Vulture Festival Comes to L.A. With James Franco, Natalie Portman, Sofia Coppola

After years of calling New York home, Vulture Festival, which brings together actors, comedians and thinkers will premiere in Los Angeles for the first time this year. From Nov. 18-19 at the Hollywood Roosevelt, a mixed bag of entertainers will sit down for a variety of activities ranging from in-depth conversations on the meaning of life and feminism, to a sing-a-longs and trivia game shows.

Taking top honors for the inaugural LA event are a series of renowned actors with plenty on their plates to discuss. James Franco is currently on the promotional circuit discussing his latest film which finds him playing cult film director Tommy Wiseau. “The Disaster Artist” focuses on the creation of the best-worst movie ever made, 2003’s “The Room.” Franco will stop by for an hour-long discussion of his latest project, which co-stars Seth Rogan and Dave Franco, set for a national release on Dec. 8. Natalie Portman is also amongst the headline stars to sit-in for a conversation. The Oscar-winning actor will not only discuss her expansive career in film but her activism as well. Acclaimed director of films such as “Lost in Translation” and “Marie Antoinette,” Sofia Coppola, will be attending alongside New York magazine editor in chief Adam Moss. Coppola will, amongst other topics, discuss her latest film “The Beguiled” starring Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst. Actor-comedian Sarah Silverman will chat with New York magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich to breakdown the state of the union. This in the wake of the debut episode of her latest comedic venture, the Hulu series “I Love You, American with Sarah Silverman.”  In sticking with politics, the cult-political show “Scandal” is currently in its final season after a long, ever-popular run. Kerry Washington, the show’s lead, and the cast will come together prior to the final episode to talk about the show as a whole, including dishes on the final season. Hollywood’s female-power players continue to roll in as Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner, from HBO’s “Girls,” join forces for a talk about their unique generation. After recently wrapping up the final season of the show, Dunham and Konner have since been focused on their latest co-venture, the editorial website The Lenny Letter.

Among these discussions will be an exclusive screening of The Chi, an upcoming Showtime series about life on the South Side of Chicago created by “Master of None” co-star Lena Waithe and executive producer and Chicago-native Common. Also, a “Bored to Death” reunion is scheduled featuring its now disbanded gang of actors (Zach Galifianakis, Ted Danson, Jason Schwartzman) plus the show’s creator Jonathon Ames. TBS’s hit show “Search Party” is throwing their very own treasure hunt featuring Ali Shawkat and John Early, among other stars of the show, with the prize being a private cocktail party with the actors themselves.

Others entertainers on the schedule include Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Amber Tablyn, Guillermo Del Toro (“The Shape of Water”), The Duffer Brothers (“Stranger Things”), Pete Holmes, Erika Jayne, Michael Shur (“The Office”). Plus, a sing-a-long with the stars of “Crazy Ex Girlfriend,” the gang from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and finally, the stars of the podcast “Bitch Sesh” hosting a pop-culture trivia show.

Vulture Festival LA will take place from Nov. 18-19 at the Hollywood Roosevelt.