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I just returned from a South by Southwest screening to find in the in-box the latest batch of films from the Dallas International Film Festival, which you’ll find after the jump and we’ll get to in a second. But first thing’s first.
The Film Festival Formerly Known as AFI Dallas International also sent word that Pete Docter has been named this year’s recipient of the Tex Avery Award, so named, of course, for the North Dallas High School grad and animation legend. Good timing too, what with Toy Story 3 opening later this year — Docter was among the writers of the first Toy Story (and is often considered Buzz Lightyear’s “alter-ego”) — and Up, which he wrote and directed, the Best Animated Feature favorite going into this weekend’s Oscars. (As a personal aside, Docter’s also responsible for my favorite Pixar film: Monsters Inc.)
So, now, to the films, which include the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition A Surprise in Texas, Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner Winter’s Bone, local filmmaker Clay Liford’s Earthling and The Dry Land starring Ugly Betty‘s America Ferrera. Unfair Park has learned that Ferrera will attend the fest — which makes her the first confirmed guest a month away from the Dallas International Film Festival’s April 8 kick-off. The full list of films announced today follows; here as well are the first 10 titles announced last month.
The DALLAS International Film Festival Honors Pete Docter with Texas Avery Animation Award
12 Official Selections Announced Includes 3 World Premieres
Southwest Airlines Announced as the Film Festival’s Official Air Carrier
Dallas, TX, March 3, 2010–The DALLAS International Film Festival
(April 8-18) announces Pete Docter, director and writer of Academy
Award® Best Picture nominee UP as the recipient of the 2010 Texas
Avery Animation Award presented by REEL FX ENTERTAINMENT. 12 official
selections were also announced, including 3 films (A SURPRISE IN
TEXAS, THE RIVER WHY and WE ARE THE SEA) that will be making their
world premieres at the film festival. DALLAS IFF also announced that
Southwest Airlines would be taking a major sponsorship position,
serving as the film festival’s official airline.Docter will receive the 2010 Texas Avery Animation Award presented by
REEL FX ENTERTAINMENT, which honors lifetime achievement in animation
filmmaking. Docter is the director and writer of the five-time Academy
Award nominated film UP (Best Picture, Best Animated Feature, Best
Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing).
Previously, Docter also garnered Academy Award nominations for his
work on WALL-E (2008 – Best Original Screenplay), MIKE’S NEW CAR (2002
– Best Short Film – Animated), MONSTERS, INC. (2001 – Best Animated
Feature), and TOY STORY (1995 – Best Original Screenplay).REEL FX CREATIVE STUDIOS CEO and Dallas Film Society board member Ed
Jones said, “As an animator, screenwriter, and director, Pete Docter
has been integral to the success of some of the most memorable
animated movies of all time. The industry has watched his talent and
career grow at PIXAR, and is not surprised by what he has achieved.
Pete is deserving of this honor and we are thrilled that he will
accept this year’s Texas Avery Animation Award. ”Making their world premieres at the DALLAS International Film Festival
will be Peter Rosen’s A SURPRISE IN TEXAS, Matthew Leuwyler’s THE
RIVER WHY and Neil Truglio’s WE ARE THE SEA.Directed by Peter Rosen, A SURPRISE IN TEXAS is a documentary focusing
its camera lens on the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in
Fort Worth Texas, where 29 young contestants come from all over the
world to compete for the most prestigious prize in the music world.
