LA Film Fest 2016 Announces First Titles

Always a comfy stop on the summer fesitval circuit, the LA Film Festival, announced today the first batch of titles for their 2016 edition, which takes place at the Culver City Arclight Cinemas, June 1 - 9.

The Buzz section of programming features favorites from the 2016 fest circuit, including Mike Birbligia's Don't Think Twice (pictured) and The Music Of Strangers, from Morgan Neville, Oscar-winning director of 20 Feet From Stardom. Meanwhile, Limelight features world premieres of films with notable talent such as Idris Elba (A Hundred Streets), Topher Grace (Opening Night) and Teresa Palmer (Lights Out). Check out the full lineups for both sections below.

Buzz:

Don't Think Twice - USA (dir./writ. Mike Birbiglia; prod. Mike Birbiglia, Ira Glass, Miranda Bailey, Amanda Marshall; feat. Gillian Jacobs, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Birbiglia, Kate Micucci, Chris Gethard, Tami Sagher) - The unbreakable bonds of a struggling improv group are put to the test when they lose their performance space and one of them lands a coveted spot on the Holy Grail of all comedy shows. LA Premiere

Equity - USA (dir. Meera Menon; writ. Amy Fox; prod. Sarah Megan Thomas, Alysia Reiner; feat. Anna Gunn, James Purefoy, Sarah Megan Thomas, Alysia Reiner) - A senior investment banker thrives in the brutality of her high-power, big money world until a controversial IPO threatens the fragile balance of power. LA Premiere

Jean of the Joneses - Canada/USA (dir./writ. Stella Meghie; prod. Amos Adetuyi, Stella Meghie, Floyd Kane; feat. Taylour Paige, Sherri Shepherd, Erica Ash, Gloria Reuben, Michelle Hurst, Mamoudou Athie, Francois Arnaud, Anna Hopkins, Demore Barnes) - When the estranged patriarch of the Jones family abruptly drops dead on their doorstep, sharp-witted Jean Jones takes the opportunity to stir up a boiling pot of familial dysfunctions that distracts her from an unraveling love life and stalled writing career. LA Premiere

Kicks - USA (dir. Justin Tipping; writ. Joshua Beirne-Golden; prod. David Kaplan; feat. Jahking Guillory, Christopher Meyer, CJ Wallace, Kofi Siriboe, Mahershala Ali) - After getting his dream pair of Air Jordans snatched, Brandon and his friends go on a dangerously epic mission through Oakland to get them back in this vibrant coming-of-age story bursting with magical realism. LA Premiere

Life, Animated - USA (dir. Roger Ross Williams; prod. Roger Ross Williams, Julie Goldman) - Based on Ron Suskind's best-selling book, the emotional story of an autistic boy who is unable to speak for years, but finds a way to communicate to his family by embodying--to precision--his favorite characters in animated Disney movies. LA Premiere

The Music of Strangers - USA (dir. Morgan Neville; prod. Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers) - Members of a collective of global innovative performers, composers and storytelling musicians, brought together by cellist Yo-Yo Ma as the Silk Road Ensemble, discuss their philosophies on music and culture. LA Premiere

Limelight:

FREE CeCe! - USA (dir. Jacqueline Gares; writ. Laverne Cox, Jacqueline Gares; prod. Laverne Cox) - CeCe McDonald survived a brutal attack, only to be incarcerated for defending her life. After an international movement to free her, CeCe emerges as a leader to interrogate the prison industrial complex and inspire women to fight back when attacked. World Premiere

A Hundred Streets - UK (dir. Jim O'Hanlon; writ. Leon Butler; prod. Leon Butler, Pippa Cross, Idris Elba, Ros Hubbard; feat. Idris Elba, Gemma Arterton, Charlie Creed-Miles, Franz Drameh, Kierston Wareing, Tom Cullen, Ken Stott) - Inspired by the streets of contemporary London, the lives of the wife of an ex-Rugby superstar, a small time drug dealer, a rich playboy and a cab driver intersect. World Premiere

Lights Out - USA (dir. David F. Sandberg; writ. David F. Sandberg, Eric Heisserer; prod. Lawrence Grey, James Wan; feat. Teresa Palmer, Maria Bello) - A woman and her young brother are haunted by a creature that only appears when the lights go out, and possesses a mysterious attachment to their mother. World Premiere

Opening Night - Mexico/USA (dir. Isaac Rentz; writ. Gerry De Leon, Gregory Lisi; prod. Daniel Posada, Jason Tamasco, Topher Grace, Alex Garcia; feat. Topher Grace, Taye Diggs, Anne Heche, Alona Tal, JC Chasez, Rob Riggle, Paul Scheer, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Husky) - A musical comedy centered on a failed Broadway singer turned production manager who must save the show on opening night by wrangling his eccentric cast and crew before they wreak havoc. World Premiere

So B. It - USA (dir. Stephen Gyllenhaal; writ. Garry Williams; prod. Todd Harris, Orien Richman; feat. Talitha Bateman, Alfre Woodard, John Heard, Jessica Collins, Jacinda Barrett, Dash Mihok, Cloris Leachman) - Based on The New York Times best-selling young adult novel, a twelve-year-old travels alone across the country to unravel the mysteries of her and her mentally disabled mother's past. World Premiere

The Sweet Life - USA (dir. Rob Spera; writ. Jared Rappaport; prod. Julie Lynn, Bonnie Curtis; feat. Chris Messina, Abigail Spencer) - Two unlucky strangers with nothing left to lose head out on an impulsive road trip to San Francisco to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. World Premiere