Lake Arrowhead Film Festival’s Mission and Objectives:
To embrace, celebrate and foster creative and innovative
filmmaking, from classic films to current cinema---and what lies beyond.
- The Lake Arrowhead Film Festival brings the
local film community together in the mountain communities, San Bernardino
County and the greater Inland Empire with a four day cultural arts event that
inspires, educates and entertains through an annual celebration of the art of
cinema.
- The Lake Arrowhead Film Festival honors the
proud history of our neighbors, the Serrano Indians and their ties to the San
Bernardino Mountains by showcasing Native American filmmakers, films and
industry professionals.
- The Lake Arrowhead Film Festival organizes a
strong program of educational seminars, Q & A sessions, and panel discussions
open to the filmmakers and festival attendees.
- The Lake Arrowhead Film Festival is dedicated to
helping Native American, student and emerging and established filmmakers reach
their audience and enable the film community and general public to experience
the power of cinema.
- The Lake Arrowhead Film Festival is dedicated to
developing a strong youth program for local teens to experience the art of
independent filmmaking.
- The Lake Arrowhead Film Festival aspires to be a catalyst for educational and other film programs, such as a monthly film screening and showcasing other genres of independent film, including narrative and experimental work….further pursuing their mission “the best of film…and what lies beyond”.
History of the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival
The Lake Arrowhead Film Festival (LAFF) saw its debut in the spring of 1999 and has been growing with exciting filmmakers since then. Originally, the goal of the LAFF was to bring innovative, independent film to this resort community to celebrate the spirit of filmmaking and to showcase our beautiful mountain surroundings. Because of the enormous number of films shot here in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, Lake Arrowhead was often called “Hollywood’s back lot”. Because of that film history, Lake Arrowhead was seen as a perfect setting for an elegant and intimate film festival. The first festival premiered about 25 films with a good mix of shorts, documentaries and feature films. It was well attended and prizes were awarded.
In 2002, the festival set up the first series of seminars by recognized industry filmmaking professionals. Thanks to the overwhelmingly positive response to the seminar participants and subject matter, seminars and the symposium on different facets or topics of filmmaking have continued.
The Lake Arrowhead Film Committee also grew as the festival continued to receive more submissions. LAFF now has 15 volunteers devoted solely to viewing and selecting submitted films that are then reviewed by a jury of industry professionals. For the 2010 festival, LAFF received over 250 film submissions.
Past honorees have included those with local ties, such as June Lockhart, Christopher McDonald, Harry Sherman, Vincent Spano, and Ernie Hudson as well as distinguished film families such as the Kirk Douglas family (Kirk, Michael, and Joel), the John Carradine family (John, David, Keith and Robert) and the Petrie family (Donald Sr., Dorothea, Daniel, Donald Jr., June and Mary). LAFF also honored exceptional performers such as Gena Rowlands, Eric Roberts, Joe Mantegna, Beau Bridges, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
LAFF’s beautiful mountain surroundings and intimacy allows the public attendees direct access to filmmakers and celebrities in close settings. The seminars increase the interaction between all involved participants and create a warm, friendly, and enriching experience.
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Festival Director Mary Dippell Board of Directors JM Evosevich, President Polly Sauer, Secretary Carol Priest, Treasurer Karyn Bower
Harry Sherman Averill Strasser
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Advisory Board June Lockhart, Advisory Board Emeritus Timothy Bottoms Beau Bridges Ernie Hudson Lorenzo Lamas Rene Lagler Mark Levin Chris Levister Gloria Loring Joe Mantegna Christopher McDonald Larry Mole Parker Jeff Perlis Chris Prapha Rick Ray Gena Rowlands Vincent Spano |