San Diego audiences will be one of the first to see “Wild.” The film starring Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern will open the 13th annual San Diego Film Festival on Sept. 24, organizers announced Wednesday. The five-day festival will feature more than 100 movies, shorts and documentaries.
“Wild” is about one woman’s 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent catastrophe. The film is set to open in theaters Dec. 5.
In recent years, festival goers have been able to screen highly anticipated movies before their national release date. Last year’s opening film, “12 Years a Slave,” went on to win the Academy Awards for Best Picture.
“The San Diego Film Festival is the region’s premier event for the best global and national independent films. For many notable films, it is one of the first stops on the independent film festival circuit — consider it a sneak peek for anyone who loves to go to the movies.” said chairman and CEO Dale Strack, whose team began running the Festival in 2012. “It is also a great opportunity to highlight San Diego County’s diverse cultural landscape and arts community.”
On Sept. 23, the day before the festival opens, the San Diego Film Festival will also be hosting the world premiere of “Chelsea’s Light,” a documentary about Chelsea King, the Rancho Bernardo teenager who was raped and murdered by John Gardner, a convicted sexual predator while on a run. The movie, written by King’s brother, Tyler, is about the grieving process after his sister’s disappearance and raising awareness about sexual predators. Tyler King is now 16, the same age as his sister when she was killed.
The festival will close with “You’re Not You,” about a classical pianist suffering from ALS, starring Hilary Swank, Emmy Rossum and Josh Duhamel. Duhamel is expected to be in attendance for the screening on Sept. 27.
Screenings will be held at the Reading Theater in the Gaslamp Quarter and ArcLight Cinemas in University Town Center. The complete list of 2014 San Diego Film Festival titles and passes are available at www.sdfilmfest.com.
