Times are tough for the film festival circuit-- but Turner Classic Movies is getting into the business anyway.
The cable network today announced plans for the TCM Classic Film Festival, a four-day homage to old Hollywood that will take place in the city itself. Films will unspool next year from April 22-25. Bill and Stella Pence, co-founders of Telluride, will serve as advisors.
Passes to the event will be available starting Nov. 18 at tcm.com/festival. They won't be cheap: Prices range from $500 to $1200. (No word on whether popcorn is included.)
More from the press release:
The TCM Classic Film Festival will be a landmark celebration of the history of Hollywood and its movies, presented in a way that only TCM can, with major events, celebrity appearances and screenings of classic movies.
All screenings – more than 50 in all – will include special introductions to provide context about each film.
Robert Osborne, TCM’s primetime host, will be the official host of the festival.
Hollywood and its history will be celebrated throughout the TCM Classic Film Festival. In addition to screening classic films, from newly restored masterpieces to silent classics and undiscovered gems, the festival will tell the story of Hollywood through films, guests and special events throughout the weekend.
TCM will be partnering with Vanity Fair magazine – creator of the Penguin book Vanity Fair’s Tales of Hollywood, edited by Graydon Carter – to bring the book to life. Writers from the magazine, along with actors and filmmakers, will tell behind-the-scenes stories of many of Hollywood’s greatest films.
In addition, the TCM Classic Film Festival will honor the nation’s pre-eminent organization devoted to preserving Hollywood’s legacy, The Film Foundation, which will be celebrating its 20th year of preserving and restoring classic films.
As TCM examines Hollywood’s history, the influence of foreign-language films on American filmmaking also will be explored. The festival will screen important film imports that have had an unquestionable impact on the direction Hollywood has taken.
The festival will involve several venues in a central area of Hollywood, including screenings at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which has a longstanding role in movie history and was the site of the first Oscar ceremony, will be the official hotel for the festival as well as a key venue for festival passholders.