The Creative Arts Center of Dallas is putting a shout-out to the artistic types among us. If you want to be part of the 2013 Annual Membership Exhibition, you’ve got to get your act together.

Since you’re in a hurry, here are the rules:

• You’ve got to be a member of The Creative Arts Center of Dallas at the time of submission. One-year memberships are $45 for an individual membership and $35 for seniors, educators and students.
• You need to submit three images of original 2D or 3D works created within the last two years.
• Submissions may be made via email or CD.
• Each artist is allowed to submit a maximum of three.
• Entry fee is $35 for up to three images including details of works.
• The deadline for submissions is Saturday, July 6.

Mary Tomas (File photo)*

Kenneth Craighead (File photo)

The jury will be made up of Mary Tomás of Mary Tomás Gallery, Kim Cadmus Owens of the University of Dallas and Kenneth Craighead of Craighead Green Gallery. Instead of sending candy, flowers and things to the judges, better focus your efforts on your works of art.

An open reception for the exhibition will take place on Saturday, August 10, at Mary Tomás Gallery.

* Photo credit: Glenn Hunter

How about a baseball game with a once-in-a-lifetime team of All-Stars? No, we’re not talking about Major League Baseball. It’s Dirk Nowitzki’s 2013 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game this Saturday.

Dirk Nowitzki’s Celebriy All-Stars Baseball Game

Sure, it’s gonna be warm, but the timing couldn’t be better because come July, Dirk is gonna be busy, baby, waiting for his first offspring — a girl — to be born. As Dirk told Hit Radio FFH, “I am pleased that our (his and wife Jessica Olson’s) daughter is coming in this summer to the world — that is free of play time, so I can get up at night to take care of them. It’s good timing.”

But back to Saturday’s game at Dr Pepper Ballpark. If you’ve never been to Dr Pepper Ballpark, you’ve missed the fun of being in a stadium where there isn’t a bad seat.

The two teams will be made up of

BLUE SOX

• Managers: David Justice, Joe Trahan, Kevin Healy, Barry Pechenik and Jason Terry
• Pitchers: Mike Bacsik, Will Skelton and Matt Hinds
• Players: Dirk Nowitzki, Mark Cuban, Vince Carter, Brandon Carr, Michael Finley, Brian Cardinal, Geoff Stults, Ben Grieve, Jeff Staubach, Kirby Schlegel, David Kelton, James Laferney, Charlie McKinney, John Trabold, Barrett Kingsriter, Danny Bollinger and Marshall McKinney

WHITE SOX

• Managers: Goose Gossage, Donnie Nelson, Brian Nadurak and Jae Crowder
• Pitchers: CJ Blue and Cameron Brewer
• Players: Dez Bryant, Terrell Owens, Eddie Najera, JJ Barea, Drew Pearson, Devin Harris, Roy Williams, Michael Turner, Chandler Parsons, Reese Baez, Jason Schwartz, Rob Wechsler, JB Yowell, Tye Williams, Brian Dick and Jeff Carper

Being presented by Baylor Medical Center at Frisco, the game will take place at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco with the gates opening at 4:30 p.m. Before the “Heroes” take to the field, the Heroes Special Olympics All-Star Softball Game will get underway at 4:45 p.m. These teams will include both celebrities and amateurs players.

Even the national anthem will be memorable with Britney Holmes performing.

If this is your first time at this game, you’d better be prepared for between inning antics and activities. At the conclusion of the game, Baylor will also sponsor 10 minutes of fireworks.

Tickets are a bargain big time. They range from $8 to $17 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster or at the ballpark with the proceeds going to the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation and the Heroes Foundation.

Folks, this is about as G-rated as you’re going to get and it’s a one-night only event, so why not gather all the kids in your life and support the two foundations? Don’t forget to slab on some sunscreen and take along a pair of shades and a hat. We don’t want to sunburn that cute nose.

Graphic courtesy of Dirk Nowitzki's 2013 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game

Perfectionists can be a royal pain. They insist on all their paperclips being arranged in order according to value — platinum first, then gold followed by sterling silver. Hmm, a little overkill.