The film highlights the story of one of them, a 20 year old from
Tokyo, Nobuyuki Tsujii, blind from birth.Directed by Matthew Leutwyler, THE RIVER WHY is a drama based on the
novel by David James Duncan about a man known as “the Mozart of fly
fishing” who leaves his big city home in rebellion from his family. In
the process he comes in contact with an assortment of eccentric
characters who help him in his journey to adulthood. The film stars
Zach Gilford, Amber Heard, William Hurt, Kathleen Quinlan and William
Devane. DALLAS IFF will also screen the film GREENLIT, Miranda
Bailey’s documentary about the efforts of THE RIVER WHY’s filmmakers
to maintain a “green” shoot throughout their production.Directed by Neil Truglio, WE ARE THE SEA stars Jeff Childress and
Allison Savoy in a drama about a young English teacher returning from
the brink of tragedy to find his life exactly where he left it — in
shambles. Turning cautiously to his friends, family, and even his
students for guidance, he explores the possibilities for forging a
future from a history of mistakes. The film features the music of Iron
& Wine.The list also features several selections from the recently concluded
Sundance Film Festival, including award winners WINTER’S BONE (Grand
Jury Prize Winner, U.S. Dramatic and Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award)
and OBSELIDIA (Excellence in Cinematography Award, U.S. Dramatic and
Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize). Other films included THE DRY
LAND, JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: THE RADIANT CHILD and SKATELAND.“James Faust, Sarah Harris and the DIFF10 programming team have spent
the year crossing boundaries both geographically and metaphorically in
search of new discoveries. Traveling the globe continues to be key to
the high level of programming found at the DALLAS International Film
Festival. We are thrilled to bring this mix of exhilarating and
emotive filmmakers to Dallas where they will tell you there are no
more appreciative audiences,” said Dallas Film Society Chairman,
Michael Cain.DALLAS IFF Founder and Chairman Emeritus Liener Temerlin was proud to
announce that Southwest Airlines would be making its debut as the
official airline for the DALLAS International Film Festival. “From the
beginning of this film festival, a hallmark has been the exceptional
group of talented filmmakers and stars that we have been able to
deliver to the city of Dallas. Southwest Airlines will allow us to
continue what I see as a grand tradition.”Southwest Airlines issued a statement saying, “We are honored to
support the DALLAS International Film Festival where vision,
inspiration, and passion are celebrated. The airline salutes the
filmmakers who seek new horizons and embrace possibilities.”The twelve official selections announced include:
A SURPRISE IN TEXAS (USA)
Director: Peter Rosen
Directed by Peter Rosen, A SURPRISE IN TEXAS is a documentary focusing
its camera lens on the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in
Fort Worth Texas, where 29 young contestants come from all over the
world to compete for the most prestigious prize in the music world.
The film highlights the story of one of them, a 20 year old from
Tokyo, Nobuyuki Tsujii, blind from birth.THE DRY LAND (USA)
Director: Ryan Piers Williams
Cast: America Ferrera, Jason Ritter, Wilmer Valderrama, Ethan Suplee,
Melissa Leo
Directed by Ryan Piers Williams, THE DRY LAND follows a young U.S.
soldier, James (Ryan O’Nan), as he returns home from duty in Iraq.
Having not found the direction and purpose he sought from the service,
James hurls himself back into his old life and finds it no longer
fits. He tries to reconcile his experiences abroad with his life in
rural Texas, but despite the support of his wife (America Ferrera),
his mother (Melissa Leo), and friend (Jason Ritter) he is unable to
settle in. James turns to an Army buddy (Wilmer Vaderrama) for help
and together they travel the country in search of redemption. Thinking
that the war was behind him, James comes to realize that the fight for
his life has only begun.EARTHLING (USA)
Director: Clay Liford
Cast: Rebecca Spence, Peter Greene, William Katt, Jennifer Sipes
Directed by Clay Liford, EARTHLING is a sci-fi drama following the
events that occur after a mysterious atmospheric event aboard the
international space station causes a small group of people to wake up
and realize that their entire lives have been a lie. Now they have to
make a choice. Live amongst men, or try to find a way back home.GREENLIT (USA)
Director: Miranda Bailey
Directed by Miranda Bailey (Executive Producer on THE SQUID AND THE
WHALE), GREENLIT follows the production of THE RIVER WHY as the
