By Rob Lowman > Staff Writer

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Trevor Groth, artistic director for the CineVegas Film Festival, is glad he's gotten "smart" - as in "Get Smart" - but hitting the jackpot with some interesting indie films for the festival gets him animated.

"What I'm really excited about is the premiere of the American independent films, which has really been the driving force of the festival since I've been doing it," said Groth, who has been artistic director since 2002 for a festival that is centered at the Palms Resort.

One of the films that is among these "Jackpot Premieres" is "Big Heart City," by CalArts alumnus Ben Rodkin, about a gambling addict trying to pick up the pieces after the unexplained disappearance of his pregnant girlfriend.

It's a "real character-driven piece about this down-and-out guy," said Groth, who added that Rodkin "shows he's really got the chops."

Another Jackpot Premiere, "Your Name Here," stars Bill Pullman in a sci-fi dream from director Matthew Wilder. Groth calls it a "hallucinogenic film inspired by the writing of Philip K. Dick ... it's really fun and bizarre and should really play well in Las Vegas, because Vegas is such a trippy place."

Back this year is "La Proxima Ola," which highlights films from first- and second-time Mexican filmmakers. "It's an interesting group of films that shows the promise and potential of what's coming out of Mexico today," Groth said.

Now a permanent section of the festival, it includes "Deficit," actor Gael Garcia Bernal's directing debut. The movie follows complex characters at a house party just outside Mexico City.

"Gael's been around for a number of years in front of the camera and does a great job," Groth said. "It's a stylish film (that) works all these political undercurrents just below the surface. And he does it in a really smart way and pulls it off magnificently."

Another film, "Ano Uno," is from Jonas Cuaron, son of Alfonso Cuaron ("Children of Men"). It's a series of still images, but Jonas pulls it off perfectly, Groth said. "As you watch this film, you sort of lose yourself in the images ... and it ends up being an emotional journey. Compelling images and smart dialogue overlay the images."

On June 16, an animation piece by renowned international artist Takashi Murakami will be featured at Wynn Las Vegas for one night only. "Planting the Seeds" will be shown on the Lake of Dreams, the resort's outdoor waterfall venue. (A retrospective featuring Murakami's work was just exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.)

There are also foreign films, such "The Last Mistress" from provocative French director Catherine Breillat. It is about a 19th-century love affair between a tempestuous Spanish mistress and a distinguished, well-bred Frenchman, and stars Asia Argento, whom Groth describes as "very daring in what she does, as you would expect from her."

Documentaries include "Chelsea on the Rocks," director Abel Ferrara's portrait of New York's legendary Chelsea Hotel, and "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson," from director Alex Gibney.

There will also be a gala charity event for the showing of "Get Smart" at the Planet Hollywood; the opening night of "The Rocker," with Rainn Wilson as a failed '80s drummer who joins his nephew's high-school rock band 20 years after being kicked out of his own band; and the closing-night screening of "The Great Buck Howard," about a law-school dropout (Colin Hanks) who becomes a personal assistant to a has-been magician (John Malkovich) in need of a pretty big trick to get him out of his slump.

A number of actors will be honored - Don Cheadle, Vigo Mortensen, Rosario Dawson and Sam Rockwell - and they will be around to do question-and-answer sessions with the public.

One night the festival is even hitting the streets of the old part of the Strip, with an outdoor drive-in-style screening of "Them," the '50s sci-fi film about giant ants.

"We're going to let people drive their cars up to this one area and have girls on roller skates serving snacks; really embrace the era," Groth said.

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WANT TO GO?

CINEVEGAS: June 12–21 at the Palms Casino Resort and the Brenden Theatres, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. Information: cinevegas.com, palms.com or (888) 883-4278. Tickets begin at $10 for an individual screening. CineVegas is offering a number of travel-festival packages at the Palms.

SPECIALS: Some resorts are offering special packages. Among them: Treasure Island, www.treasureisland.com, (800) 288-7206; Monte Carlo, www.montecarlo.com, (888) 529-4828; Luxor, www.luxor.com, (877) 386-4658; Excalibur, www.excalibur.com, (877) 750-5464.