“Let’s go to the movies. Let’s go see the stars!”
Hollywood comes to Coronado on its biggest night of the year. The Coronado Island Film Festival will host the first annual Red Carpet Oscar Party on Sunday, March 2, a celebration of all things cinema that promises laughter, entertainment and a salute to some of Hollywood’s most famous stars.
The event, which will be held at Nicky Rottens, is the first of a series of fundraising events to support the planning and implementation for the first annual film festival, which is slated for September 2015 in Coronado. The 4-day festival will showcase various genres of film, actors and Coronado’s own love affair with the movies.
Coronado enjoys more than just a proximal connection to Hollywood. The Crown City is steeped in more than 100 years of film history. Many Hollywood films were produced here, including Some Like it Hot. Lubin Studios was established in Coronado in 1915 and produced as many as twenty movies here. The Hotel del Coronado has attracted Hollywood greats such as Frank Capra, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Dick Powell and Judy Garland. It is this connection that makes bringing a film festival to Coronado a match made in Hollywood heaven.
“It is an idea whose time has come. It seems so right,” said Doug St. Denis, Executive Director of the Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF).
The CIFF was born grass-roots style about a year and a half ago out of Coronado’s Cultural Arts Commission. For some time now, residents have been asking for a film festival and as St. Denis says “the genie has been let out of the bottle.”
But such a festival will take time, resources and of course, money, in order to come to fruition. And the fundraising efforts will be kicked off in grand style on Oscar night.
On Sunday, March 2, Nicky Rottens will be transformed to include all the glitz and glamour that Hollywood has to offer. Starting at 4:00 p.m. party attendees will walk the red carpet, complete with interviews, and mix and mingle with some of Hollywood’s most famous “stars,” including Marilyn Monroe. And just as anything goes in Hollywood, guests are asked to come as they are or dress to the nines, perhaps as their favorite Hollywood actor. At 4:30 the Oscars will be broadcast during the event, on 14 HD TVs and three projector screens. Attendees will have the opportunity to cast their vote for some of the top awards, including Best Actor/Actress, Best Director and Best Picture, with prizes awarded to the winners. A silent auction will also take place, boasting a variety of prizes specifically geared toward movie lovers including a DVD basket from Fox Searchlight, tickets to a Hollywood premiere and actor party from 20th Century Fox and a 75th Anniversary Wizard of Oz movie and memorabilia.
Prizes for best Red Carpet costumes will also be awarded. The event will be emceed by Emmy award winning sports reporter, TV host and former voice of the San Diego Padres John Weisbarth.
“This party is designed to encompass all of the fun spirit of celebrating the movies,” said St. Denis.
Tickets are $50 and are available online at www.CoronadoIslandFilmFest.com or at Coronado Bliss Salon, located at 930 Orange Avenue. Tickets are limited to 220 and the CIFF expects a sold out event. All proceeds will go to benefit the Coronado Island Film Festival.
The CIFF founding partners include Village Theater (Vintage Cinemas), Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Private Bank, Coronado Bliss Salon and Sharon L Sherman Law Offices. For more information on the Coronado Island Film Festival, visit www.CoronadoIslandFilmFest.com or like them on Facebook: Coronado Island Film Festival.
Mary Douglas
Staff Writer
eCoronado.com
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