Filmex / The Los Angeles International Film Exposition -- a complete set of its catalogues (1971-1985)

Los Angeles: Filmex / The Filmex Society. Very Good+. 1971-1985. First Edition. Softcover. (all 14 catalogues in printed wraps; the first six are staple bound) [overall the set is rated VG+, although with only a few exceptions the condition of individual items is generally Near Fine; the exceptions are 1972 (with some notable wear along the spine), 1974 (with some soiling to the thinner-than-usual paper covers), and 1980 (with some scuffing to the front cover); otherwise, most have picked up only some light handling wear]. (B&W photographs, ads, graphics) A complete set of 14 catalogues, covering the entire lifespan of what was, throughout the Seventies and a bit beyond, a major cultural event for L.A.-based cinephiles, presenting an electic mashup of new international cinema, independent features and shorts, retrospectives, gala premieres, and special programs and tributes. After its first three iterations in Hollywood (twice at Grauman's Chinese, then once across the street at the Paramount (later redubbed the El Capitan, its original name), the festival settled in to what was (in my opinion) its best venue, the Plitt Century Plaza Theatres in Century City. Not only did the Plitt's two screens permit an expansion of the programming repertoire, but the theatre's expansive lobby, the convenient parking, and the outdoor-ish-mall milieu made it an ideal gathering spot. The additional screen also made possible such glories as the 50-Hour Movie Marathon (a continuous screening of classics from a chosen genre: science fiction, westerns, musicals, etc.) that presented an annual challenge to the most hard-core film lovers. (How long could you go without sleep? Could you make it to the restroom and back between "The End" and the beginning of the next film's action? (Remember, these were the days before 15-minute end-credit rolls.) What were your eating and drinking strategies? How best to score a good seat, and hold it throughout the marathon? With apologies to Abe Lincoln, this much-beloved event called upon you to give the last full measure of your devotion to the cinema -- and was a shared-audience experience like no other.) Filmex remained ensconced in its Century City home for six festivals (1975-1980), which were definitely its best years; subsequent presentations, all of which were scattered amongst multiple venues, often miles apart, simply never achieved the same feeling of excitement and/or community, and by the middle of the Eighties Filmex -- by then plagued by political infighting and financial troubles -- was in its death throes, the final rattle being the cancellation of the 1986 festival, announced in January of that year. The festival's co-founder, Gary Essert (who had been ousted in 1983), was by then involved in setting up the American Cinematheque (which has had its own difficulties, but continues today); the annual festival itself was "reborn," after a fashion, in 1987 under the auspices of The American Film Institute, and continues to operate today under the name "AFI Fest" -- but trust me, nobody ever speaks the name "AFI Fest" with the same mixture of warmth, nostalgia, and civic pride that can be evoked by any mention (to film buffs of a certain age) of Filmex. We shall not see its likes again -- but here, in these 14 beautifully-produced catalogues, is a chance for you to revisit its glorious history. ****NOTE that the cumulative weight of these catalogues (generally printed on glossy paper stock) will require additional postage charges for international shipping; if this concerns you, please contact us for a shipping quote before placing your order.**** .