NEWS & EVENTS

THE DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IS COMING APRIL 8-18, 2010

The DALLAS International Film Festival Announces Ten Titles in Official Selections

SOLITARY MAN

The DALLAS International Film Festival announces ten films that will screen at this year’s festival (April 8 – 18) including films starring Michael Douglas, Jesse Eisenberg, John Goodman and Tilda Swinton, and films directed by returning DALLAS Intl Film Fest filmmakers Alex Gibney, Steve James and Tim McCanlies.

SOLITARY MAN, which stars Michael Douglas and Jesse Eisenberg, as well as Swinton’s Italian love story, I AM LOVE both come to Dallas after recently debuting at the Toronto Film Festival.

Gibney returns to Dallas with his documentary, CASINO JACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF MONEY following its debut at the Sundance Film Festival two years after screening GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON at AFI DALLAS. James brings his documentary NO CROSSOVER: THE TRIAL OF ALLEN IVERSON after also screening AT DEATH HOUSE DOOR in 2008’s edition of the film festival. McCanlies returns one year later with his children’s adventure film, ALABAMA MOON, after attending with his comedy THE 2 BOBS in 2009.

The list also includes two recent film festival award winners: Tom Huckabee’s CARRIED AWAY, which just won Best Feature Film at the Oxford Film Festival and Charles-Olivier Michaud’s SNOW AND ASHES which received the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Film at the recently concluded Slamdance Film Festival.

The ten official selections include:

ALABAMA MOON (USA)
Director: Tim McCanlies
Cast: John Goodman
Based on the novel by Watt Key, Tim McCanlies’ ALABAMA MOON is a children’s story of adventure and survival that follows the journey a young boy takes from Alabama to Alaska after being orphaned by the death of his anti-government radical father.

CARRIED AWAY (USA)
Director: Tom Huckabee
Directed by Tom Huckabee, CARRIED AWAY is a drama about a young man who, upon returning home to Fort Worth to find a fractured family, sets off on a cross-country pursuit after rescuing his beloved Granny from a nursing home.

CASINO JACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF MONEY (USA)
Director: Alex Gibney
The latest film by Academy Award winning documentary director Alex Gibney, CASINO JACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF MONEY, is a probing investigation into the lies, greed and corruption surrounding D.C. super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his cronies.

CLIMATE REFUGEES (USA)
Directed by: Michael Nash
Michael Nash directs CLIMATE REFUGEES, a documentary that uncovers the unbelievable plight of people around the world displaced by climatically induced environmental disasters, illuminating the human face of climate change and the collision that civilization now finds itself at between over population, lack of resources and our changing climate.

I AM LOVE (Io sono l'amore) (Italy)
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Flavio Parenti
Starring Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton and directed by Luca Guadagnino, I AM LOVE is a tragic love story set at the turn of the millennium in Milan. The film follows the fall of the haute bourgeoisie due to the forces of passion and unconditional love.

NO CROSSOVER: THE TRIAL OF ALLEN IVERSON (USA)
Director: Steve James
Academy Award nominee Steve James (HOOP DREAMS), explores the fallout from a racially inspired incident and the handling of the subsequent trial which landed a young Allen Iverson in jail and sharply divided his hometown along racial lines.

SIN ELLA (Mexico)
Director: Jorge Colon
Directed by Jorge Colon, SIN ELLA is a drama about a successful reality show producer whose life and relationship with his children is turned upside down following the tragic death of his wife. When she appears in his thoughts to tell him what she would have done in each situation, the two begin to relive their love story.

SNOW AND ASHES (Canada)
Director: Charles-Olivier Michaud
Directed by Charles-Olivier Michaud, SNOW AND ASHES is a war-based drama where a war journalist attempts to piece together the events that landed him in the hospital after he awakens from a coma to discover that his long time collaborator and photographer has not come back with him from the war z
one.

SOLITARY MAN (USA)
Directors: Brian Koppelman, David Levien
Cast: Michael Douglas, Jesse Eisenberg, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Jenna Fischer, Mary-Louise Parker
Directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, SOLITARY MAN stars Academy Award winner Michael Douglas as a former car dealership mogul dealing with a string of business problems and issues in his personal life through a number of relationships with women – many women.

THUNDER SOUL (USA)
Director: Mark Landsman
Directed by Mark Landsman, THUNDER SOUL is a documentary which turns the camera on a reunion of the 1970’s Kashmere High School band and its director, Conrad Johnson, which became an international funk sensation at the time. Thirty years later, his students return to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives.

“These first 10 selections are indicative of the great variety of films we will offer Dallas audiences at this year’s film festival. They represent the latest work from Academy Award winners, inspiring films that we have found at the latest film festivals, and a return to Dallas by some of our favorite filmmakers like Alex Gibney, Steve James and Tim McCanlies that we consider to be part of the DALLAS Film Festival family,” said James Faust, DALLAS International Film Festival Artistic Director.

The DALLAS International Film festival will run April 8 – 18, 2010. Passes are currently on sale, tickets go on sale March 18.

