Fantastic Fest: Star Kiele Sanchez, Director Ben Ketai & Writer/Author Steve Niles Live in Person

Fantastic Fest: Star Kiele Sanchez

Almost a year since the Alaskan town of Barrow’s population was decimated by vampires during its annual month-long sunset. Riddled with grief over the death of her husband, bound by nightmares and void of all emotions beyond hate and sorrow, Stella (Sanchez) has spent the past months traveling the world, trying to convince others that vampires exist. Met with skepticism and laughter, Stella is ready to throw in the towel when a group of lost souls (Coiro, Baird and Perrineau) offers an incredible opportunity: the chance to exact revenge upon Lilith (Kirshner), the vampire queen responsible for the assault on Stella’s sleepy Alaskan town. With nothing remaining to live for, and nothing left to fear, Stella joins their mission and ventures into the uncharted underbelly of Los Angeles where she pushes herself to the most extreme limits to stop the evil from striking again.

Machete (2010), Jessica Alba, Robert De Niro, Michelle Rodriguez, Lindsay Lohan, Steven Seagal

Machete (Danny Trejo) a renegade former Mexican Federale, roaming the streets of Texas after a shakedown from drug lord Torrez (Steven Seagal). Reluctantly, Machete takes an offer from spin doctor Benz (Jeff Fahey) to assassinate McLaughlin (Robert De Niro) a corrupt Senator. Double crossed and on the run Machete braves the odds with the help of Luz (Michelle Rodriguez), a saucy taco slinger, Padre (Cheech Marin) his “holy” brother, and April (Lindsay Lohan) a socialite with a penchant for guns. All while being tracked by Sartana (Jessica Alba), a sexy ICE agent with a special interest in the blade slinger.

Viva Machete!

THE SANCHEZ FAMILY’S FATHER-DAUGHTER COMPETITION CONTINUES

Arlington Park

OSCAR & KIELE SANCHEZ FAMILY’S  COMPETITION CONTINUES

When visiting her father earlier this summer in the box area at Arlington Park, rising television star Kiele Sanchez was quick to sing the praises of her father Oscar, who serves as defending jockey champion Junior Alvarado’s agent.

“I am super proud of my Dad and I brag about him all the time,” said Kiele during her Arlington visit in early June.  “Actually, we are kind of competitive.  We are always trying to outdo each other.”

However, in August the father-daughter duo have taken their rivalry to a new level.  Oscar Sanchez won the richest race of his career as an agent when he secured the mount for Alvarado aboard Richard Duchossois’ Éclair de Lune, who won the 20th renewal of the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes.  The sister race to the Arlington Million was one of three Grade I races contested during Arlington’s one-day International Festival of Racing Aug. 21.

“Right after the Beverly D, Kiele called me and said, ‘Dad, make sure you get me a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup,’” Oscar said this week.

(As the winner of the Beverly D., Éclair de Lune earned “Win and You’re In” status for the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs Nov. 5.)

Kiele, born in Chicago, began her acting career at Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream, Ill., when she performed in a school production of “The Grapes of Wrath,” but her professional credits now include a period as part of the cast for the ABC show “Lost” as well as a co-starring role in the 2009 movie “A Perfect Getaway.”

Earlier this month, Kiele Sanchez found out that this summer’s new A&E’s series “The Glades,” in which she co-stars, has been picked up for a second season.

Oscar, also born in Chicago, was Arlington’s leading apprentice jockey in the summer of 1971, about six years before Kiele was born.

Fantastic Fest Line-Up, Featured Screening, 30 Days of Night: Dark Days

Fantastic Fest 2010

GALA

Stone (2010)

US Premiere, USA, director: John Curran

Director John Curran and Edward Norton live in attendance.

A seasoned corrections official and a volatile inmate find their lives dangerously intertwined in STONE, a thought-provoking drama directed by John Curran and written by Angus MacLachlan. STONE features powerful performances by Academy Award^® winner Robert De Niro and Oscar^® nominee Edward Norton, and a startlingly raw, breakout performance from Milla Jovovich as the sexy, casually amoral woman they both desire.

As parole officer Jack Mabry (De Niro) counts the days toward a quiet retirement, he is asked to review the case of Gerald “Stone” Creeson (Norton), in prison for covering up the murder of his grandparents with a fire. Now eligible for early release, Stone needs to convince Jack he has reformed, but his attempts to influence the older man’s decision have profound and unexpected consequences for them both. STONE skillfully weaves together the parallel journeys of two men grappling with dark impulses, as the line between lawman and lawbreaker becomes precariously thin. Golden Globe^® winner Frances Conroy completes the superb ensemble as Madylyn, Jack’s devout, long-suffering spouse. Set against the quiet desperation of economically ravaged suburban Detroit and the stifling brutality of a maximum security prison, this tale of passion, betrayal and corruption examines the fractured lives of two volatile men breaking from their troubled pasts to face uncertain futures.

FEATURED SCREENINGS

30 Days of Night: Dark Days (2010)

World Premiere, USA, director: Ben Ketai

Director Ben Ketai, Kiele Sanchez & Steve Niles (co-writer, author) in attendance (schedules permitting).

It’s been almost a year since the Alaskan town of Barrow’s population was decimated by vampires during its annual month-long sunset.  Riddled with grief over the death of her husband, bound by nightmares and void of all emotions beyond hate and sorrow, Stella (Sanchez) has spent the past months traveling the world, trying to convince others that vampires exist.  Met with skepticism and laughter, Stella is ready to throw in the towel when a group of lost souls (Coiro, Baird and Perrineau) offers an incredible opportunity: the chance to exact revenge upon Lilith (Kirshner), the vampire queen responsible for the assault on Stella’s sleepy Alaskan town.  With nothing remaining to live for, and nothing left to fear, Stella joins their mission and ventures into the uncharted underbelly of Los Angeles where she pushes herself to the most extreme limits to stop the evil from striking again.

Carancho (2010)

Regional Premiere, Argentina, director: Pablo Trapero

Ambulance drivers and ambulance chasers, dirty police and corrupt doctors, fraudulent insurance brokers and some truly desperate people are the players in a wildly original and occasionally brutal thriller set on the streets of Buenos Aires. (more…)

30 Days of Night: Dark Days, Blu-ray, Amazon.com, UK

30 Days of Night: Dark Days, Blu-ray, UK

Photo Gallery for ’30 Days of Night: Dark Days’

Soon to be arriving on DVD and Blu-ray October 5th, 2010 from Sony Home Entertainment is 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, the sequel to the live-action Steve Niles adaptation starring Rhys Coiro, Mia Kirshner, Harold Perrineau, Kiele Sanchez, Diora Baird, Rhys Coiro, Monique Ganderton, Marco Sorian, and Katherine Isabelle. Directed by Ben Ketai, some early extra features include: Filmmaker Commentary and a Behind-the-Scenes Featurette. We’ve now got the full image gallery available inside.

“It’s been a year since the Alaskan town of Barrow’s population was decimated by vampires during its annual month long sunset. Riddled with grief over the death of her husband, bound by nightmares and void of all emotions beyond hate and sorrow, Stella (Sanchez) has spent the past months traveling the world, trying to convince others that vampires exist. Met with skepticism and laughter, Stella is ready to throw in the towel when a group of lost souls (Coiro, Baird and Perrineau) offers an incredible opportunity: the chance to exact revenge upon Lilith (Kirshner), the vampire queen responsible for the assault on her sleepy Alaskan town. With nothing remaining to live for, and nothing left to fear, Stella joins their mission and ventures into the uncharted underbelly of Los Angeles where she pushes herself to the most extreme limits to stop the evil from striking again.” (more…)