Bicycle Film Festival Rolls into Los Angeles

After five successful years in New York and San Francisco, the Bicycle Film Festival is converging on Hollywood's Vine Theater (6321 Hollywood Blvd) on June 24 and June 25. 
Every year the Bicycle Film Festival showcases a different selection of films in an all out celebration of bicycle culture. Each film sheds light on the darkest corners of bicycling, from the intense psychological training for a championship road race “PRO” to one bike gang’s assault on their two-wheeled friends “Bike Kill”.  A fervor is brewing for bike culture in global urban centers (even in car-centric LA) much like that for surfing and skateboarding over a decade ago. The films in the festival reflect the unadulterated passion cyclists have for their rides. Free valet bike parking will be provided by the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition during the screenings. 

The program reflects the diversity of bicycling, from urban bikers to road racing to BMXers to the Critical Mass bike ride.  In addition to a fresh roster of film shorts and animation, we are bringing a number of films to LA for the first time. In 2002, 800 bikers raced all night from the Bronx to Coney Island in an epic recreation of the 70s cult gang flick “The Warriors”.  “The Warriors: The Bike Ride” has sold out EVERY screening in New York and San Francisco. “Still We Ride” chronicles the Critical Mass bike ride during last summer’s Republican National Convention in which hundreds of bicyclists were arrested. Many cyclists see the incident as the touchstone for the NYPD’s growing hostility towards bikers.  The BFF is presenting the documentary “PRO” which follows the American stars of road racing as they prepare for the US Pro Championships in Philadelphia. Director and former Pro rider Jamie Paolinetti will be conducting a Q&A following the screening.  Up and coming director Mike Mills takes us into the lives of six newspaper delivery boys in the Midwest in “Paperboys”.  His current film “Thumbsucker” with Keanu Reeves will be released this summer.  View the full program at www.bicyclefilmfestival.com.

 The Vine Theater is located at 6321 Hollywood Boulevard near Vine St. To purchase presale tickets for $8.00, visit www.bicyclefilmfestival.com.  Tickets can be purchased from the Vine Theater box office day of show only. Ticket price includes admission to that evening’s parties.

 The Bicycle Film Festival is the brainchild of Brendt Barbur. In 2000, a car door pushed Barbur and his bike into the path of a New York City bus. His accident was far from unusual for urban riders. In effort to put a positive spin on his crash, Barbur founded the BFF to bring attention to the plight of bicyclists everywhere. The BFF debuted in NYC in 2001 and has been gaining momentum ever since. 

The BFF is the culmination of a growing fervor for bike culture.  Superstars in the field like Lucas Brunelle and NYC über-messenger Squid—while currently unknown in the mainstream—are pioneering urban cycling for bike enthusiasts world wide.  This year's New York festival was the most successful yet with nearly every program selling out during the four-day event. Following the LA festival, the BFF moves on to three more cities: London (Aug. 25-27), San Francisco (Oct. 6-8) and Tokyo (Nov. 4-5). This year’s sponsors include Puma, Red Bull, Vexed Generation, Loomstate and Track Star.

For further information, please contact Renee Tsao, Associate Director, at (212)414-1992 or renee@bicyclefilmfestival.com.

Daily Peloton hot picks for the festival are Jaime Paolinetti's PRO and Pure Sweet Hell