USA Film Festival
| Location | Dallas, Texas United States |
|---|---|
| Language | International |
| Website | http://www.usafilmfestival.com |
The USA Film Festival is a Dallas-based, 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the recognition and encouragement of excellence in the film and video arts. Founded in 1971, the USA Film Festival has presented the world, national and regional premieres of thousands of studio and independent feature films and short experimental, animated, documentary and dramatic films.
Year-round programs include a major annual film festival; the annual KidFilm®, the oldest and largest-attended international children's film festival in the United States; Oscar Night® America Dallas (Dallas’ only official Oscar event); special premieres, an Academy-qualified National Short Film Competition, film series, retrospectives organized around important themes and filmmakers, and educational activities including filmmaker discussions and extensive community outreach activities.
Through its year-round multicultural programs and special events, the USA Film Festival provides an opportunity for the public to discover films not scheduled for commercial distribution and sheds new light on familiar films by facilitating discussion and encounters with filmmakers and lecturers.
With the exception of special member screenings, all events are open to the public. Programs take place at theater (and other) locations throughout the Dallas area to ensure maximum accessibility for all area residents.
The USA Film Festival was created in 1971 by Dallas-born L.M. Kit Carson and SMU professor Bill Jones. At that time, the Festival concentrated solely on the then largely uncelebrated films made in the United States. Both amateur and professional filmmakers were invited to submit works to a panel of nationally-renowned critics who selected the best films for competition in the annual festival. Director George Stevens was recognized with the Festival’s first Great Director Tribute.
In 1973, the focus shifted. Rather than a competition, the annual festival became a showcase for American films. The critics, acting as scouts instead of judges, offered films they deemed worthy of recognition and invited filmmakers and creators for on-stage discussion with the audience. Early critics and jurors included Hollis Alpert, Charles Champlin, Roger Ebert, Paul Schrader, Judith Crist, Barbara Bryant, Manny Farber, Andrew Sarris and others.
The following year, the Festival expanded its activities, honoring Gregory Peck at the first Great Screen Actor Retrospective. Peck was present for the three-day event and appeared on stage each evening for discussion with the audience. Today the program exists as the Master Screen Artist Tribute.
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