a part of all of that. Some of the earliest films were made at The Del. I used to walk
our sidewalks and imagine Rudolph Valentino, Frank Capra, Mary Pickford, Charlie
Chaplin, Errol Flynn and so many more of the old greats walking there before me. Our
beaches and weather and glorious natural light were irresistible and The Del became
Hollywood’s home away from home. Today, Coronado’s proximity to Hollywood–so close
and yet so far away–makes us the ideal destination festival. So I think we were just an
idea whose time had come.
Coronado Island
Film Festival 2018
Highlights
• 95 movies and panels
• 5 studio film pre-releases
Tell us about your history with Hollywood.
including opening night screening
of Green Book starring Viggo
I was a busy working actor for many years, burning up the freeway to L.A. and back
Mortensen and Mahershala Ali,
several days a week for auditions, classes, callbacks and filming. I began doing theatre
directed by Peter Farrelly
at a very early age as a dancer and musical comedy was pure magic to me. After
studying acting seriously in the early 70s, I did film and TV, and a ton of commercials.
•
Screening of documentary
My kids started doing commercials too, and those residuals sure came in handy when Studio 54, Room directed by
they were at UCLA. Now, two of them – Terry Curtin and Larry Baldauf – are successful Matt Tyrnauer, an award-winning
marketing executives in Hollywood, and have worked at studios like Fox Searchlight and journalist for Vanity Fair
DreamWorks Animation. My daughter Corinne Lynch is in publishing and her husband
Todd is a filmmaker, who works with us putting the video clips together for our festival’s
•
Leonard Maltin’s Celebrity Tribute
gala at Hotel del Coronado, which
Celebrity Tribute and awards ceremonies. This festival is actually a family affair, which is
included awards to actor Jacob
so much fun for me.
Tremblay (Room), screenwriter
Stephen Chbosky (Wonder,
Perks of Being a Wallflower), and
What was the highlight of the 2018 festival?
costume designer Betsy Heimann
(Green Book)
It’s hard to pick one highlight. I think the pure energy of the people—twice as many as
last year—and the variety of films, panels, performances, and, of course, the spectacular
parties, all combined, made it the very best yet. We had a super board and staff this year
•
Chris Lemmon, son of Some
with over 200 volunteers. Every visiting filmmaker and celebrity commented about how
Like It Hot star Jack Lemmon
welcome they felt here, and how helpful and gracious our volunteers were. The beauty of
for Coronado High School arts
this is how our community has embraced this festival and taken on a very special “host
students
role.” But I think my favorite time will always be bundling up in my Adirondack chair by the
bonfire on closing night, watching Some Like It Hot on the very beach where it was filmed
Behind-the-Scenes Lunch with
•
Culinary Cinema showcasing
60 years ago! To have my own family next to me and Jack Lemmon’s grandchildren right documentary films about food and
in front of me—all of us laughing uproariously—made it especially great this year. The small bites by acclaimed chefs
Lemmons have become like family to our festival. We adore them.
•
Closing Night screening of The
Favourite starring Emma Stone,
Rachel Weisz and Olivia Colman
Why should people attend CIFF 2019?
What better way to spend Veterans Day weekend than in Coronado with so much to do?
It’s four jam-packed days you’ll never forget.
•
Celebrating the 60th Anniversary
of Some Like It Hot with a closing
night screening on the beach at
Hotel del Coronado
619.522.8100 | HOTELDEL.COM 9