14th Annual Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival, September 13-16, 2012
Honoree is Actor Brandon Smith
Filmmakers & Actors to Conduct Workshop at Festival
BAY AREA HOUSTON, TEXAS - The 14th Annual Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival will be presenting actor Brandon Smith the Life Achievement Award at the Cascade Award Gala on September 15, 6 p.m. at the NASA Hilton in Nassau Bay. Master of Ceremony for the evening will be award winning Ernie Manouse, from PBS, Channel 8 Houston. The film festival will be held September 13, 14, 15, & 16, 2012 and the theme is “Hollywood Nights: Celebrating Indie Filmmakers”.
Brandon, a native Texan, has been a working actor since the 70’s and has studied at the famous Old Vic in London. Some of his films he is known for include No Country for Old Men, Jeepers Creepers, Powder, Robo Cop 2 and Bernie (2011). His many TV series included Friday Night Lights, Lonesome Dove and Walker, Texas Ranger. With 65 titles under his belt, Brandon Smith has had many faces on the silver screen. He also received a SAG Award for No Country for Old Men.
The evening of Thursday, September 13, will have full feature screenings from 6 p.m. – Midnight at Star Cinema Grill, 1020 W. NASA Parkway #152, Webster. One featured movie shot in Houston by director Baldamar Rodriquez is In Search of the American Dream. During the film breaks the film directors and producers will conduct a “Q & A Session”. Another feature film on opening night is Loop, a docu-drama about a serial killer. Rodriquez also will be featured on a panel with media personality Nellie Gonzalez and Mayra Leal, who starred in Machete, Playing House and Arena. Their panel will be “Latino in Film: Making your big break onto the big screen” at Saturday, September 15 at 2:00 p.m.
The opening night Meet & Greet Mixer with celebrities and guests is Friday, September 14 at the Villa Capri Restaurant, 3713 NASA Parkway, in Seabrook at 6 p.m. This is the event that everyone has a chance to mingle with the guests and to get autographs.
The finalists’ indie films will be showing all day Saturday, September 15 & Sunday 16. These screenings are at the Star Cinema Grill at NASA Parkway & I-45. For times refer to the website.
Various ticket packages are available for all films, workshops and social events and all are open to the public. Tickets can also be purchased online at the film fest website.
The Gulf Coast Film Festival was established in 1998 by founder Hal Wixon and attracts independent filmmakers from around the globe. The films are judged by apanel of judges consisting of seasoned producers, directors, cinematographers and actors. Each year the festival awards numerous entries in film and screenplay entries in various genres. Selection is competitive and awards are given by merit. Screening schedule for the finalist is listed on the website also.
Hal Wixon, festival founder and chairman stated, “We have professional and beginner filmmakers entering their independent film work. If you haven’t attended any of our past festivals, we have many new additions to this year’s festival that our committee continues to work on all year long. Some of our previous Gulf Coast Film Festival winners have been also screened at SXSW and Sundance Film Festivals. We are also excited about who will be appearing at the Directors Forum during the event.”
The Gulf Coast Film & Video tickets are available at the festival website and film tickets are also at the door at Star Cinema Grill. For more information contact Hal Wixon at 281-333-5804 and for donations to the charity silent auction that will be held at the Awards Gala contact Domino Taylor at 832-444-2512. The Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival is a 501(c) (3) organization. For more information log on to www.gulfcoastfilmfest.com. That’s a wrap!