Coronado Island Film Festival Passes On Sale Starting Today

Passes go on sale today (Sept. 10) for the inaugural Coronado Island Film Festival, to be held Jan 15 – 18, 2016 on Coronado Island, the storied seaside resort community on San Diego Bay.

The festival marks the first celebration of film in the history of the city, where more than 100 movies have been filmed over its 125-year history, including the American Film Institute’s No. 1-rated comedy of all time, “Some Like It Hot,” filmed at the historic Hotel del Coronado in 1958.

The four-day festival, held over the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, will include juried competitions for narrative film, documentaries, shorts (animated and live action) and student films. A special award, spanning all categories, will be presented for a film that depicts “Service to Country.”

Included in the festival is an Opening Night reception and a Saturday night industry tribute, both held at the Presenting Sponsor property, Hotel del Coronado. An Awards Night tented reception will be held in the center of town and a closing night Bonfire on the Hotel del Coronado’s beach will close out the festival.

Noted movie critic, author and film historian Leonard Maltin will serve as Honorary Head Juror of the festival. Lisa Bruce, producer of the 2015 Academy Award-winning film, “The Theory of Everything,” is head juror, narrative films; Ira Wohl, recipient of the 1979 Academy Award for Best Documentary for his film, “Best Boy,” is head juror for documentaries and Jim Gallagher, head of marketing for Dreamworks, SKG, is head juror for shorts (animated and live action).

“The caliber of our jurors is unprecedented for a first-year film festival and speaks to the quality of films that can be expected to be screened here,” said CIFF’s Executive Director/Producer Andy Friedenberg.

Friedenberg, founder of the 30-year-old Cinema Society of San Diego, and Doug St. Denis, Founding Executive Director of the festival, will also present selected films under the heading of “Directors’ Picks.”

The City of Coronado is a Major Sponsor. One of the screening venues is the historic Winn Room at the Coronado Public Library and two panel seminars will be held at the City’s “Boathouse” auditorium on Strand Way.

All films will show multiple times over the four days at four venues: the historic Village Theatre, the Coronado School of the Arts theatre, the Black Box theater and the Coronado Public Library.

“Coronado Island Film Festival is designed to be a very walkable festival,” said St. Denis. “All our viewing venues are within a two-block radius.”

Complimentary trolley service will be provided for festival pass holders throughout the city as well, with trolley service to and from the Coronado Ferry Landing, coordinating with the island’s ferry service to Downtown San Diego.

Restaurants and shops line Coronado’s main street, “Orange Avenue” and the Ferry Landing, where five restaurants offer panoramic views of San Diego Bay and the Downtown San Diego skyline beyond.

Average January temperatures in Coronado is 69 degrees.

Also included in the line-up are seminars and workshops, historic films, directors’ picks and two special presentations: Chris Lemmon will introduce a film in which his famous father, Jack Lemmon starred, pulling excerpts from his book, “A Twist of Lemmon.” And Rory Flynn, daughter of Errol Flynn, who starred in several movies filmed in Coronado, including “Diver Bomber,” will speak about her father’s life.

“Early Bird” prices, as follows, are available through Oct. 15. If passes remain in each category, prices will be raised on Oct. 16 and again on Dec. 1.

The “Crown City Pass” is $795 and provides an exclusive “Red Carpet” experience. It includes the Opening Night Party with VIP seating, complimentary drinks and appetizers; a Private VIP Reception on Saturday, Jan. 15 with celebrity honorees, CIFF patrons and major sponsors; the Filmmaker Reception and Celebrity Tribute on Saturday, Jan. 15; priority seating at the Awards Night Reception and Ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 17 and the Closing Night Bonfire and Movie on Del Beach, with reserved fire-pit seating. It includes daily unlimited screenings with priority entry, priority entry to workshops, panels and special events, access to the VIP Crown City Hospital Lounge, valet parking and a Festival Goodie Bag.

Ocean Passes are $595 and include the Opening Night Party, Filmmaker Reception and Celebrity Tribute, Awards Ceremony and Reception, Closing Night Bonfire, 25 screenings, panels and workshops with priority entry, and access to the Festival Hospital Tent with complimentary refreshments.

Bayside Passes are $295 and include 15 film screenings, panels and workshops, the Opening Night Party, Closing Night Bonfire and Movie on Del Beach and access to the Festival Hospital Tent with complimentary refreshments.

Nado Passes are $95 and include 10 film screenings, panels and workshops and the Closing Night Bonfire and Movie on Del Beach.

Passes can be purchased online at CIFF’s website, www.coronadoislandfilmfest.org. CIFF is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) corporation.