Date: October 26, 2007

Time: 7-9 PM

Place: Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles County, California

Sponsors: American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California and PEN USA

Contact: Celeste Durant, ACLUF/SC: 213-977-5252 (direct)

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and Cannes are now the two most important film festivals in the world. Big new movies premier at both and big stars show up at both. For example, Brad Pitt's new film, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, is premiering at TIFF. Mr. Pitt is expected to show. (For more on this film, and the novel from which the film is made, see this month's "Commentary.") Juliette Binoche, Michael Douglas, Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Sean Penn, Charlise Theron, and former US president Jimmy Carter are among those expected to attend TIFF. 

2007 marks the 10th year of the United Nations Association Film Festival. The UNAFF states that the festival "promotes documentary filmmaking as a tool for social and political understanding and…facilitates community participation in effecting international change".  

The main festival will be held October 24-28 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.  The theme is "Camera as Witness".  A "traveling festival" will also be held at locations around the world.