DALLAS MAYOR TOM LEPPERT AND LAURA LEPPERT NAMED AS HONORARY CHAIRS OF DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

With preparations well underway for the DALLAS International Film Festival (April 8-18). The Dallas Film Society (DFS) announced today that Mayor Tom Leppert and his wife Laura will serve as Honorary Chairs for the film festival. The Dallas Film Society also announced the creation of its first membership program, the Circle of Stars.

Mayor Leppert and his wife, Laura have been stalwart supporters of the former Film Festival since its inception in 2007,” said Dallas Film Society Chairman Michael Cain. Leppert’s assistance and support of the inaugural edition of AFI DALLAS proved invaluable for what became a heralded first year for the film festival. They have both continued to back the subsequent editions, with Leppert joining Governor Rick Perry, Peter Bogdanovich, Ross Perot, Jr. and others at last year’s Texas Day celebration of film at Victory Park which served as a culmination of the 2009 event.

Mayor Leppert said, “Laura and I are both honored and thrilled to serve as the Honorary Chairs for the DALLAS International Film Festival. It’s wonderful to be part of an event that puts forward the best of this great city to a host of international filmmakers and literally brings a world of film and the top film artists to this community.” The Dallas Film Society also took another major step toward energizing the Dallas film going community with the announcement of its Circle of Stars membership program.

Circle of Stars members will receive an array of benefits and privileges created to maximize the experience with The Dallas Film Society and its many year-round programs and events. Benefits include invitations to exclusive events, invitations to Premiere Screenings and other Dallas Film Society events, complimentary passes to the annual DALLAS International Film Festival, recognition in event programs and on the Society’s website. Individual Circle of Stars memberships begin at $2,500. Society membership levels start at $25 for Students and up.

“Circle of Stars members will help leave a lasting impression on how the world views Dallas while also providing a solid foundation to ensure the legacy of filmmaking,” said Tanya Foster, President and CEO, Dallas Film Society.

The Dallas Film Society and its annual programs are sustained by the generosity of its patrons and corporate sponsors. The Dallas Film Society inspires artists to explore film’s power to reach all ages, societies and walks of life – educating, motivating and entertaining. Through this focus on the art of filmmaking, the Society is committed to enhancing the arts in Dallas. In just three years, this philosophy has inspired and driven the creation of one of the most prestigious film festivals in North America with a combined attendance of over 110,000 and notable attendees including Lauren Bacall, Sydney Pollack, David Lynch, Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron and Adrien Brody among others.

Click here for more information on the Circle of Stars and Society membership programs.

DALLAS FILM SOCIETY ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGES

DALLAS FILM SOCIETY ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Tanya Foster Appointed CEO/President
Michael Cain Appointed Chairman of the Board
2010 Festival Dates Announced; James Faust Named Artistic Director

Dallas, TX – January 4, 2010 – The Dallas Film Society (DFS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tanya Foster to the position of CEO/President of the Dallas Film Society and to the newly-created position of Executive Director of the DALLAS International Film Festival (previously the AFI DALLAS Film Festival). In her role, Foster will be responsible for overall management of the Film Society, as well as responsible for fundraising and program development and expansion. Foster comes to her new role with an active Dallas community volunteer background, which most recently includes positions at The Elisa Project, the Dallas Art Ball, and the Highland Park PTA. She is currently a member of the Crystal Charity Ball, served as Chairman of the Cattle Baron’s Ball in 2008 and the Junior League of Dallas Ball in 2002.

The Board of Directors also announced today that it has elected former Dallas Film Society Artistic Director Michael Cain to the position of Chairman of the Board. Cain co-founded the Dallas Film Society, which hosted the DALLAS International Film Festival, in 2007. Cain also was founder of the Dallas Deep Ellum Film Festival, and has produced over 20 feature films, including TV JUNKIE, which was awarded a Special Jury Prize for Documentary Excellence at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and went on to be a part of the HBO Emmy Governor’s Award winning “Addiction Series.” Cain is currently in production on the STARCK PROJECT, a feature documentary and narrative film set in 1980’s Dallas and is Executive Producer on three features currently in pre-production with M3 Films including COME BACK AFRICA based on filmmaker Lionel Rogosin’s diary of the first anti-apartheid film in 1950’s South Africa.

In addition, the Board has announced that James Faust has been promoted to Artistic Director of the DALLAS International Film Festival. Faust has been with the Dallas Film Society for more than four years, most recently serving as Director of Programming. One of the founding members of the Deep Ellum Film Festival, Faust held the positions of Associate Programmer, Managing Director and Programming Director during that festival’s seven year run. Instrumental in the formation of AFI DALLAS, Faust has also served as a guest programmer with many festivals including the Austin Film Festival and is an associate programmer with the Texas Black Film Festival and was honored by that festival as Filmmaker of the year in 2009.

“We are very pleased that we have been able to put such a strong management team in place,” said Cain. “Faust will continue to bring a strong artistic focus and continuity to our Festival; while Foster will be able to expand our programming and raise the funds needed to achieve our long-term goals.”

