August 6, 1999
The Cox Communications Film Festival enters its 1999 season celebrating the 10th anniversary of the open air theater that has become a tradition for families throughout San Diego.
Created at the Sunset Cinema Film Festival by Andy Friedenberg Productions with Anberg Corporation's artistic director, Jon Rubin, the annual event has evolved into the Cox Communications Film Festival. It continues to provide summer entertainment by screening award-winning movies and box office hits in idyllic park settings beginning Aug. 11.
Since it began in 1990, the festival has grown from four movies in three cities to 16 movies in eight cities. The first film was "Bathing Beauty," whose star Esther Williams joined Entertainment Tonight's Leonard Maltin and a crowd of about 200. This year, 2,000 people are expected to attend the festival each evening.
Friedenberg says there have been some memorable moments during the festival, such as screening "Apollo 13" under the stars, and watching "Field of Dreams" on a baseball diamond. But, his favorite moment occurred in Chula Vista where "Jaws" was showing.
"This truck pulled up, and these guys got our carrying a sofa," recalled Friedenberg. "I asked them what they were doing and they said "Jaws" is our favorite movie and we just want to be comfortable."
This year's movies include "Patch
Adams," "The Ru-grats Movie," and "Star
Trek Insurrection," as well as such classics as "The
Wizard of Oz" and "Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid." The critically-acclaimed "October
Sky" and "Shall We Dance?" a Japanese
film with English Subtitled, are also in the 1999 schedule.
For the first time, the Cox Communications Film Festival will head to La Mesa when it screens "Ghost" starring Whoopie Golberg, Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in La Mesita Park on Aug. 22.
The local radio stations will take part in the festival's nightly pre-activities which begin at 6 p.m. and include giveaways, contests, and music. A cartoon short will be shown prior to the featured movie, which begins at 8 p.m.
Families are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnic baskets to enjoy the festival's films, which are rated "G" or "PG."
Film Festival 1999 Schedule
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