Aug 13, 2007

LOS ANGELES – Filmmakers Alliance will bestow its coveted Vision Award on filmmakers MICHAEL and MARK POLISH and actress/filmmaker LAURA DERN at the 10th annual VISIONFEST celebration on Wednesday, August 15. The yearly event, which brings together the best of Los Angeles’ independent filmmaking community, will take place at 7:00 pm at the Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

The Vision Award is presented to established filmmakers whose artistic ambition and excellence inspires emerging filmmakers around the world. Past recipients include Mike Figgis, Terry Gilliam, Wim Wenders, Allison Anders, Alexander Payne, Werner Herzog and David O. Russell.

Mark and Michael Polish received critical acclaim for the award-winning Twin Falls Idaho, which both men wrote and Michael Polish directed. Both men starred in the quirky tale about conjoined twins and the woman who changes them forever. Recently, the brothers teamed to create The Astronaut Farmer, which both men wrote and produced. The 2006 film was directed by Michael Polish.

Laura Dern’s long association with stand-out independent films has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including the Independent Spirit Award for her work with director David Lynch in a number of films, including Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, and Inland Empire. Ms. Dern was nominated for an Oscar for her work in Rambling Rose.  Her tour-de-force portrayal of a drug-addicted expectant mother in Alexander Payne’s comedy, Citizen Ruth, earned her the acclaim of critics and festival juries alike.

Filmmakers Alliance’s Community Vision Awards will be presented to ECHO PARK FILM CENTER and RIC HALPERN for their contributions to independent film.  The Echo Park Film Center is a volunteer-run, non-profit media arts organization located in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles that provided equal and affordable access to film/video education and resources. Ric Halpern is the educational and new filmmaker program manager for Panavision, Inc., and has helped provide state-of-the-art camera equipment for emerging filmmakers.

The awards presentation is followed by the introduction of the Los Angeles Short Filmmaking Competition winner which is, in turn, followed by a program of the best short films produced through Filmmakers Alliance in the previous year.

The evening concludes with an elegant, high-energy party in the DGA lobby catered by some of Los Angeles' best restaurants.

Filmmakers Alliance celebrates its 14th year, 10th Anniversary VisionFest event and 8th Vision Award Presentation. 2007 marks its 6th year of bestowing the Los Angeles Short Filmmaking Grant to a member of the next generation of filmmakers.

Filmmakers Alliance is a community of film artists bound by a commitment to realize the full creative potential of independent film. FA supports its members in bringing humanity, authenticity, diversity, originality, intelligence, relevance, personal vision and emotional resonance to American Cinema. Its many educational and facilitation programs contribute to the realization of independent short and feature length films. Filmmakers Alliance is a 501(c)3, not for profit organization. More information about the organization can be accessed at www.filmmakersalliance.org or at (310) 568-0633.

The Directors Guild of America is one of the many generous organizations and companies that help support the educational and outreach programs of Filmmakers Alliance.

The public is invited to attend VisionFest. Seating is limited; attendees are urged to purchase tickets in advance of the event. Tickets are $20 in advance through Brown Paper Tickets, www.brownpapertickets.com, and $30 at the door.

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