The DALLAS International Film Festival will be held April 8-18, 2010.

**** The Dallas Film Society celebrates films and their impact on society. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Dallas Film Society recognizes and honors filmmakers for their achievements in enhancing the creative community, provides educational programs to students to develop better understanding of the role of film in today's world, and promotes the City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking. In addition to producing one of the largest festivals in the Southwest, The Society produces numerous year round events, screening series and partnership programs with arts organizations around the city.

For a direct link to D Magazine's coverage on Front Burner, click here.

DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL NAMED "BEST STAYCATION" IN THE DALLAS OBSERVER BEST OF

DALLAS International Film Festival is proud to be named the "Best Staycation" in the Best of Dallas Edition of the Dallas Observer.

"Don't book a hotel or buy airfare. Why waste money? Come spring, Dallas becomes another place entirely. For more than a week, you can escape, in your own city, into chilly theaters with tickets and badges as your boarding passes to a fantasy land, a nightmare, a place for romance, a realistic place in someone else's life—you call the shots. Thanks to Leiner Temerlin (founder, chairman emeritus) and Michael Cain (CEO, artistic director), for three years we Dallas film fanatics got to know the AFI Dallas International Film Festival and the joy of navigating a massive film schedule (attempting from one to seven screenings in a day), meeting high-profile celebrities (and likewise geeking out on character actors) and asking filmmakers direct questions about their creative process. It's been exhausting and exhilarating. Henceforth, Dallas will celebrate film with the Dallas International Film Festival as AFI Dallas is no longer, but this is exciting. As Cain told the Dallas Observer after the news broke in June, "This allows us to reinvest in Dallas...Each year we brought fewer and fewer people from out of state to work the festival, and we programmed 95 percent of the festival on our own. AFI gave us an amazing base of knowledge to lift ourselves up, [but] we're confident we can continue on our own."."

Our thanks go to the Dallas Observer and we are excited to bring the Festival back April 8, 2010.

For a direct link and to read more, click here.

STAR WARS IN CONCERT

The DALLAS Film Society is excited to partner in presenting STAR WARS In Concert on Friday, October 23, 2009 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

As an exclusive offer to our News Reel subscribers, friends and partners, we have a special discount on tickets to this once in a lifetime night of music and entertainment in a stadium setting. Purchase your tickets before Sunday, October 18, 2009 using the promotional code LUCAS6 and receive $5 off tickets priced $35 - $65.

Purchase a $75 ticket and receive access to a private VIP tour of the Art and Craft of STAR WARS exhibit (doors open at 4:30 PM, stadium entry K).

12 pieces of autographed STAR WARS In Concert merchandise will be raffled to those who purchase tickets using the promotional code LUCAS6. To purchase your tickets, click here.

THE DALLAS FILM SOCIETY & THE NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER PRESENT CENTER PRESENT FREE FILMS ON FIRST THURSDAYS

Join the DALLAS Film Society and the Nasher Sculture Center for Free Films on First Thursdays featuring the very best in cinematic entertainment with a star-studded line-up of award-winning American movie classics, based on American novels.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

5:00 p.m. Nasher Cafe Dining and Cocktails
6:30 p.m. Film Chat with Gary Cogill
7:00 p.m. Classic Movie Screening
9:00 p.m. Film Discussion

MOVIE PRESENTATIONS

October 1   THE MALTESE FALCON
November 5   ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN
December 3   IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

15TH ANNUAL WRR PICNIC IN THE PARK

Sunday, September 6
Dallas Arboretum
Gates and Park open at 5:30 PM

Join us Labor Day weekend for this family friendly event at the Dallas Arboretum. The Dallas Wind Symphony will kick off the evening at 7:00 PM performing classic patriotic pieces as well as movie and rock favorites. Following the concert the DALLAS Film Society will present a screening of E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL at approximately 8:30 PM.

For more information on where to pick up your FREE TICKET click here.

The Dallas Arboretum is at 8525 Garland Rd. on the eastern shores of White Rock Lake. The grounds are wheelchair and stroller accessible and in-garden tram service is available.

DALLAS FILM SOCIETY/ DMA Summer Film Camp

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and learn about fundamental components of making it in the film industry. We have pulled together an amazing lineup of industry professionals to help you navigate the waters of filmmaking.

Students are to bring their own lunches Monday – Thursday, and lunch will be provided on Friday. Please note that there is no refrigeration available.

Camp will run from 10:00am – 4:00pm daily (M-F)

DAILY SCHEDULE:
• 10:00 – 11:00 Morning Session
• 11:00 – 11:30 Break/Museum Tour
• 11:30 – 12:30 Morning Session
• 12:30 – 1:30 Lunch
• 1:30 – 2:30 Afternoon Session
• 2:30 – 3:00 Break/Museum Tour
• 3:00 – 4:00 Afternoon Session

JUNE 22nd-26th – HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (grades 9-12)

JULY 20th-24th – MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS (grades 5-8

For more information, click here.