It'll be a hot time down in Austin tonight, as the annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards Dinnner (and lest we forget, cocktails) is being held.
The Texas Film Hall of Fame, which operates under the auspices of the Austin Film Society, inducts or honors Texans who've made a significant contribution to film or filmmaking, as well as non-Texans who've made significant strides in the advancement of the Texas film industry. Classic Texas films are also honored, with a member of the cast or crew accepting on behalf of his or her colleagues. The 2010 Texas Film Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards show, held at Austin Studios, on the former site of the city's municipal airport, marks the unofficial beginning of the South by Southwest Film Festival.
Since the passing of perennial host Ann Richards, the former Governor of Texas, the hosting duties have been performed by special guests, and tonight's show is being hosted by actor and El Paso native Thomas Haden Church.
This year's honorees include actors Lukas Haas and Bruce McGill. Haas will have his award presented by musician/actor Lyle Lovett, while the San Antonio-born McGill will have his presented by his Animal House co-star Tim Matheson.
The Warren Skaaren Lifetime Achievement Award is being presented to Michael Nesmith by artist, photographer, and filmmaker Edward Ruscha. "The Houston-born, Dallas-raised Nesmith stepped out of his Monkees suit and went behind the camera as a television pioneer in the 70s, producing the acclaimed video “Rio,” which led to his creation of the program Pop Clips for Nickelodeon. In 1980, Pop Clips was sold to Time Warner/Amex and re-imagined as the MTV Network. Nesmith won the first ever Video of the Year Grammy for Elephant Parts in 1981 and was executive producer for 80s cult classic films Repo Man, Tapeheads, and Timerider all the while pursuing his own recording projects." Nesmith's current multimedia project is the Video Ranch.
Also being honored is writer/director/actor Quentin Tarantino, who is receiving the Tom Mix Honorary Texan Award "for his generosity in sharing his personal film collection with Austin via the QT Fests, where he has governed for seven stints as curator, emcee and #1 fan. These legendary extravaganzas, organized by and benefiting the Austin Film Society, involve up to 10 days of back-to-back film watching at Austin’s own Alamo Drafthouse." The award will be presented by fellow director Richard Linklater (Slacker, Dazed and Confused, A Scanner Darkly) and Texas Rollergirl Punky Bruiser, who appeared in Tarantino's Grindhouse: Death Proof.
The "Star of Texas" award is being presented to Christopher Guest's 1996 ensemble comedy Waiting for Guffman, which was filmed in Austin and Lockhart. Cast member Catherine O'Hara will accept the award.
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