Maggie Kipp and Shay Geyer (File photo)

But then there are those who really have a reason for their desire to have everything absolutely perfect. That’s the case of the Equest crew led by Maggie Kipp and Shay Geyer. After years of hoping, planning and negotiating their involvement with Texas Horse Park, they just want everything to be spotless and ready to improve the lives of children and vets in the program.

Well, despite non-stop construction, the Park is still in the hard helmet stage and that just doesn’t fit with the upcoming Triple Crown Gala’s “Hats & Horses — A Texas Derby Day Soiree!” on Saturday, May 3. Plus there’s always the issue of prissy Mother Nature, who’s going through her spring period.

Michelle Meadows (File photo)

Biting the bullet, so to speak, the organizers decided to move the event to Southfork. Production maven Michelle Meadow is an old hand in orchestrating events at the “Dallas” location. She’s babysat many a Cattle Baron’s Ball there and knows all the nooks and crannies.

Everything else will stay the absolute according to plan. Hats will be the “must of the day” with judgings by local “top experts.” Loads of foods and refreshments will be on hand. Equest equines will be on the premises. And, yes, the Kentucky Derby will be on the screens.

Oh, but there’s more. Alas, that can’t be revealed until the afternoon event. But it involves anyone who attends the spring event just may have a fall surprise for their datebook. Shoot! Were we supposed to let that much out?

Southfork Longhorn (File photo)

So, instead of heading south to Texas Horse Park, turn your horsepower in the other direction to Southfork and remember the speed limits are watched carefully by local officials.

BTW, a tip of the hat to organizers for making this decision this week instead of waiting til the last minute. It must have been a tough call to make, but it allows everyone time to rearrange their GPS-ers and think “Go, north, y’all.”

The weather predictors are having event organizers kick in their back-up plans. First, The Great Create revealed that it’s all ready to move inside if the guessers are right.

Now, word just arrived that this Sunday’s Lemonade Day Best-Tasting Lemonade Contest that was scheduled to take place “at Klyde Warren Park has been move due to predictions of inclement weather for that day.”

Front row: Sonny Alaniz, Michael Salazar, Albert Morales, Natnael Asrat; Back row: Mike Rawlings and Robert Alpert (File photo*)

The event where celebrity judges like restaurateur Phil Romano, Dallas Cowboy coach Jason Garrett, State Senator Royce West, Klyde Warren, Hockaday senior Maddie Bradshaw (founder of m3 girl designs, a jewelry company with $1.6 million in annual revenue), and Heart of a Warrior Charitable Foundation founder Gail Warrior, will now select the best tasting lemonade at Trinity  Groves restaurant and entertainment district.

While we all know that there have been weather threats recently that have fizzled out, this ain’t a case of crying, “Wolf!” If you have an outdoor event, you really need to a back-up plan for the sake of your guests, staffs and vendors.

* Photo provided by Lemonade Day Greater Dallas

Despite all the action still underway in May, you may want to put this one your “to-do list” for June. That is, it you have a kiddo.

Let’s be extremely, painfully honest. After Memorial Day and an early summer getaway, parents are facing weeks of trying to find something to keep the youngsters busy. You can only go to the pool so many times before the household budget is in overload for sunscreen. On the other hand, how movies are munchkin friendly?

The folks at the Dallas Arboretum are teaming up with Dallas chefs Lynae Fearing, Scott Gottlich and Kent Rathbun to provide a project that is perfect for budding cooks grades 1 through 8.

Scott Gottlich, Kent Rathbun and Lyane Fearing*

Inspired by the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, Gardenlicious is “a healthy kids cook-off contest” at the Arboretum’s Camp House.

If you haven’t been to the Children’s Adventure Garden, you might not know that one of the highlights is the Edible Garden and that’s key to the contest. Each child chef “can select at least one ingredient that grows there to create their culinary creation (snack, dessert, entrée, etc.) that will be judged by the three Dallas chefs.

Judging will be based on healthiness, difficulty/creativity, taste/flavor, use of garden ingredients and appearance of food and presentation style of chef(s).

