This week marks the beginning of one of California’s favorite film festivals, San Jose’s Cinequest. Running from 2/27 – 3/11 in a series of South Bay venues, this year Cinequest will present 229 feature and short films, including 74 world premieres over its two-week span. And you know what else? Nic Cage is going to be there.
Attracting talent from all over the globe, many screenings will be accompanied by cast and crew Q&As. On March 10th, Andie MacDowell will be in attendance for a screening of her new film Love After Love, a touching family drama dealing with themes of loss, grief, and healing. Check out the full program and purchase tickets here.
My personal interests tend to lean in the genre direction, which is part of why I enjoy Cinequest so much. Among their high-profile spotlight films and international dramas, the team at Cinequest put together an exciting list of independent horror and science fiction premieres. I’m especially intrigued by the reality bending time travel flick 7 Splinters in Time, premiering on March 3rd at 3Below. The director will be in attendance, and I’ve been told he is a skilled juggler.
Aside from the incredible selection of films, Cinequest is presenting several Spirit awards to influential voices in cinema. On February 28th, Nicolas Cage will be in attendance to receive the Maverick Spirit Award. This event includes a conversation with the actor, a video tribute, and a peek at Cage’s recent venture into the world of virtual reality acting. More details can be found on the Cinequest site here.
Later in the festival, Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany will make the trek to San Jose to receive a Maverick Spirit Award as well. Rising to prominence impressing television audiences as five different clones of the same woman in the show Orphan Black, Maslany has proven herself a talent to watch. She’ll be joined by her significant other and Maverick Award recipient, Tom Cullen, for a moderated chat and award presentation on March 8th. Tickets are available here.
One of the big draws of the festival is its unique virtual reality program, highlighting some of the most interesting voices working in this immersive medium. Featured within the VR program is the premiere of an episodic VR series titled The Humanity Bureau VRevolution, starring Nicolas Cage. A stand-alone spin-off of the upcoming film The Humanity Bureau, this VR experience explores alternate plotlines from the film starring Cage as a caseworker trying to save the lives of a woman and her child. If you’ve ever dreamed of getting up close and personal with the cult actor, this is your chance to strap on a headset and go there! The VR portion of the Cinequest film festival will take place from March 1st – 4th. Learn more about the program and purchase tickets here.
