Leonard Nimoy and ‘Star Trek IV’ kick off the Hero Complex Film Festival on Friday

Friday night there’s only one logical place to be — at the Mann Chinese 6 Theatre in Hollywood where this blog boldly goes into a new frontier with the opening night of the first-ever Hero Complex Film Festival. The guests over the weekend are amazing – Ridley Scott and Christopher Nolan — but we’re honored to start the new tradition with one of the few truly enduring icons of contemporary sci-fi: actor and director Leonard Nimoy.

The screening of “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home“ begins at 7 p.m. and then at 9 I’ll interview Nimoy, the film’s director and star, about his long and illustrious career and his just-announced retirement from acting. The 79-year-old walks away on top; his compelling work on the television series “Fringe“ and his linchpin role in the  J.J. Abrams film “Star Trek“ are a strong finish to a Hollywood career that began in 1951. It should be a wonderful evening and, as I write this, there are fewer than a dozen tickets left, so thanks to everyone for the support. If you tweet about the event, please use the #HCFF hash tag.

– Geoff Boucher

RECENT AND RELATED

The story behind this 1952 newspaper photo of Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy: ‘Trek’ fans can be scary

Shatner: My whole career has been a close call

Leonard Nimoy’s camera, in search of human life forms

Sir Patrick’s day – Captain Picard is knighted

Warp six! A half-dozen “Star Trek” screenings this summer

Leonard Nimoy gives an edge to “Fringe”

Chris Pine takes command: ‘I am not William Shatner’

J.J. Abrams: “Star Trek” is still in the shadow of George Lucas

Photos, from top: Leonard Nimoy and Geoff Boucher in November 2009. Credit: Christina House / Los Angeles Times; Nimoy and Mona Knox. Gordon Wallace / Los Angeles Times