This is a film festival you won't want to miss.

Krystal, showing February 27th (opening night) at 7:15pm.

More than 105,000 attendees will experience the work of internationally renowned and emerging artists and technologists this year at Cinequest Film & VR Festival. Representing a spectrum of genres, genders, ethnicities, orientations, and viewpoints, this year's lineup is not to be missed. The program will include 74 World and 55 U.S. premiering films, starring award winning actors including past Maverick Spirit Award winners William H. Macy, Rosario Dawson and Peter Fonda, as well as Kal Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, James McAvoy, Hilary Swank and Stanley Tucci...just to name a few.

Opening the festival, the unconventional comedy Krystal will screen at the palatial California Theatre, starring Cinequest alum Rosario Dawson in the titular role, and up-and-comer Nick Robinson (Jurassic World, The Kings of Summer) in the lead. The screening will be followed by a fireside chat with the film's director—and past recipient of Cinequest's prestigious Maverick Spirit Award—actor, director William H. Macy (Fargo, Shameless); as well as a conversation with Macy and select cast and crew.

The festival closes with the world premiere of the scintillating documentary, Brothers in Arms. A 'from-the-trenches' look at the making of the 1986 best picture Academy Award winning film, Platoon, the film is directed by Platoon cast member, Paul Sanchez and narrated by Charlie Sheen, with commentary from the stars that this legendary masterwork created, Willem Dafoe and Jonny Depp.

Honoring the careers of icons, legends and risk takers in film, Cinequest will present its coveted Maverick Spirit Award to Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas, Raising Arizona), Andie MacDowell (Sex, Lies & Videotape, Four Weddings and a Funeral), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, Stronger) and Tom Cullen (Downtown Abbey, Black Mirror). Travis Cloyd (director, producer, tech entrepreneur) will receive this year's VR Visionary Award, recognizing his work in immersive entertainment; while the Media Legacy Award will be presented to Ben Mankiewicz—Primetime Host Turner Classic Movies (TCM)—celebrating his incredible life and impact on the industry, as a writer, journalist and co-founder of The Young Turks.

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// See the full program at cinequest.org.