Silicon Valley’s film festival gem, Cinequest, is slated to have an impressive roster of Hollywood stars and films that will grace the Bay Area beginning February 27 through March 11.
Cinequest’s opening night will start off with Oscar-nominated actor, William H. Macy, who will join the festival at the California Theatre to screen a film he directed and starred in called “Krystal.” The film, about a sheltered young man who develops a crush on a stripper, stars Rosario Dawson, Nick Robinson, Kathy Bates and Felicity Huffman. Macy is expected to have a conversation about the film alongside select cast and crew.
The film festival, which seeks to create and connect audiences with the art of cinema and technology will feature 228 films from around the world and 29 virtual reality experiences.
During the 13-day festival, Bay Area audiences can expect to see a variety of films with big names like Shia LaBeouf (“Borg McEnroe”), James McAvoy (“Submergence”), Burt Reynolds (“The Last Movie Star”), Michelle Pfeiffer (“Where is Kyra?”), Peter Fonda (“You Can’t Say No”), Hilary Swank (“What They Had”) and more.
Cinequest will also host a handful of Hollywood stars at San Jose’s California Theatre to honor with the prestigious Maverick Spirit Award, which includes Nicolas Cage, Tatiana Maslany, Tom Cullen and Andie MacDowell.
The closing night film will be the documentary “Brothers in Arms,” about the making of Oliver Stone’s “Platoon” directed by Paul Sanchez and narrated by Charlie Sheen. Sanchez and a few special guests will join the festival for a discussion on the film.
The festival will also feature an abundance of Bay Area original films like “From Baghdad to the Bay,” a documentary about an Iraqi gay man and former U.S. military translator struggling to adjust his life in America; “Adios Amor,” an investigative documentary about the search for a long-forgotten migrant worker who sacrificed everything to organize California’s migrant farm workers half a century ago; and “Pick of the Litter,” a story that follows a litter of pups groomed to become guide dogs for the blind.
As far as virtual reality goes, moviegoers can experience the innovative films made with virtual reality from March 1 - 4.
For a full list of film screenings: https://www.cinequest.org/
Local
Here’s a list of noteworthy events:
Opening Night Screening of “Krystal:” featuring a conversation with Willam H. Macy and select cast and crew
When: Feb. 27 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: California Theatre
Maverick Spirit Award: Nicolas Cage
When: Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: California Theatre
Maverick Spirit Award: Tatiana Maslany and Tom Cullen with World Premiere of Souls of Totality
When: March 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: California Theatre
Maverick Spirit Award: Andie MacDowell
When: March 10 at 7 p.m.
Where: California Theatre
Media Legacy Award: Ben Mankiewicz
When: March 11 at 1:30 p.m.
Where: California Theatre
Closing Night Screening of “Brothers in Arms:” featuring a conversation with Paul Sanchez and special guests
When: March 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: California Theatre