Finalists will present four servings of their prepared cook-off entry on stage for the judges to sample.

And since turnabout is always the most fun, Gardenlicious Chair Carol Pierce Goglia has arranged for the adult chefs to provide their own dishes for the kids to judge.

According to Carol, “With all the focus on cooking, we have also named Cecile Bonte the honorary chair of the event—not just because she led the effort in raising the millions to build the Children’s Garden as the capital campaign chairwoman, but because she is an extraordinary cook.”

While the contest doesn’t take place until Sunday, June 29, recipes must be submitted by Sunday, June 8, and that’s right around the corner.

* Photo provided by the Dallas Arboretum

Like all diseases, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia don’t play fair. But on holidays, it really can hit home when a surviving parent is there physically but the mind has already gone on the long journey in the fog.

Ran into a much respected gentleman last week and he admitted that he was glad that his father was comfortable and constantly surrounded by family members and an outstanding group of caregivers. But he added that his father doesn’t recognize him.

And then there are the families who are making the painfully slow transition of an elder going through the stages of memory loss and its ever-changing world. Good days. Bad days.

Just as children dread seeing their parents enter the various stages of this disease, so grandchildren are also victims. Grandparents are a blessing. They shower their grandchildren with joys with management being handled by their parents. Imagine having a grandparent, who doesn’t recognize you.

That is why the Blondes vs. Brunettes should be more than applauded. They should be gangbuster supported. These 20- and 30-somethings, who should have been booking trips to the beaches and mountain, spend the summer doing weekly sweat-outs literally working out for the powder puff football game that will take place in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, August 16.

Blondes vs. Brunettes at the Cotton Bowl (File photo)

Ah, but in addition to the grueling workouts, each player and coach is responsible for raising funds for the cause.

It’s gonna be a long summer, but the blondes and brunettes will definitely make it pay off.

Despite August’s promise of being a ho-hum month in preparation of the upcoming slam-bang fundraising season, Sunday, August 3, proved otherwise.

Chelsea Morehart with Oakley

From 11-4 Eddie Deen’s was the ultimate dog park. In addition to the air conditioned surroundings, the place was jamming with pooches all dressed up and their two-legged escorts to raise money for Paws in the City at Howlin’ Hound Hoedown.

While the cools cats up for adoption like Oakley snuggled at the entrance in wire condos, they purred in gratitude not to be hobnobbing with the canines bouncing throughout the facilities.

Linda Slobodnik and Cosette

Sure, 11-year-old Cosette the apricot poodle was dressed to the nines thanks to Linda Slobodnik’s overnight tailoring of her cowgirl attire. Linda admitted that such a designer outfit wasn’t a snap. After all, one has to take in to account that nature might call and Cosette’s outfit had to accommodate.

One person commented how much Cosette and Linda proved out the theory that pets and their humans tend to look alike.

Angela Batra with Ella and Dev Batra with Bentley

Over at the E&B Couture table, the company’s namesake golden doodles Ella and Bentley were blissful. After all, the company policy is for every purchase of a designer collar or leash, 5% goes to PITC. But then, family patriarch Dev Batra had to leave the table briefly. The results? Bentley would have not any of that and started barking and pulling away from mom Angela Batra due to separation anxiety.

Lauren Mongaras with Nick and Beau

Not having anything to do with golden doodles issues, Maltipoo Beau barked his displeasure of the brother and sister’s getting too close to this territory. Beau’s new housemate/rescue Nick the Yorkie/Chihuahua just flatly was confused by the temper tantrum and was just grateful to have Beau and Lauren Mongaras in his life.

In the main room, the dogs ruled as contests were held on stage. As PITC President Martha Powell (aka Larry Powell’s better half) took off for Harmony rehearsals, the 2:00 judging commenced.

Wendy Newberg with Henry

But size only mattered when the largest dog contest took place. With Great Danes Admiral and Henry vying for the judges’ measuring tapes, Admiral won by a smile and an inch.

