ATLANTA, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Turner Classic Movies (TCM), the authority in classic film, will stage the network's first film festival April 22-25, 2010, in the heart of Hollywood. The TCM Classic Film Festival will be a landmark celebration of the history of Hollywood and its movies, presented in a way that only TCM can, with major events, celebrity appearances and screenings of classic movies. The network is inviting fans from around the country to join this new festival and share their passion for classic film.
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All screenings - more than 50 in all - will include special introductions to provide context about each film. Specific details about TCM's unique, interactive fan experience will be announced in the weeks and months ahead, including appearances by actors, actresses, directors, producers and other key figures.
Robert Osborne, TCM's primetime host, will be the official host of the festival. "Classic movies are something that link the past to the present and form a vital part of our culture," Osborne said. "This new festival will give those who love movies a way to connect with each other. It is a first-of-its-kind chance for TCM fans to experience the network in-person, meet others with the same interests and immerse themselves in a wide array of classic films."
Hollywood and its history will be celebrated throughout the TCM Classic Film Festival. In addition to screening classic films, from newly restored masterpieces to silent classics and undiscovered gems, the festival will tell the story of Hollywood through films, guests and special events throughout the weekend.
TCM will be partnering with Vanity Fair magazine - creator of the Penguin book Vanity Fair's Tales of Hollywood, edited by Graydon Carter - to bring the book to life. Writers from the magazine, along with actors and filmmakers, will tell behind-the-scenes stories of many of Hollywood's greatest films.
In addition, the TCM Classic Film Festival will honor the nation's pre-eminent organization devoted to preserving Hollywood's legacy, The Film Foundation, which will be celebrating its 20th year of preserving and restoring classic films. Several films restored by The Film Foundation will be showcased at the festival.
Hollywood has put its own spin on the movie industry over the years, from escapist musicals to downbeat film noirs. Because there has been no greater subject for Hollywood to explore than Hollywood itself, the festival will highlight some of the best films from this category.
As TCM examines Hollywood's history, the influence of foreign-language films on American filmmaking also will be explored. The festival will screen important film imports that have had an unquestionable impact on the direction Hollywood has taken. TCM also is proud to offer a sneak peek into the network's most ambitious original programming effort to date, Moguls and Movie Stars, a multi-part documentary about the history of the Hollywood film industry. The project, co-produced by Bill Haber's Ostar Productions, is slated to premiere on the network in fall 2010.
The TCM Classic Film Festival will be held Thursday, April 22, through Sunday, April 25, 2010, in Hollywood. Festival passes will go on sale Wednesday, Nov. 18, at www.tcm.com/festival. Prices will range from $500 to $1,200 for four-day passes.
The festival will involve several venues in a central area of Hollywood, including screenings at Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which has a longstanding role in movie history and was the site of the first Oscar® ceremony, will be the official hotel for the festival as well as a key venue for festival passholders.
TCM, the producer of the festival, has brought onboard as consultants Bill and Stella Pence, a couple well-known in industry circles as co-founders of the Telluride Film Festival. "As dedicated fans of TCM, we think a destination film festival for network devotees is a logical and welcome step," Bill Pence said.
Stella Pence said the TCM Classic Film Festival will be a unique proposition. "There are a great many film festivals around the world, but only TCM is so perfectly poised to do something truly original when it comes to classic movies," she said.
Turner Classic Movies is a Peabody Award-winning network celebrating 15 years of presenting great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world. Currently seen in more than 80 million homes, TCM features the insights of veteran primetime host Robert Osborne and weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include The Essentials, 31 Days of Oscar and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs, along with hosting a wealth of materials at its Web site, www.tcm.com. TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
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SOURCE Turner Classic Movies
