Kline, Shanley Among Presenters for SVA's 2009 'DUSTY' Awards, Gala Ceremony 5/9

The 20th annual Dusty Film and Animation Festival and Awards will highlight over 100 films by students graduating from the BFA Film, Video and Animation Department  at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). The program includes screenings of short films, videos and animations.

On Saturday, May 9, the invite-only awards ceremony and gala at SVA Theater (333 W. 23rd Street) will include notable presenters from the world of film, television, video and theater industry, including:

The Best Director Award will be presented by: Academy Award winner Kevin Kline, Won the Academy Award for A FISH CALLED WANDA; Other credits: GRAND CANYON; CRY FREEDOM; DAVE. CHAPLIN; THE ICE STORM; AS YOU LIKE IT; IN & OUT; DE-LOVELY.

The Best Screenplay Award will be presented by: Academy Award winner John Patrick Shanley*, Won the Academy Award for MOONSTRUCK and Nominated for DOUBT. Other film credits: CONGO; THE RED COAT; ALIVE. Theatre credits include Doubt (Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize), Four Dogs & A Bone, Beggars in the House of Plenty, Danny and The Deep Blue Sea, Defiance, and many others.

The Best Cinematography Award will be presented by: Academy Award Winner Robert Elswit, Won the Academy Award for THERE WILL BE BLOOD; Other credits: MICHAEL CLAYTON; GOOD NIGHT, GOOD LUCK; SYRIANA; RUNAWAY JURY; TOMORROW NEVER DIES; DUPLICITY.

The Best Documentary Award will be presented by: Nina Rosenblum, nominated for the Academy Award for LIBERATORS: FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS IN WORLD WAR ll, and has received awards at Sundance Film Festival and two International Documentary Awards.

The Best Film Award will be presented by: Randall Emmett, producer of 55 films including RIGHTEOUS KILL; RAMBO V; THE WICKER MAN; THICK AS THIEVES; DAY OF THE DEAD; FAKE IDENITY; HOME OF THE BRAVE. (SVA Alumnus, BFA 1994 Film and Video)

The Best Editor Award will be presented by: Barbara Tulliver, Film credits: BROOKLYN'S FINEST; SIGNS; THE WINSLOW BOY; REDBELT; HEIST; SPARTAN.

The Best Animation Award will be presented by: Tom Sito, Veteran of film animation. Directed OSMOSIS JONES; Animated the beast in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST; the genie in ALADDIN; Story artist for ANTZ, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, SHREK; DINOSAUR. Numerous TV and feature films to his credit. (SVA Alumnus, BFA 1977 Animation).

Additional presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

This year's Screenwriters Night is a collaboration with the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in which SVA graduating screenwriters will have selected scenes performed live by alumni from the Neighborhood Playhouse.

"We are very pleased to have reached the 20th year of the Dustys as we recognize the outstanding achievement of emerging filmmakers, and members of the industry get the chance to see the work of the next generation of some remarkable film and animation talent," said Reeves Lehmann, chair of the BFA Film, Video and Animation Department at SVA. "We welcome truly wonderful talent from the industry, in addition to our illustrious SVA alums, as part of our festival and awards at our all-new state-of-the art School of Visual Arts Theater."

Each year, film achievement awards are presented in the following categories: documentary, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, directing and outstanding film. Animation achievement awards are presented for traditional, stop-motion, and experimental animation. This year's presenters join previous ones that have included Harvey Keitel, Danny Aiello, Sean Combs, Bryan Singer, Treat Williams, David Koepp, Wes Craven, Griffin Dunne, Bill Plympton, Tom Sito and Ellen Burstyn.

2009 Festival Schedule

Monday, May 4 - Friday, May 8: Screenings*

SVA Theater

333 West 23rd Street, 12 noon - 11pm

Tuesday, May 5: Screenwriters Night

SVA Theater, 6:00pm

Thursday, May 7: Animation Screenings*

SVA Theater, 7 - 11pm

Saturday, May 9: Awards Ceremony and Gala

Awards Ceremony: SVA Theater, 6pm

Gala: Marquee - 8pm - 11pm

289 10th Avenue, NY, NY 10001

Sunday, May 10: Winner's Circle

SVA Theater, 12pm-6pm

RSVP is required for Screenwriters Night, Awards Ceremony and Gala. For public inquiries regarding tickets, please contact 212.592.2124.

Events marked with an asterisk * above are free and open to the public.Screenwriters Night, May 5, 2009, is held in collaboration with The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and The Real Theatre Company. Eleven five-minute scenes by SVA's screenwriting thesis students are set to be performed live on stage, featuring alumni from The Neighborhood Playhouse, the internationally regarded acting conservatory. Screenwriters Night will be directed by award-winning filmmaker John Gallagher, a faculty member at both SVA and The Neighborhood Playhouse, and will be produced by film producers Annie Flocco and Heidi H. Hamelin

The 2009 Dusty Film and Animation Festival and Awards are sponsored by: Nice Shoes, National Board of Review, New York Women in Film and Television, CAVA, Colliers ABR, Eastman Kodak, Future Media Concepts, SCS Agency, Inc, and Animation Magazine. Screenwriters Night is in collaboration with The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and The Real Theater Company and is in association with CAVA and Final DrAft, Inc.

The Dusty Film and Animation Festival and Awards began in 1990 when the BFA Film, Video and Animation Department sought to bring its year-end screenings of student films to a
wider audience. With sponsorship, a venue, and the support from the film industry, the event came to life. To pay tribute to School of Visual Arts founder Silas H. Rhodes, the event was named "Dusty" - after the nickname Mr. Rhodes had as a soldier in World War II.

School of Visual Arts is widely regarded as one of the finest art schools in the United States for its innovative curriculum, unparalleled faculty of more than 900 creative professionals and its participation in the larger arts community of New York City. Film and animation students at SVA have received accolades and honors from such renowned institutions and organizations such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Sundance Film Festival; International Animated Film Festival in Annecy, France; American Film Institute; Women in Film; National Board of Review and many others. Find more information at www.sva.edu/dusty.

School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City is an established leader and innovator in the education of artists. From its inception in 1947, the faculty has been comprised of professionals working in the arts and art-related fields. SVA provides an environment that nurtures creativity, inventiveness and experimentation, enabling students to develop a strong sense of identity and a clear direction of purpose.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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