Journey to the Center of the Earth to Have its World Premiere With a Special 3D Screening at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival

Journey to the Center of the Earth to Have its World Premiere With a Special 3D Screening at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival

FAMILY DAY CELEBRATION TO TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29

- Walt Disney's Peter Pan to Screen as Tribute to Ollie Johnston -

LOS ANGELES, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Film Festival announced today that Walden Media and New Line Cinema's Journey to the Center of the Earth will make its world premiere with a special 3D screening as part of the Festival's annual Family Day celebration on Sunday, June 29 at 3:00 p.m. at the Mann Village Theater. One of the Festival's big summer blockbuster premieres, the Journey premiere is open to the public. Directed by Eric Brevig, the film stars Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, and Anita Briem. The event is sponsored by DLP Cinema.

The Festival's popular Family Day celebration, sponsored by Playhouse Disney, will take place on Sunday, June 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Broxton Avenue. This one-day event features free screenings, games, booths, giveaways, live stage performances, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more. The Playhouse Disney Tent will host activities throughout the day, including an appearance by Playhouse Disney's Handy Manny.* Additional activities and giveaways come from Fox Home Entertainment's Nim's Island, MGM Home Entertainment's Her Best Move, plus the Geffen Playhouse's "Shipwrecked! An Entertainment" activity booth.

* Character(s) subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Family Day will also feature a screening of Walt Disney's beloved classic, Peter Pan, as tribute to the late Ollie Johnston, whose death in April truly marked the end of an era -- that of classic hand-drawn Disney animation. The last of the Studio's "Nine Old Men," Johnston worked on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Bambi, Pinocchio, The Jungle Book, and countless others. For Peter Pan, he was responsible for Mr. Smee, Captain Hook's bumbling sidekick. As animated by Johnston, with his wonderful sense of character and comic timing, Smee provides many of the biggest laughs in this timeless classic. Tickets to see Peter Pan can be purchased at the Festival box office for $5 only. The screening is sponsored by Playhouse Disney.

In Journey to the Center of the Earth a science professor (Brendan Fraser) whose somewhat radical theories have been met with skepticism from the academic community, is determined to find out what happened to his missing brother. On an expedition in Iceland with his nephew (Josh Hutcherson) and their local guide (Anita Briem), he stumbles upon a thrilling discovery that leads them deep beneath the Earth's surface into a fantastic and dangerous lost world.

Bringing a contemporary sensibility to one of Jules Verne's greatest adventures, Journey to the Center of the Earth is the first live-action feature to be shot entirely in digital 3-D, which will immerse audiences in a new dimension of moviegoing. The film will be released nationwide in 2D and 3D theaters on July 11, 2008.

ABOUT THE 2008 LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL

Westwood Village is home to Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival, which runs from Thursday, June 19 - Sunday, June 29. Festival-goers will experience the best of American and international cinema, enjoying more than 230 feature films, shorts, and music videos, as well as Coffee Talks, Poolside Chats, and other special star-studded events. Westwood Village will showcase films and events among various venues, all within walking distance of each other, with ample, convenient parking and easy access to shopping and dining, setting the stage for the biggest Festival yet.

Over the course of 10 days and 11 nights, the public is invited to take advantage of world premieres including independent films and major studio releases, as well as tribute screenings, outdoor movies, celebrity-filled red carpets, and more. Screenings and special events will be held in Westwood at the following locations: Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater At The Geffen Playhouse, AMC Avco 4, The Italian Cultural Institute, The Landmark, Landmark's Regent Theatre, Majestic Crest Theatre, Mann Festival Theatre, Mann Village Theatre, Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum, and W Los Angeles -- Westwood. Additional offsite event screenings will take place at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood and the California Plaza on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Film Festival is presented by the Los Angeles Times and is supported by Premier Sponsors -- Target, American Express OPEN(SM) and Netflix -- and by Principal Sponsors -- Kodak and IFC. Promotional support is provided by Schawk. Special support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Argyros Foundation. American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner; Movado is the Official Timekeeper; WireImage is the Official Photography Agency of Film Independent; PR Newswire is the Official fast-breaking news service of Film Independent. The W Los Angeles -- Westwood and the Hotel Palomar are the Official hotel partners of the Festival.

Festival passes are available for the general public beginning May 21. Individual tickets are available through phone and online sales beginning June 2. The Festival Ticket Office, located at 1020 Westwood Boulevard, will be open to the public beginning Sunday, June 8, selling both passes and individual tickets.

For event information and tickets, call 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit LAFilmFest.com. Film notes, images, and trailers will be available for viewing at LAFilmFest.com beginning May 21.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

Film Independent is a non-profit membership organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds the audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, film industry leader, or a film lover.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent also offers free Filmmaker Labs for selected writers, directors, and producers; provides cut-rate services for filmmakers; and presents year-round networking opportunities. Film Independent's mentorship and job placement program, Project:Involve, pairs emerging culturally diverse filmmakers with film industry professionals.

Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international cinema, and the Spirit Awards, a celebration honoring films and filmmakers that embody independence and dare to challenge the status quo.

For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Film Independent

CONTACT: National & trade media outlets, Elise Freimuth of MPRM,
+1-323-933-3399, EFreimuth@mPRm.com, for Film Independent; All other media
outlets, Julie Siegel, +1-310-432-1287, JSiegel@FilmIndependent.org, or Media
accreditation, Petra Kauraisa, +1-310-432-1256, PKauraisa@FilmIndependent.org,
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Web site:

http://www.filmindependent.org/
http://www.lafilmfest.com/

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