According to the in70mm.com web site, Laemmle's Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles, California, will be holding a festival featuring all 70mm films to celebrate Laemmle's 70th anniversary.

"70/70: A Series of 70mm Films Celebrating Laemmle's 70th Anniversary" will be held from December 19, 2008 through December 23, 2008, and will feature themed collections of movies each day. Filmmaker James Cameron, actor Bill Paxton, and others will be there in person and will participate in Q&A sessions after the screenings on 12/20.

According to the Laemmle web site (click the Read link below), here is the schedule for the festival:

December 19, 2008 ~ A Little English

Benefitting the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic

• THE REMAINS OF THE DAY (1993)
• TOMMY (1975)
• PINK FLOYD: THE WALL (1982)

December 20, 2008 ~ James Cameron Day

Benefitting the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Diabetes Association

• THE ABYSS (1989) ~ post-screening Q&A with James Cameron and Bill Paxton
• TITANIC (1997) ~ post-screening Q&A with James Cameron, Bill Paxton, Bernard Fox and Karen Zumsteg
• ALIENS (1986) ~ post-screening Q&A with James Cameron and Bill Paxton

December 21, 2008 ~ Family Day

Benefiting the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Diabetes Association

• RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
• GREMLINS (1984)
• INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989)
• THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987)

December 22, 2008 ~ Outer Space Day

Benefitting AIDS Walk L.A.

• STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982)
• ALIEN (1979)

December 23, 2008 ~ The Crew is in Trouble Day

Benefitting AIDS Walk L.A.

• 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
• THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990)

An event like this has me checking on the cost of plane tickets to Los Angeles for those dates! While I could personally skip the first day, I would certainly be up for the remaining four days without any trouble whatsoever.

Perhaps the one consolation is that most of these movies were originated in 35mm, and any 70mm presentation is what's called a "blow-up," where 70mm prints are made from the 35mm sources. Movies filmed in 70mm are going to showcase the format much better, but such movies are few and far between.

That said, there's a good chance that much care has been taken in that transfer and in many cases, a 6-channel soundtrack was created for the original 70mm release. That should make for a superior picture and sound experience. I guess my memories of seeing Ben Hur and Far and Away in 70mm so many years ago makes me yearn for high quality presentations again!

If you are a fan of movies and you have the ability to get to this event, please let me know how it is so I can live vicariously through you!