Last week’s tropical storm Lidia hit Los Cabos hard, but cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are quickly 
getting back to their beautiful selves, and readying for what is expected to be a banner autumn season for high-profile events.
Sammy Hagar will welcome a host of rock star friends for his annual birthday bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina in early October, and the guest list will be even more star-studded than usual, since believe it or not, this is the 70th birthday celebration for the former Van Halen frontman. And of course Bisbee’s Black & Blue and Los Cabos Offshore tournaments, the former affectionately referred to as “the Super Bowl of Sport Fishing, return later in October to continue their tradition of turning fishermen into millionaires.
But when it comes to big names, star appeal and glamor, nothing tops the annual Los Cabos International Film Festival. The 6th edition is slated for November 8 – 12, and as always will provide a glitzy showcase for the area, featuring everything from red carpet premieres and VIP soirees to screenings of dozens of high-quality films competing for prizes and awards.
High quality films are well and good, but the first question most people ask is who are the movie stars attending this year? In past years, cinematic luminaries like Edward Norton, Reese Witherspoon, Matt Dillon, Monica Bellucci, Virginia Madsen, Oliver Stone, Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor have attended, and the latter two actually engaged in a playful “light saber” battle at El Pabellon Cultural de la Republica (the Cabo San Lucas cultural center that hosts red carpet premieres), reprising their roles from the legendary Star Wars saga.
And those are only the stars most familiar to English speaking audience. Stars of stage, screen and small screen in Mexico have also showed out in droves, and are in fact the biggest hit with the locals who line the red carpet railing with paparazzi and national and international media. Eiza Gonzalez is the biggest name to confirm so far. The Mexican born actress won raves for her work on From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, and is now working with legendary filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, the director of classics like Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Forrest Gump and Polar Express.
But bigger names are sure to confirm in coming weeks.
This edition is also expected to have a slightly different feel, since former festival director Alonso Aguilar Castillo has handed over the reins to Hugo Villa Smythe. Smythe is the current General Director of Mexico City’s Film Commission – an important national position – and thus his commitment to the LCIFF confirms its status as the premiere festival in Mexico, and one of the most important and influential in the hemisphere.
Under Smythe’s guidance, three new prizes will be awarded this year, adding to a list that already includes more honors than any festival in Latin America. Winners for contemporary films and those honored for career achievements will receive La Ballena de Los Cabos, a whale-shaped, gold or silver gilded award that was unveiled last year.
For more information on tickets, screenings, events and attendees, visit www.cabosfilmfestival.com.
For information about vacation rentals, including luxury villas, in Los Cabos during the film festival,
Call Us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.
Photo courtesy of Los Cabos International Film Festival.
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