Venues across Dallas have been buzzing with exciting events as the celebration of films started at the American Film Institute Dallas International Film Festival. Tickets for screenings are sold out hours in advance with hundreds waiting in rush lines to see premiering movies.
The annual AFI International Film Festival gives filmmakers from across the globe a platform to show their work. Founding sponsor, Victory Park, and presenting sponsor NorthPark bring eight days and nights of over 180 screenings from filmmakers around the world.
Hundreds of volunteers are scheduled to work at the venues to make the festival run smoothly.
“When do you get an opportunity to see such a diverse array of films? Definitely not at the modern multiplexes. We showcase up and coming artists, documentaries, and shorts,” said Sean Donohoe, the volunteer manager for the festival.
In addition to the red carpets and parties, the festival includes free film maker panels and question and answer sessions with directors.
John Wildman, the Director of Press and Publicity for the festival, said, “We believe there is an ongoing conversation on film and we want to help it along. It really is [the festival] what you make of it.”
Director Paul Saltzman answered viewers’ questions Saturday night about his documentary, “Prom Night in Mississippi,” which follows a high school’s first racially integrated prom in 2008.
Morgan Freedman, a native of Charleston, Miss. where the school is, offers to pay for the school’s prom only if it can be racially integrated. After proposing the idea in 1997, he tries again in 2008, and the school accepts.
The documentary, which is in the Target Documentary Feature Competition, follows students, their parents and their community as they prepare for the prom and the difficulty of the town’s transition. Saltzman lets the students take over the documentary with their personal interviews.
Director and screenwriter for the movie “Grace,” Paul Solet, was also in attendance at the Midnight Specials: Tales from the Dark Side of Film screening of his movie. “Grace” is a dark film centered on a young pregnant woman who has a terrible accident that causes her to have a miscarriage.
Madeline, played by former SMU student Jordan Ladd, decides to carry the baby to term and wills the corpse back to life. After a while, she learns that there is something very wrong with baby Grace and it makes her do things she would have never done before. Ironically, Solet dedicated the film to his mother.
In the question and answer session, Solet answered questions about the hidden themes of the horror film. Solet said he made the movie because he didn’t think there were enough films that really scared people.
He refers to the movies he saw as a child and how they terrified him. The movie has personal meaning to him since he found out he had a twin that did not survive, thus the makings of “Grace” began.
Perhaps the most glamorous part of the festival is the red carpet. This year, AFI has dedicated a red carpet to every filmmaker whose film is premiering that night. Fully equipped with lights, cameras, and press swarming, it brings a piece of Hollywood to Dallas.
Opening night, Academy-Award winner Adrien Brody walked the red carpet to premiere “The Brothers Bloom.” Friday night, Robert Towne, screenwriter for “Chinatown,” also made an appearance on the red carpet.
Another star-studded event was the presentation of the AFI Dallas Star Award. Five screenwriters and actors received the award, including Kathryn Bigelow, director of the AFI centerpiece screening “The Hurt Locker.”
These exciting attractions could not be made possible without the 800 volunteers that were assigned to the festival.
Preschool teacher Kathleen Rojas volunteered at the festival for the first time. “I thought it’d be fun and different from what I’ve ever done,” said Rojas.
Volunteers get free vouchers to see movies and are in the middle of all the madness. They also have to deal with the public when things don’t go as smoothly as planned.
Chaos emerged after the box office over-sold tickets to “Gigantic.” Rush-lines were turned away and volunteers had to help angry patrons refund their tickets.
AFI has a little piece of everything. From panels, to screenings, to the extravagant red carpets, there is a place for everyone.
If you haven’t seen a film yet, there is still time. The festival will continue until April 2 and you can buy tickets at NorthPark Center, The Magnolia, Dallas and online at afidallas.com.
