FILM INDEPENDENT HONORS CURTIS HANSON AS GUEST DIRECTOR FOR THE 2007 LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL — PHARRELL WILLIAMS TO SERVE AS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE  –

LOS ANGELES, CA (rushprnews) May 25, 2007)– Film Independent announced today that Curtis Hanson will serve as the Guest Director for the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival, which runs in WestwoodVillage from Thursday, June 21 through Sunday, July 1.

As Guest Director, Hanson has programmed a special sidebar of films for the Festival that have inspired his work: John Ford’s
“The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” and Samuel Fuller’s “The Naked Kiss.” The screening ofFord’s “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” will be followed by a Q&A with Hanson.

 In addition, Hanson will attend the two-day Festival retreat hosted at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County,California.

The Festival also announced that Grammy-winning record producer Pharrell Williams will
serve as this year’s Artist in Residence. In his role as Artist in Residence for the 2007 Los AngelesFilm Festival, Pharrell has programmed a sidebar of films that have inspired his work: “National Lampoons’ Vacation” and Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Pharrell will also participate in a Festival conversation with Elvis Mitchell on Saturday, June 23 at 8:00 p.m. atthe Hammer Museum. This free event, presented in cooperation with the Hammer Museum, is open to the public.

“We’re so excited to have Curtis Hanson as Guest Director and Pharrell Williams as Artist in
Residence at this year’s Festival,” said Rich Raddon, Festival Director. “Curtis Hanson is a world-
class filmmaker with a tremendous body of work and Pharrell Williams is a creative force in themusic industry. We are proud to honor them at this year’s Festival.”

Curtis Hanson (Director/Writer/Producer) previously directed, co-wrote and produced thecrime drama “L.A. Confidential,” which was one of the most honored films of 1997. The film
received nine Academy Award nominations, including three for Hanson in the categories of BestDirector, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, the last of which he won. “L.A. Confidential”
2007 LAFF Announces Guest Director & Artist in Residence

also brought Hanson a Directors Guild of America Award nomination; two Golden Globe
nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay; the Writers Guild of America Award for BestAdapted Screenplay; two BAFTA Award nominations for Best Film and Best Screenplay; andnumerous critics groups’ awards for both Best Director and Best Screenplay.

Hanson more recently directed and produced “Lucky You,” “In Her Shoes,”
“Wonder Boys,” and “8 Mile.” The latter two films won Oscars for Best Original Song, Bob Dylan’s“Things Have Changed,” and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”

Hanson’s other directing credits include “The River Wild,” “The Hand That Rocks theCradle,” “Bad Influence,” and “The Bedroom Window,” which he also wrote. A noted championof film preservation, Hanson has served as the Chairman of the UCLA Film and Television Archivesince 1999. He was the first recipient of the Film Preservation Award bestowed by theFilm Foundation and the Directors Guild of America in 2003.

Pharrell Williams is half of the beat-making duo The Neptunes. He stormed the main stage,
lending his voice to create infectious choruses and stealing scenes in the music videos of clientswho are pop and hip hop’s brightest lights: Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears,
Usher, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey and Ludacris. All the hard work won Williams and his
Neptunes partner Chad Hugo a Grammy of their own — the 2003 Producer of the Year, Non-
Classical award.

Williams is not only a producer, however. He’s also a rock star. With Hugo and childhoodfriend Shae Thornton, he formed the alternative rock trio N.E.R.D. and proceeded to release twoplatinum albums. His résumé doesn’t end there. Williams released a solo single, “Frontin’,” on a2003 Neptunes compilation, and in 2006 released his long-anticipated solo debut, with his album InMy Mind to be released on Interscope-distributed Star Trak Records.

Past Guest Directors have included Alfonso Cuaron, Chen Kaige, Mira Nair, Sydney Pollack,
and George Lucas. Past Artists in Residence have included The RZA, Neil Young, and Danger
Mouse. The Festival is proud to add Curtis Hanson and Pharrell Williams to this list of immenselytalented and deserving artists.

ABOUT THE 2007 LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL

Westwood Village is home to Film Independent’s Los Angeles Film Festival, which runsfrom Thursday, June 21 – Sunday, July 1. Festival-goers will experience the best of American andinternational cinema, enjoying more than 230 feature films, shorts, and music videos, as well asCoffee Talks, Poolside Chats, and other special star-studded events. Westwood Village willshowcase films and events among various venues, all within walking distance of each other, withample, convenient parking and easy access to shopping and dining, setting the stage for the biggestFestival yet.

Over the course of 10 days and 11 nights, the public is invited to take advantage of worldpremieres including both 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: Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum;
the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse; Mann Festival Theatre; Mann VillageTheatre; Mann Bruin Theatre; Landmark’s Regent Theatre; Italian Cultural Institute; the MajesticCrest Theatre; W Los Angeles – Westwood; the Wadsworth Theatre; and the Festival Promenade
on Broxton Avenue. Additional offsite event screenings will take place at the John Anson FordAmphitheatre, Grand Performances at California Plaza, and the Landmark at its new location atthe Westside Pavilion.

The Los Angeles Times Ticket and Pass Pavilion – where all festival-goers can purchasetickets and passes to Festival screenings starting Saturday, June 16 – will be located at 1031 BroxtonAvenue (at Weyburn). The Target Red Room – filmmaker and press lounge – will be located at
1028 Westwood Boulevard.

The Los Angeles Film Festival is presented by the Los Angeles Times and is supported by
Premier Sponsors – Target, Pop Secret®, and Axium International – and by Principal Sponsors –
2007 LAFF Announces Guest Director & Artist in Residence

Eastman Kodak Company, IFC, and OPEN from American Express®. Promotional support is
provided by Schawk. Special support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and theAcademy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. American Airlines is
the Official Airline Partner and WireImage is the Official Photography Agency of FilmIndependent. The W Hotel – Westwood and the Hotel Angeleno are the official hotel partners of
the Festival.

For event information and tickets, call 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit
LAFilmFest.com. Passes are available beginning May 17. Individual tickets go on sale June 8.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

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

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to anetwork of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independentalso offers free Filmmaker Labs for selected writers, directors, and producers; provides cut-rateservices for filmmakers; and presents year-round networking opportunities. Film Independent’smentorship and job placement program, Project:Involve, pairs emerging culturally-diversefilmmakers with film industry professionals.

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

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

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For media inquiries regarding the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival, please contact Julie Siegel orChandan Kaur at 310.432.1200. For more information about the Festival and to view the
complete film line-up, please visit LAFilmFest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE CONTACT:
National & trade media outlets: MPRM (323.933.3399)

Ariana Nash (ANash@mPRm.com)
All other media outlets: Julie Siegel

(310.432.1287 or JSiegel@FilmIndependent.org)
Media accreditation: Chandan Kaur

(310.432.1213 or Publicity@FilmIndependent.org)