FILM SNEAK PEEK DAFOE ARISES FROM 'SHADOW'.

Byline: - Valerie Kuklenski

Willem Dafoe and Nicolas Cage are expected tonight at the Los Angeles premiere of Dafoe's new drama, ``Shadow of the Vampire,'' being screened at the Egyptian Theatre as a benefit for American Cinematheque.

``Shadow,'' Cage's debut as a producer, joins ``Ed Wood'' and ``Gods and Monsters'' in the realm of films about eccentric filmmakers, but this one is heavily fictionalized.

John Malkovich plays F.W. Murnau, director of the acclaimed 1922 film ``Nosferatu.'' Dafoe is Max Schreck, whom Leonard Maltin has dubbed ``the ugliest (vampire) in film history.'' ``Shadow of the Vampire,'' directed by Elias Merhige, suggests that Schreck himself was a real vampire who insisted on filming only at night and in remote locations because of his ``undead'' state.

``Shadow'' opens a four-night tribute to Dafoe, which includes screenings of ``Platoon,'' ``To Live and Die in L.A.'' and ``The Last Temptation of Christ.'' Dafoe will be on hand to introduce or discuss some of the films.

Tickets for tonight's benefit screening are $50 and include admission to a party after the film. Other tickets in the series cost $7 for general admission and $5 for American Cinematheque members. The Egyptian Theatre is at 6712 Hollywood Blvd. Information: [phone] or www.egyptiantheatre.com.

SIGN UP HERE: Filmmakers take note - deadlines are approaching for submissions to local film festivals.

If you haven't yet turned in your work for the 16th annual Santa Barbara Film Festival, hit the 101 today with a VHS cassette under your arm. The festival, set for March 1-11, honors outstanding emerging filmmakers, documentaries, live and animated shorts, screenwriters and cinematographers. It has special award categories for a North American-made feature without a distribution deal, for a feature that pays tribute to ``the outsider,'' and for a film promoting human rights and social justice. Information: [phone] or www.sbfilmfestival.org.

Screenplays are due Jan. 12 and films Jan. 19 for consideration in the Santa Clarita International Film Festival, slated for March 9-16. For awards eligibility, films must have been completed after September 1999. SCIFF needs VHS copies of films for judging purposes. Information: [phone] or www.sciff.org.

The actor-friendly Method Fest Independent Film Festival in Pasadena takes place in June, but organizers are looking for early entries by Feb. 20. The Method Fest presents awards for directing, cinematography and screenwriting, but its primary focus is actors and their performances. Information: [phone] or www.methodfest.com.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Inspired by the legendary gothic chiller ``Nosferatu,'' first-time producer Nicolas Cage presents his ``Shadow of the Vampire,'' tonight at the Egyptian Theatre as part of a tribute to Willem Dafoe, above.