernstein – Ecuador/USA
“Where Are Their Stories?” directed by Nicolas Pereda – Mexico/Canada
“Wonderful Town,” directed by Aditya Assarat – Thailand (Kino International)
“You, the Living,” directed by Roy Andersson – Sweden (Tartan Films)

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