Filmex

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Filmex was an annual Los Angeles film festival held in of the seventies and early eighties. It was the predecessor of the American Film Institute's Los Angeles International Film Festival. After the Filmex festival was retired in 1983. the organizers of the festival subsequently created the non-profit American Cinematheque to be a permanent year-round film festival in Los Angeles.

Filmex Timeline

1971

The First Los Angeles International Film Exposition, a.k.a. Filmex, debuts on November 4, at Grauman's Chinese Theatre with the premiere of THE LAST PICTURE SHOW.
Gary Essert is Director, and Gary Abrahams, Associate Director, for the 11-day event.
The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Harold Lloyd Foundation, USC, UCLA, CalArts and the American Film Institute all lend their support to the Festival, which intends to broaden appreciation for the work of "filmmakers from around the world."

1972

YOUNG WINSTON opens Filmex '72 at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
A 24-hour Billy Wilder Marathon is held.
Myrna Loy appears for a Tribute in her honor.
THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE closes Filmex '72, and Luis Bunuel attends his first-ever public screening of one of his films.
Filmex announces it will move to the spring for 1974 in order to generate greater support.

1974

Filmex produces THE MOVIES, a four-hour movie scrapbook for ABC to benefit the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Filmex '74 is held March 28-April 9 at the Paramount Theatre Hollywood.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS is the Opening Night film.

1975

Filmex '75 moves to the Plitt theatres in Century City.

The 14-day Festival opens with the premiere of FUNNY LADY and the Filmex Society Benefit Ball.

Twenty-five nations participate in the Festival, and all five nominees for Best Foreign Language Film are shown.

1976

A BICENTENNIAL EXTRAVAGANZA opens Filmex '76.

Alfred Hitchcock drives up in a Universal tour bus for the premiere of his FAMILY PLOT on Opening Night.

A Tribute to Cuban Cinema is held, which generates controversy.

A Cowboy Film Marathon is held, screening 48 films.

1977

Filmex '77 is dedicated to Roz Russell who had died that year.

A 50-hour Movie Musical Marathon is held.

AFI debuts a special section called AFI Critics Choice.

ANNIE HALL is the Closing Night film.

1978

Filmex announces that in its first seven years, 48 films were acquired for distribution after Festival exposure.

Lillian Gish appears at the screening of BROKEN BLOSSOMS.

In-person Tributes are held for Norman Jewison and Olivia de Havilland.

Filmex '78 salutes Oscar's 50th anniversary with a 50-hour film marathon.

1979

Laurence Olivier makes an emotional appearance on Closing Night with his film A LITTLE ROMANCE.

1980

THE GREAT ROCK AND ROLL SWINDLE plays at Filmex '80.

A Tribute to Paul Robeson is presented.

1981

Filmex '81, the 10th anniversary, is held at nine different locations around Hollywood.

A Special Section called "Treasures from AFI" is presented.

The SCARED TO DEATH 50-hour horror film marathon is held.

Loretta Young is saluted with a Tribute.

1982

EATING RAOUL, THE SECRET POLICEMAN'S OTHER BALL, CHAN IS MISSING, CAT PEOPLE, DAS BOOT, DIVA and COUP DE TORCHON top the list of films screened at Filmex '82.

Natalie Wood is remembered with a Tribute, shortly after her death.

VICTOR/VICTORIA has a splashy premiere.

1983

Several theaters along Wilshire Boulevard are used for Filmex '83.

James Mason is honored with a Tribute.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS closes out the Essert/Abrahams era.

1987

The American Cinematheque is launched in Los Angeles with the declared aim that it will continue the work of Filmex in the context of year-round film programming of classic and new films from around thw world.