Los Cabos has always been a favored vacation haunt of Hollywood movie stars and celebrities, dating 
back over 50 years to the days when John Wayne and Bing Crosby would fly into the tiny airstrip in Santiago to go white-winged dove hunting. In more recent years, however, the attractions have shifted from doves to the beautiful beaches, pampering amenities, and the privacy and luxury of ocean view villas.
The stars continue to visit Los Cabos regularly in 2019–from superstar athletes to A-list actors–but only rarely do they do so to work.
The Brad Pitt sword and sandal epic Troy in 2004 was the last major movie to use Cabo San Lucas as a primary filming location. The only work opportunity now is the Los Cabos Film Festival, which since 2012 has been drawing iconic stars of the silver screen to premiere new work or accept lifetime achievement awards. Acclaimed actor and two-time Academy Award winner Robert De Niro, for example, will appear at the 2019 LCFF in conjunction with the Latin American premiere of Martin Scorsese’s new epic The Irishman, which also stars Oscar winners Al Pacino and Joe Pesci.
De Niro isn’t the first big-name star to walk the red carpet at the Pabellon Cultural de la Republica in Cabo San Lucas, where the festival holds it opening events and major premieres. In the seven years since it began, the festival has welcomed Edward Norton, Matt Dillon, Reese Witherspoon, Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Dennis Quaid, Oliver Stone and Nicole Kidman, among other notable actors and directors.
This year’s version, the 8th annual Los Cabos Film Festival, will be held Nov. 13 to 17, and will once again spotlight programs aimed at bringing together the North American film industries of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Much of the festival is dedicated to behind the scenes meetings, but of course for non-industry types who wish to attend the highlights will be the nightly premieres, which are presented by people like De Niro who are involved as actors or directors with the chosen films.
There’s no doubt that Scorsese’s The Irishman is the most anticipated premiere this year. Not only does De Niro’s scheduled appearance in Los Cabos stir interest, the film itself has been heavily anticipated for years; not only because it brings together an iconic director and all-star cast famed for their gangster roles, but because the film itself explores the intersection of organized crime with American politics. Former labor leader Jimmy Hoffa is one of several real life figures portrayed in the film.
The Irishman has also garnered substantial advance interest due to a pioneering new process Scorsese used in the film, which allows him to “youth-ify” his actors digitally so that their characters can be shown at different times of their life.
Those wishing to attend red carpet events, parties and premieres at the Los Cabos Film Festival can do so with VIP passes, available for purchase. Individual tickets can also be purchased for the dozens of films which will be screened at Cinemex Theaters at Puerto Paraiso, the shopping center which overlooks the Cabo San Lucas Marina. These tickets are no more expensive than normal movie tickets, but allow residents and visitors to see some of the most exciting new films in both English and Spanish.
Not everyone who attends the festival will see stars in person, in other words, but anyone who wants to can see them up on the screen in area theaters.
For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.
Photo credit: Los Cabos Film Festival
Upcoming Events Calendar
October
Sammy Hagar Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina – Oct. 9, 11, 13
Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 13 – 17
Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Tournament – Oct. 17 – 20
Traditional Fiestas in Cabo San Lucas – Oct. 17 – 20
San Jose del Cabo Restaurant Week – Oct. 19 – 26
Bisbee’s Black & Blue Tournament – Oct. 22 – 26
Los Cabos Tattoo Fest – Oct. 25 – 27
Van Wormer Resort Tuna Shoot Out – Oct. 26
Halloween – Oct 31
November
Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Nov. 1 – 2
Pelagic Rock Star Tuna Tournament – Nov. 1 – 3
Ironman Los Cabos 70.3 Half-Triathlon – Nov. 3
21st WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 6 – 9
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28
Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 13 – 17
52nd Annual Baja 1000 – Nov. 19 – 24
Sabor a Cabo International Food & Wine Festival – Nov. 30
December
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26
Dressed to the K9s Charity Gala – Date Not Yet Announced
Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12
Official Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15
Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24
Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25
Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31
January
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 12 – 16
Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 15 – 19
February
Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 1 – 8
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27
Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 7 – 9
San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend – Dates Not Yet Announced
Rock Fest in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 15
21st Annual Baja Hog Rally – Dates Not Yet Announced
Carnaval in La Paz – Feb. 20 – 25
March
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26
Baja Shakespeare Festival – Mar. 6 – 8, 11 – 14
East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15
Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced
El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced
Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Dates Not Yet Announced
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