Spike Jonze set to visit deadCenter

American director Spike Jonze smiles during a press conference at the 53rd Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin, Germany Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003. He presened his film "Adaptation" with Nicolas Cage. 22 movies take part in the competition for the Golden Bears awards until Feb. 16. (AP Photo/Sven Kaestner)

Oscar nominated director Spike Jonze will attend the 10th annual deadCenter Film Festival kickoff party Wednesday in downtown Oklahoma City’s Automoblie Alley at the redCenter Lounge.

“Babel” star Rinko Kikuchi and Oklahoma native BMX star Mat Hoffman will join Jonze at Red Prime Steak, 504 N Broadway Ave., from 7 to 9 p.m.

Admission to the steak house is not included with deadCenter passes. Tickets for the party are $100 and can be purchased online at www.deadcenterfilm.org.

“Spike Jonze is, hands down, one of the biggest, most respected names in filmmaking today, and Rinko Kikuchi is one of the industry’s true rising stars. ‘redCENTER Lounge’ just went from one hot ticket to an absolute must-attend event,” said Cacky Poarch, deadCENTER executive director.

Jonze was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000 for directing the indie hit “Being John Malkovich” and his 2002 film “Adaptation” received four Oscar nods. His most recent directing and writing effort was 2009′s “Where the Wild Things Are.” He produced the Mat Hoffman documentary “The Birth of Big Air” which is having its Oklahoma premiere Wednesday at 9:30 p.m.

Kikuchi’s earned a Best Supporting Actress nod for her role in the 2007 film “Babel.”

The 10th annual deadCENTER Film Festival will take place June 9-13 at seven locations in downtown Oklahoma City.

- Poppe