AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY TO HONOR ROBERT DUVALL, JUDITH IVEY, ALI MACGRAW, DENNIS QUAID, EDWIN BUD" SHRAKE, FOREST WHITAKER AT THE FOURTH ANNUAL TEXAS FILM HALL OF FAME AWARDS Ann Richards, Jonathan Demme, John Lee Hancock, Dennis Hopper, Elvis Mitchell and Treat Williams Also Scheduled to Appear

The Austin Film Society announced today that Robert Duvall, Judith Ivey, Ali MacGraw, Dennis Quaid, Edwin Bud" Shrake and Forest Whitaker will be honored at the fourth annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards on March 12, 2004. Also attending as award presenters will be director Jonathan Demme, director John Lee Hancock, actor Dennis Hopper, New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell and actor Treat Williams. Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards will once again be at the helm as the evenings emcee and multiple Grammy Award-winner Ray Benson will conduct a live charity auction. The Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards brings cinephiles and celebrities together at Austin Studios to recognize the actors, directors, screenwriters, filmmakers and films from, influenced or inspired by the Lone Star State.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) March 1, 2004--The Austin Film Society announced today that Robert Duvall, Judith Ivey, Ali MacGraw, Dennis Quaid, Edwin Bud" Shrake and Forest Whitaker will be honored at the fourth annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards on March 12, 2004. Also attending as award presenters will be director Jonathan Demme, director John Lee Hancock, actor Dennis Hopper, New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell and actor Treat Williams. Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards will once again be at the helm as the evenings emcee and multiple Grammy Award-winner Ray Benson will conduct a live charity auction. The Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards brings cinephiles and celebrities together at Austin Studios to recognize the actors, directors, screenwriters, filmmakers and films from, influenced or inspired by the Lone Star State.

Texas film is more alive than ever," says Texas Monthly editor Evan Smith, this years co-chairman and founding co-chairman of Texas Film Hall of Fame. With so many films shooting here and so many new and established stars from Texas leading the industry, we've got a lot to celebrate."

Inductees for the 2004 Hall of Fame include Texas natives:

- Actress Judith Ivey to be inducted by actor Treat Williams

- Actor Dennis Quaid to be inducted by director John Lee Hancock

- Screenwriter/author Edwin "Bud" Shrake to be inducted by actor Dennis Hopper

- Actor/director/producer Forest Whitaker to be inducted by Jonathan Demme

In addition:

- San Diego-born actor Robert Duvall will be presented the Tom Mix Honorary Texan Award by NYT critic Elvis Mitchell.

- Ali MacGraw will accept this years Frontier Award, on behalf of the cast and crew of 1972s classic THE GETAWAY, from Gov. Ann Richards.

The Texas Film Hall of Fame benefits the educational and artistic programs of the Austin Film Society (AFS), an organization that promotes the appreciation of film and supports creative filmmaking. Since 1996, 143 film and video production projects have been granted $403,000 by AFS Texas Filmmmakers Production Fund. For more information on AFS, visit www.austinfilm.org.

The events Lucky Star Auction begins Wednesday February 25, online at www.luckystarauction.com and will close at 10 p.m. at the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards on March 12. Three packages will be auctioned live at the event.

Packages include:

VENECIA -- 45 1/2" x 35" Oil on Canvas by Spanish artist Bartolome Sastre. Generously donated by Austin Galleries.

SPY KIDS BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA FOR 25 -- Original props from the sets of SPY KIDS 1, 2 and 3-D delivered and set up at your home for a SPY KIDS movie set party. Production camera and person are included to film your childs unique SPY KIDS birthday party. Also includes custom 3D party invitations (with 3-D glasses), party favors, birthday cake, and an original signed 3D SPY KIDS 3 poster!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Enjoy New York this spring! Luxury accommodations for four nights at the St. Regis Hotel. Start your day with the live taping of Regis and Kellys" morning show. Grab a couple of friends that afternoon for a visit of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." Enjoy dinner and drinks at the fabulous Il Mulino Restaurant for the finest in Italian cuisine. This package also includes tickets for two to The Late Show with David Letterman."

The Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards marks the beginning of the South By Southwest Film Festival, one of the premiere film festivals in the nation (www.sxsw.com). According to Festival Director Louis Black, With SXSW beginning on the same evening as the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards, it is simply more evidence of the extraordinarily rich heritage of Texas film and of the amazing amount of film activity currently happening in Austin."

Gala Co-chairmen for the 2004 event are Liberty Bank president Eddie Safady and Evan Smith. Talent chair is Louis Black. Auction chair is Katy Gaffney. Sponsors include presenting sponsor AT&T; preferred principal sponsors Public Strategies, Inc. and Time Warner Cable; and media sponsors Entertainment Weekly, Texas Monthly and The Austin Chronicle.

Austin Studios, a partnership between the Austin Film Society and the City of Austin, is a 20-acre production facility consisting of five stages, production office and screening room. Austin Studios has been the home to 16 feature films, bringing $135 million into the local economy, including MISS CONGENIALITY, THE ROOKIE, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and upcoming releases THE WENDELL BAKER STORY and CHEER UP.

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Media Contact:     

Gregory Collins    

Austin Film Society            

gregory@austinfilm.org                    

512.322.0145 x 213