Scarlett Johansson and Kirsten 'Kiwi' Smith will open and attend LA Shorts Fest 09, which will be earlier, this year, from July 23 to July 31, 2009.

LA Shorts Fest '09 will premiere on opening night:
- Golden Globe nominated Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut: THESE VAGABOND SHOES, starring Kevin Bacon, shot in black and white by 'Capote' and 'Lars and the Real Girl' cinematographer, Adam Kimmel,
- THE SPLEENECTOMY, starring Anna Farris by writer and first-time director Kirsten 'Kiwi' Smith, writer of the successful 'The House Bunny', 'Legally Blonde' and 'The Ugly Truth'.
- APOCRYPHA directed by Russian-born writer-director Andrei Zvyagintsev, winner of the Golden Lion at the 2003 Venice Film Festival for 'The Return' . His last film, 'The Banishment', screened in competition at the 60th Cannes Film Festival.

Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Smith will do a Q&A after the screening.
Now in its 13th year, the event will be held at Sunset 5 Laemmle's Theatre, 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048.

LA Shorts Fest honors those individuals who have achieved excellence in short films. As the largest short film festival in the world with more than 300 film screenings and 9 days of educational panels, interactive and entertaining events, the festival has quickly become the industry standard for showcasing and awarding undiscovered talent.

The award categories are: BEST MUSIC VIDEO, BEST CREATIVE COMMERCIAL, BEST DOCUMENTARY, BEST EXPERIMENTAL, BEST ANIMATION, BEST COMEDY, BEST DRAMA, BEST FOREIGN FILM and BEST OF FEST.