After days and nights of movie watching and discovering new talents, the Dallas International Film Festival guests were ready to salute the incredible festival’s stars, legends and angels on April 12. As the Palomar Hotel’s driveway was split between guests and red-carpet participants, locals and Hollywood VIP’s chatted with media jammed up on the other side of the cord.
Dallas Film Society types like Board Chair Lynn McBee and husband Allan, President/CEO Lee Papert and wife Sarah, Artistic Director James Faust and Co-founder Michael Cain with wife/new mom Melina McKinnon, DIFF underwriter Arthur Benjamin with gal pal Sundays Hunt felt right at home on the carpet sharing time with honorees Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Sherry Lansing and husband William Friedkin and presenter Val Kilmer.
Arthur was quick to tell about the four-legged love of his life — Bandit, his rescue dog. The 20-lb. Lhasa/Shitzu mix was really down on his luck when Arthur decided that he could be “saved.” In the end, Arthur said, “I got stuck with Bandit. When I get upset, he grabs my pants leg and pulls. You can’t help but laugh!. . . He went to 15 movies with me.” Yup, it sounded like Bandit lived up to his name by stealing Arthur’s heart.
Somebody spotted UTA grad Lou Diamond Phillips, but he quickly disappeared into the crowd heading upstairs for the reception and dinner.
Up on the second floor, the Mary Kay team was helping the ladies refreshen their lipsticks. Just perfect for the VIP guests who had cocktailed during the poolside reception across the way.
Speaking of Mary Kay, MK Director of Corporate Communications Crayton Webb reported the developments from the Genesis Women’s Shelter’s men’s auxiliary meeting attended by Mayor Mike Rawlings. One of the results was the plan to create a speakers bureau to talk about domestic violence against women. But like Jan Langbein and others, Crayton expanded on the concept saying abuse in any form is wrong.
It took a bit of doing, but the guests eventually settled into their places at the awards dinner in the ballroom. Seated next to film loving Jennifer and Doug Houser, Val had to excuse himself for most of the dinner due to an uneasy tummy. Not to worry. He returned in time to present Friedkin with his award
After Lee and Lynn welcomed and thanked the hundreds of volunteers and talents that made this fourth annual festival with 170+ films, Arthur recalled the impact that the late Larry Hagman had on Dallas and filmmaking: “I just truly miss Larry. . . Keep Larry in your thoughts.”
James turned the mood into a different direction when he took hold of the dais, “It’s like a church here. I’m supposed to vamp until the food gets here.” To do this, he pointed out personalities in the crowd.
DFS Programmer Sarah Harris told the crowd that they had watched 3,000 films in preparation for this year’s festival. Then they launched into announcing the winners. Unfortunately, the first few winners were MIA with reasons ranging from a sick dog and parent to getting married. One chap received his award thanks to a cellphone held to the mic: “If I wasn’t on a plane to L.A., I’d be drinking whiskey shots with you.”
This cellphone accept became the norm for the missing winners. That is until one onsite winner told the audience, “We made the mistake of coming here. We didn’t know the common procedure was talking through the phone.” It got a big laugh.
After the “TXU Light Up the Red Carpet Student Film Contest” winners and others were announced, “Dallas” Executive Producer Ken Topolsky told how he had dinner with Larry Hagman just three weeks before his death. Larry told Ken, “No one was more different from that guy (J.R.) than me.” Ken was followed by a video tribute to Larry.
James returned to the podium saying, “My mother didn’t go to movies because she said movies are too dirty.” Walking back to his table, Friedkin yelled out, “She’s right about that!”
Then it was time to hand out the awards to the visiting celebs. First up was Shining Star recipient Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who proved herself to be a crowd pleaser with her looks and short acceptance speech following a sample of her works: “I would love to come back for many years if that’s possible. . . I’m sort of embarrassed by all those clips.”
Next up was Dallas Star Award recipient Sherry Lansing who was eloquently introduced by Dallas’ John Hersker, who used to work for her. Sherry said that even when she was reading scripts for peanuts, she knew Friedskin was the “most brilliant director.” At the age of 68, she felt it was an incredible time for reflection. “The passion and dream I had (since the age of 12) just wouldn’t die. I still love the movies. So much has changed, and it’s all been good. If you have a digital camera or a cellphone, you can make a movie!”
To introduce William Friedkin, Val recalled chatting during a long break with Francis Ford Coppola about who had inspired him. Coppola’s answer: Bill. Billy Wilder? No, Bill Friedkin. Why? “He’s the best. Pure. Personal. Courageous. We all wanted to be Bill.”
Friedkin accepted the award saying, “I appreciate those comments from Francis. I never knew he felt that way. What he said cost me $5. I love this city. Been here many times. Actually got the Dallas Morning News to let me write a couple of front-page articles about a case in Houston, got me accredited as a journalist: the ‘Blood and Money‘ case. I love Texas. Go to Austin whenever possible. You’ve got two of the best film festivals in the world here in Texas.”
After picking the award up, he added, “Wow, this is a heavy mother. But I’m certain I got this for the image and presentation of Dallas I did in ‘Killer Joe.'” [Joke. . . Dallas was portrayed in that film as a seedy, corrupt, white-trash place.]
After two more awards [Best Documentary Feature and Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize], James closed the ceremony smiling, “We’re 30 minutes ahead of schedule!” Perhaps the Oscars could learn from the DIFF organizers.