Despite the downpour of rain, the Starlight Ballroom at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica was packed Sunday evening, as festival filmmakers mingled with celebrities during the Malibu Film Festival’s Awards Night Gala, honoring winners of the festival and veterans in the film industry.
Actor and Malibu resident Stacy Keach was master of ceremonies for the event, opening the evening with the remark: “Malibu used to be just a dirt road. [And] it’s still a dirt road,” causing fellow residents and celebs to laugh about their hometown.
John Paul DeJoria, of Paul Mitchell Systems, which presented the festival, spoke about “family values” and the need for positivity in the film business, with more family-oriented fare. Famed director Arthur Hiller (“The Babe,” “Love Story,” “Man of La Mancha”), seconded DeJoria’s appeal to fellow industry members, and to the new hopeful filmmakers, saying it is possible to make interesting and entertaining films without gratuitous violence.
Hiller was honored with an Achievement in the Arts for Directing Award. Actors Shirley MacLaine, Charles Bronson and the late Lloyd Bridges were awarded with Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Awards. Jeff Bridges was on hand, with mother Dorothy, to accept the award on behalf of his father.
Academy Award-winning producer Barry Spikings (“The Deer Hunter”), received the Roger Corman Award, handed out by the man himself, Roger Corman. James Cameron (“Titanic”), presented Katrina Bronson, daughter of Charles Bronson, with the Emerging Directors Award.
Actor Nick Nolte arrived just before ceremonies began, joining his red-haired son, Brawley. Nolte had the crowd going with his recitation of how he has worked his way “down” in the film business. “[I] had the great fortune of working my salary down … working for zero money,” said Nolte, of working in independent films.
Camera-dodging Sean Penn was present at the gala, sitting at the Bronsons’ table, and the legendary Milton Berle stood and took a bow as his presence was announced.
The City of Malibu’s own Mayor Tom Hasse was present and announced the Best Screenplay Award, which went to Glen Trotiner and Dean Garvin for their screenplay “Overnight Sensation.”
Actor Frances Fisher stood and applauded director Tom Rice for his feature film “The Rising Place,” which won the Grand Prize. Fisher was one of several notable actors who had parts in the film.
Swiss director Tomi Streiff won the Audience Choice Award for his feature “The Wedding Cow,” for which he seemed quite surprised. Streiff echoed new filmmakers’ struggles to get their films seen when he spoke of how he is often told how there is no audience for his film, yet everywhere he screens it, audiences always love it. The film has won 10 awards, including Best Picture, Best Director as well as Audience Choice awards, at other festivals.
An excited and amusing director, Andrew Ainsworth, won Best Foreign Film for his feature “Too Much Sex.”
“I’m up here because of ‘Too much Sex,'” punned Ainsworth.
The Audience Choice Award for a short film went to directors James Binaski and Hso Hkam for “Fightin’ 4 the Forty,” and for a documentary to Will Oxx for “Above a Frozen Sea.” Best Cinematography was given to Marc Leidy for his work on “Dreamer,” Best Documentary to director David Brown for “Surfing for Life,” and Best Short to director Luke Greenfield for “The Right Hook.”
While the four-day event was deemed a success by founder David Katz and other organizers, some filmmakers were disappointed with industry turnout during screenings. One filmmaker told of how he organized an audience to be present at the screening of his film, and of how a shuttle was to pick up industry people from the American Film Market event, but the shuttle never showed.
“Two levels are needed [for the festival],” said the filmmaker. “From the community and the industry. Neither were there.”
It was the sentiment of many that the festival needed more publicity and advertising, which was evident at the Awards Gala.
The only noticable press present were the two local Malibu papers and the International Film Festival magazine.
“[The festival] needs a root in the community,” said one filmmaker.