Shhhh. CineVegas passes go on secret sale

As far as regular folks are concerned, passes and packages for the 11th CineVegas Film Festival go on sale Wednesday, April 15 and run from $100 for the Wildcard package to the $500 Royal Flush Pass. Little do they know.

Friends of the festival are getting a first crack at the tickets and a 10 percent discount during CineVegas’ Secret Sale, which started this week and goes right up until the passes go full price on April 15. And here’s the really good news: If you’re reading LasVegasWeekly.com not only are you in on the dirt, but that sale applies to you. Congratulations, you’re now friends with a film festival. Feels classy, eh?

Steve Buscemi as John in Saint John of Las Vegas, the film that will open the 11th Annual CineVegas Film Festival on June 10.

Held from June 10-15 primarily at the Palms Casino Resort and Brenden Theatres, CineVegas 2009 will kick off on June 10 at Planet Hollywood with the world premiere of Saint John of Las Vegas, a Hue Rhodes film staring Steve Buscemi as an ex-gambler turned fraud investigator who returns to Las Vegas to investigate a claim by a wheelchair-bound stripper.

Over the following five days world premieres staring everyone from Dylan McDermott to James Caan to Entourage’s Emmanuelle Chriqui will screen alongside documentaries, short films and locally produced features selected by the CineVegas staff from the heaps of submissions.

In addition to the full lineup of indie film and Q&A panels with directors following screenings, the festival includes extra-curriculars like afternoon happy hours in the CineVegas Headquarters (CVHQ) at the Palms and lavish parties where filmmakers mingle with fans into the wee hours of the morning.

Buy one of the ticket packages and you’re well on your way to rubbing elbows with Hollywood up and comers and fellow film fans. The Wildcard Ticket Package, on secret sale for $90, includes 12 films (except red carpet premieres), entry to four official parties (not including opening night) and access to the CVHQ for happy hours throughout the week; the Locals Package, available with valid Nevada I.D., clocks in at $135 with the discount and offers four additional films, a ticket to the opening night premiere and following party and passes to all the official parties and happy hours. If you’re not local, that package will run you $225 with the discount. And for the ultimate film junkie the Royal Flush pass offers the VIP experience with entrance to all films with no tickets required and reserved seating, 10 film ticket vouchers for your plus one or that sexy aspiring filmmaker you chatted up during happy hour, all official parties and two tickets for the Saint John of Las Vegas world premiere and the swank party to follow. It all adds up to $450, a $50 discount from the Joe Shmoe price of $500 even.

Clearly, being in on the secret has its perks. Just don’t tell; it’s a secret after all.

To purchase your secret sale passes and packages before they go full price, click here.