USA Film Festival - A Short History
Each spring the USA Film Festival hosts it’s week-long screening of the best new American and foreign films. April 21, 2008 will mark the 38th year of the festival. Yet, little is known about the history of one the oldest and most prestigious festivals in the country.
The USA Film Festival is a non-profit organization founded in Dallas, Texas in 1971 with the goal of presenting unknown American films for competition. Two years later, the festival changed themes, shifting from a competition to a showcase. Instead of judging and choosing the best films, the filmmakers were invited on-stage to lead discussions about their work. Today, the USAFF continues to present the Dallas area with the top independent films.
During the eight-day gala, additional programs like the Great Director Tribute and The National Short Film and Video Competition are integrated into the festivities. The latter was an addition to the USAFF in 1979 as a way to showcase what the Festival recognized as an essential form of cinema. The entries are chosen by a panel of film experts and is an Academy-qualified competition. In the past, a short has gained popularity, and a few times adapted into a full-length feature, after being screened at the competition. For example, Billy Bob Thornton achieved recognition after the original short version of “Sling Blade” was shown at the USA Film Festival’s National Short Film and Video Competition in 1994, where it was awarded the Jury Prize. In 1996, “Sling Blade” became a full-length film that landed Thornton a nomination for Best Actor, and a win for Adapted Screenplay.
Throughout the year, the USAFF holds other events and ceremonies to celebrate cinema. The KidFilm Festival was established in 1983 by Ann Alexander, the current President of the USA Film Festival, as a way to help celebrate excellence in children’s cinema. It was the first of it’s kind when it was founded, and it is the largest children’s film festival in the United States today. Every January, the festival draws over 23,000 children, teachers, and adults to celebrate classic and new children’s films. KidFilm screens and premieres some of the biggest children’s movies in Hollywood. The 22nd Annual Kid Film Festival in 2006 included “Akeelah and the Bee”, “Nanny McPhee”, and the animated adaptation of H.A. Rey’s classic “Curious George”. Along with presenting children’s movies, the KidFilm Festival, like it’s USAFF counterpart, honors those who have contributed to the world of art for children. Past honorees include author and illustrator Laurie Keller, author Rosemary Wells, and Maureen Cronin and Betsy Lewin in 2008.
The 38th Annual USA Film Festival will continue the tradition of showcasing excellent independent film. The honoree in the tribute this year will be character actor and native Texan Rip Torn. “Lucky Days”, a film directed by Torn’s children Angelica and Tony, is one of the many films being presented this year. Finally, the 2008 festival will close on Sunday with the Dallas premiere of Clark Gregg’s adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s seedy and sordid, yet often humorous, novel Choke. The films this year should be an interesting combination of irreverent and sarcastic comedy classics, insightful documentaries, cinematic classics, and heartfelt dramas.
Did You Know:
- Native Texan Wes Anderson’s original 13-minute, black and white version of “Bottle Rocket” premiered at the National Short Film and Video Competition in 1993.
- Every year the USAFF holds the Master Screen Artist Award and Tribute. The first recipient of the award was Gregory Peck in 1974. Other honorees include Audrey Hepburn (1991), Christopher Walken (1998), and Gary Oldman (2001).
- Todd Haynes, the director of “I’m Not There”, the Oscar nominated experimental biopic of Bob Dylan, served as a juror for the short-film competition in 1995.