The Los Angeles Film Festival has set Bong Joon-ho’s “Snowpiercer” as the opening night film on June 11, two weeks before the film’s U.S. release from Radius-TWC. The festival, now in its 20th year, is centered in downtown Los Angeles at L.A. Live and its Regal Cinemas.
The sci-fi action film, starring Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris and Song Kang-ho, depicts a peasant revolt on a massive “Snowpiercer” train — the last bastion of humanity in an icy futuristic world after an experiment to combat global warming causes an ice age that kills nearly all life on Earth.
“‘Snowpiercer’ is a wild ride and a spectacular way to open the 20th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Film Festival which is dedicated to the visionary spirit of L.A. that inspires artists around the world,” said Stephanie Allain, festival director.
The festival, which runs from June 11 to 21, will screen nearly 200 films. Pedro Almadovar’s “I’m So Excited” opened last year’s festival. “Snowpiercer” has grossed $60 million at the South Korean box office.
“As fans of ‘The Host’ and ‘Mother’ know, Bong takes popular genres to a visionary new level,” said David Ansen, artistic director of the festival. “Here he puts us on a speeding train in a frozen post-apocalyptic future — in the company of Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Song Kang-ho, Ed Harris, Octavia Spencer, Jamie Bell and John Hurt — and treats us to a wild, funny and darkly provocative ride.”
Film Independent members can begin buying festival tickets on April 8. Passes will be available to the general public on April 22.