Dean and Heidi Somes with Admiral and Jessica and Christian Gemar with Star

At the other end of the extreme sizes, Admiral’s buddy pocketbook-size Chihuahua Star held her own taking the prize for the smallest.

Rory the Beagle was letting the whole room know how he would have voted. Rory’s human Melissa Boesch admitted that the young Beagle was her second one, but he was also a bit more “Beagle-ish.”

Nearby, Jeneva O’Connor’s Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen/Beagle Charlotte just looked a wee bit embarrassed by Rory’s howls.

Tate Love

Kingsley Albers

Across the way, four-year-old mini-cocker Tate Love and 3-year-old Oliver Love behaved perfectly as they hosted 8-week-old Pomeranian Kingsley Albers, who was attending his first party.

In between contests, guests partied in the corral at the far end of the room.

Off stage, PITC clients, like Einstein and Lola, were just hoping to win a home.

The Junior League of Dallas and Mary Kay held the 2^nd Annual Women LEAD Scholarship Speech Competition at Emmett J. Conrad High School on Thursday, March 26. Each of the ten finalists had to prepare a three-to-five minute speech addressing “their dream beyond college and how they could accomplish it with $5,000.” In addition to the importance of the dream for themselves, they had to include the impact that it would have on others.

According to Junior League President Julie Bagley, “It is an incredible honor to be able to award our second annual Women LEAD recipients in collaboration with Mary Kay. We hope these scholarships will allow these women to further their education and become one step closer to pursuing their dreams. Education is one of the League’s main areas of support, and we look forward to seeing the impact it will have on their lives and future. We are also excited to see how the program will grow each year with new recipients. This program directly reflects our mission to develop the potential of women and we are eager to see the influence it will have on our community.”

The prize? The first-place winner would receive “a one-time $10,000 scholarship.” The second-, third- and fourth-place winners would each receive “a one-time $5,000 scholarship.”

Crayton Webb, Emili Quintero, Emily House, Belem Soto, Sung Mawi and Julie Bagley*

The results? Emili Quintero was the first place winner and plans to use her $10,000 scholarship to enter Texas A&M to major in business management. Second-place winner Emily House will use her $5,000 to major in physical therapy at the University of Houston. Third-place winner Sung Mawi’s $5,000 will be used for her accounting studies at the University of Texas at Austin. And fourth place-winner Belem Soto plans to also attend Texas A&M and use her $5,000 to major in wildlife conservation.

Mary Kay Inc. VP of Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility Crayton Webb added, “We are so proud to see Mary Kay Ash’s mission of enriching women’s lives around the world come to life with the Women LEAD Scholarship Program and are honored to partner with the Junior League of Dallas for another great year. It has been truly inspiring to see the seeds of success root through these scholarship recipients and we know great things lie ahead as we create opportunities to develop female leaders in our community.”

* Photo credit: Rhi Lee

Last year a new fundraiser was held that surprised guests. It was totally fun. With area smartie pants competing against students, the audience had a great time seeing the kids do nicely and the adult contestants grateful that they weren’t still in school.

The event was “Are You Smarter Than A KIPPster?”

Evidently, organizers decided to pit the two groups against each other for an encore on Thursday, April 30, at Frontiers of Flight Museum.

Clay Jenkins (File photo)

Florence Shapiro (File photo)

Lucy Billingsley (File photo)

Lucy Wrubel (File photo)

Event Chair Lindsey Billingsley has arranged for the following grown-ups to match their gray matter with middle-school students:

• Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins,
• Pastor Bryan Carter,
• Educate Texas COO George Tang,
• the Honorable Florence Shapiro,
• Dallas Country Treasurer/the Honorable Pauline Medrano,
• Reel FX Animation Chairman/CEO Steve O’Brien,
• business consultant Bernice J. Washington,
• Billingsley Company Partner Lucy Billingsley,
• Montrose Capital President Will Rose and
• DJ/philanthropist Lucy Wrubel.

In addition to watching the panelists compete, there’s a cocktail reception, dinner and a live auction for a 7-night Mediterranean yachting voyage for two.

But even if there weren’t those perks, the fun of watching “those-in-the-know” not know is hilarious. Talk about being unscripted.

