The red carpet will be out as opening night arrives downtown and the San Diego Film Festival prepares to light up the screen at the Gaslamp Theater.
For those new on the set, here’s how it works:
First, decide on your commitment. You can pay $12 to see any single film, but pass holders get priority seating. A day pass ($39-$49) gets you in all movies on a single day, plus that night’s party. A $59 screening pass allows access to all festival movies but no parties. The premium buy is the all-inclusive festival pass ($99), which gets you into everything (even festival attendee William Shatner’s hotel room, if you play your cards right).
What do you wear? Don’t expect to see tuxedos and sequined dresses. This is San Diego. Anything goes (we wear sandals to weddings and funerals).
On Wednesday night, there’s just one opening movie, "Like Dandelion Dust." It stars Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper and Cole Hauser. It's the story of a family with an adopted son whose biological father gets out of jail and wants to reclaim his boy. You might want to bring a hankie. The movie is scheduled to air at 7 p.m., but SDFF executive director Robin Laatz said pass holders and ticket holders should arrive at 6 p.m. There will be a red-carpet entrance set up at the G Street door of the Gaslamp Theater. Laatz confirmed that, along with a couple of the film’s stars, a few Chargers will enter on the red carpet, including SAG-card-carrier Kassim Osgood.
When the movie ends, there will be a 20-minute Q&A with the stars, producers and director of "Like Dandelion Dust." Then it’s a short walk to the opening night party at the Se Hotel’s pool deck. An open bar will feature Patron products.
Ah, show business.
Ron Donoho is a regular contributor to NBCSandiego.com, editorial director of “Pacific SD” magazine and a contributing editor to sandiego.com. His Web site (sandiegoDTOWN.com) is dedicated to news, sports, culture, happy hours and all things downtown.
