After two days of successful panels, press conferences and world premieres, day three of the Mammoth Film Festival proved that attendees were enjoying the weekend of film appreciation to the fullest.
Saturday kicked off with the sought after staple of the Mammoth Film Festival, The Pitch III. The third installment powered by festival title sponsor Marina Studios and Compelling Pictures included CEO and founder of Marina Studios, Marina Cappi and a team of top executives and producers giving the ultimate ‘green light.’ The team not only gave professional feedback to each pitch but gave a lucky filmmaker one full week of studio time, valued at over $45,000! Both Compelling Pictures and Marina Studios are thrilled to be able to make dreams come true with this amazing opportunity while also being able to support filmmakers in their endeavors.
The jam-packed day proceeded with premieres from the narrative short film, short documentary films and the tv episodics categories. Four feature films also had their world premiere including feature film, Who Are You People directed by Ben Epstein and starring Ema Horvath, Devon Sawa and Alyssa Milano. Top model Barbara Palvin made her acting debut as she starred in Serpentine, directed by Eva Dolezalova. “I’m so excited to be here because I’m gonna see myself for the first time on the big screen — It felt kind of new but exciting because it wasn’t about how I look. It wasn’t about looking into the camera, I actually had to avoid the camera which was weird,” Palvin shared. The red carpet quickly began to fill up with stars and fellow filmmakers showing up to support each other. Many actors pushed themselves to take on projects that they didn’t even imagine they would be doing such as actor Ezekiel Goodman from the hit TV series I Know What You Did Last Summer. “I wrote, directed and starred in my short film Peacocking – it was my first short so a lot to juggle, but I did it” Goodman stated.
After an extraordinarily positive day with many attendees of the film festival gushing about the incredible variety of films they were able to watch and enjoy, it was time to celebrate in a big way. Mammoth Film Festival joined forces for the first time with Zouk Group and Resorts World Las Vegas to present the inaugural pop-up nightlife experience at the top California winter-destination, Mammoth Mountain. Attendees at the Vegas-inspired exclusive bash in the snow included Emile Hirsch, Ashley Greene Khoury, Skeet Ulrich, model-turned actress Barbara Palvin and boyfriend, actor Dylan Sprouse, actors Joel David Moore, Shane West, Sabina Gadecki, Jonathan Kite, Chike Okonkwo, Geoff Stults, Holland Roden, Ema Horvath, Joel Michaely, Luke Hemsworth, Katie Cassidy, Milo Gibson, Louie Gibson, Richard Kind, model/host Ashley Haas, Veronika Dash, Maurice Fadida, artist/director, Matt Smiley, X Games star The Dingo, model Oana Gregory, music artist Katie Welch, directors Tyler Atkins, Eva Dolezalova, Scott Monahan and Elias Plagianos, and many, many more.
Zouk Group created an underground nightlife experience at the live music venue, Red Lantern. With the venue’s red lit ambiance and ceiling filled with red lanterns combined with the energized live DJ sets by DJ MisterE and DJ Ruckus, festival guests were in for the ultimate treat. “Something I’m known for is catering to different situations. I’m an open format DJ and I’m just ready to get busy on the turntables and make people dance,” DJ Ruckus said. Guests were able to get down and let loose with beer by Heineken, specialty cocktails by NEFT ultra-premium vodka and JAJA Tequila, plus Calamity Gin, and Brother’s Bond Bourbon, as well as canned wine by Maker, Prosecco byGancia. But of course, PATH Water was the real MVP keeping the crowd hydrated all night long.