filmmakers attempt to keep an environmentally friendly set thanks to
the supervision of a “green” consultant. What starts off with great
enthusiasm quickly devolves in this insightful and hilarious film
about the difficulties of living up to good intentions.JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: THE RADIANT CHILD (USA)
Director: Tamra Davis
A documentary by Tamra Davis, JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: THE RADIANT CHILD
is about the artist and phenomenon who became notorious for his
graffiti art under the moniker Samo in the late 1970s on the Lower
East Side scene, sold his first painting to Deborah Harry for $200,
and became best friends with Andy Warhol. Appreciated by both the art
cognoscenti and the public, Basquiat was launched into international
stardom. However, soon his cult status began to override the art that
had made him famous in the first place.KICK IN IRAN (GERMANY)
Director: Fatima Geza Abdollahyan
A documentary by Fatima Geza Abdollahyan, KICK IN IRAN profiles Sarah
Khoshjamal, a 20-year-old Taekwondo superstar and the first female
professional athlete from Iran to qualify for the Olympics. This
skillful vérité portrait follows the unassuming Khoshjamal in the nine
months leading up to the 2008 Beijing games. Living in an Islamic
country, she is required to wear a hijab at all times and, unlike her
fellow competitors around the world, cannot train with men; however,
the power in her fighting resoundingly breaks down stereotypical
barriers.OBSELIDIA (USA)
Director: Diane Bell
Cast: Michael Piccirilli, Gaynor Howe
Directed by Diane Bell, OBSELIDIA is a romantic drama about a man
writing an encyclopedia of obsolete things. In his quest to capture
people, technologies, and ideas that are disappearing, he meets a free
spirited cinema projectionist. Together they go on a road trip to
Death Valley to interview a scientist who is predicting the eminent
end of the world, and on their strange journey, they discover perhaps
love is not obsolete after all.THE RIVER WHY (USA)
Director: Matthew Leutwyler
Cast: Zach Gilford, Amber Heard, William Hurt, Kathleen Quinlan and
William Devane
Directed by Matthew Leutwyler, THE RIVER WHY is a drama about a man
known as “the Mozart of fly fishing” who leaves his big city home in
rebellion from his family. In the process he comes in contact with an
assortment of eccentric characters who help him in his journey to
adulthood.SKATELAND (USA)
Director: Anthony Burns
Cast: Shiloh Fernandez, Ashley Greene, Heath Freeman
Directed by Anthony Burns, SKATELAND is a coming-of-age film set in
1983 centering on ‘Ritchie’, a worker at Skateland, the roller rink
and local hangout of a small town. With Skateland due to close, the
party scene getting stale, and his romantic life as cloudy as his
future, Ritchie struggles to make sense of it all. When tragedy
strikes his friends and family, Ritchie must face the music–and make
the biggest decision of his life.WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY (USA)
Director: Don Hahn
Directed by Don Hahn, WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY takes a look at the
“rebirth” of the fabled animation studios of Walt Disney in the
mid-1980s. The studio had fallen on hard times with artists polarized
between newcomers hungry to innovate and old timers not yet ready to
relinquish control. The conditions produced a series of box office
flops and many believed the best days of animation were over. The film
shines a light on an influx of new leadership and talent helped Disney
regain its magic with a staggering output of hits–LITTLE MERMAID,
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN, THE LION KING and more–over the next
ten years.WE ARE THE SEA (USA)
Director: Neil Truglio
Cast: Jeff Childress, Allison Savoy
Directed by Neil Truglio, WE ARE THE SEA stars Jeff Childress and
Allison Savoy in a drama about a young English teacher returning from
the brink of tragedy to find his life exactly where he left it — in
shambles. Turning cautiously to his friends, family, and even his
students for guidance, he explores the possibilities for forging a
future from a history of mistakes. The film features the music of Iron
& Wine.WINTER’S BONE (USA)
Director: Debra Granik
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Lauren Sweetser
A drama set deep in the Ozark Mountains, Debra Granik’s WINTER’S BONE
follows the daring struggle of a teenage girl, ‘Ree’, who must go in
search of her crystal-meth-making father, after he skips bail and goes
missing. Unless she is able to find him, she and her young siblings
and disabled mother will face destitution. In a heroic quest, Ree
traverses the county to confront her kin, break their silent
collusion, and bring her father home.