Tickets start at $150 and benefit KIPP DFW’s “mission of providing children in underserved communities with a free, rigorous, high-quality education that offers the knowledge, skills and character traits necessary to thrive in school, college and the competitive world beyond.”

Lucy Billingsley and Caren Kline

Lucy Billingsley arrive at Frontiers of Flight Museum on Thursday, April 30, loaded for bear. As one of the adult panelists for the “Are You Smarter Than A KIPPster?” competition, she had prepped warm-up questions for her team of Pastor Bryan Carter, Clay Jenkins, Steve O’Brien, Will Rose, Florence Shapiro, George Tang, Bernice Washington, Lucy Wrubel and Edwin Flores subbing in for Pauline Medrano. She did a trial run of her questions with Caren Kline:

• What is a camel-hair brush made of?
• Where are Panama hats made?
• What is the color of a Purple Finch?

A couple of Lucy’s fellow panelists probably wished she had just said, “Drop and give me ten.”

Steve O’Brien, Clay Jenkins, Bryan Carter, Chris Brown, Lucy Wrubel, George Tang, Will Rose, Florence Shapiro, Edwin Flores, Lucy Billingsley and Bernice Washington

On one side of the stage, the driving-age panelists were chatting up and looking pretty light-hearted and confident. On the other side of the stage behind the screen were the KIPPsters in their navy blue polo shirts and khaki pants getting revved up for the confrontation. It seemed as if the adults thought the questions would be throw-aways, while the kids appeared ready for bar exams.

From the left: Judah Foster, Yesenia Avalos, Leslie Uribe, Lyrun Young, Romero Lucero, Damian Breedlove, Ailin Castillo, Saadiq Muhammad, Alexis McCain and Melody Munoz

For first-time guests, the evening was filled with surprises. Why, even those who had attended last year’s KIPP:DFW fundraiser were in for a surprise.

Quinton Vance and Lindsay Billingsley

As guests literally filled the ground level tables after a VIP reception on the upper level, Event Chair Lindsay Billingsley and KIPP DFW Executive Director Quinton Vance welcomed the hundreds of guests and directed their attention to a stage in the middle of the room and introduced the KIPPP Destiny Elementary Show Choir.

KIPP Destiny Elementary School Choir

KIPP Destiny Elementary School Choir

KIPP Destiny Elementary School Choir finale

If the word “adorable” had a video to define it, The Kippies would be performing. They sang; they gestured; they should have been arrested for stealing everybody’s heart.

The evening could have ended right there and then and nobody would have complained at all.

But Jeopardy! two-time winner/emcee Chris Smith moved swiftly to the podium and introduced the two panels — the adults and then the KIPPsters (Yesenia Avalos, Damion Breedlove, Ailin Castillo, Judah Foster, Alexia McCain, Saadiq Muhammad, Melody Munoz, Lucero Romero, Leslie Uribe and Lyrun Young) — and started the quiz.

Panelists and Chris Smith

Anyone in the audience or on the panel thinking the questions would be softballs like “Mary had a little … a) alligator, b) lamb c) pain in her neck or d) pig?” went into cerebral shock.

Here are some of the questions that faced the panelists:

Which of the following describes a result of the 13^th Amendment?

• African Americans in the North could vote
• State governments were required to protect individual rights
• Former confederate officials were prohibited from holding elected office
• Africa Americans in the South could move elsewhere

Brett’s desk is 40 inches long. Given that 1 inch is approximately 254 centimeters, how many centimeters long is the desk?

• 75 cm
• 54 cm
• 6 cm
• 120 cm

The atomic number of an atom is equal to

• The number of protons in the atom
• The number of protons and neutrons in the atom
• The number of protons and electrons in the atom
• The number of protons, neutrons and electrons in the atom

Which of these keeps Earth in its orbit?

• The rotation of the Earth
• The gravity of the Sun
• The revolution of the Moon
• The gravity of the Moon

In the early rounds, it was looking pretty bleak for the Dallasites as they fumbled and grumbled. Finally, they got one question right and their fellow panelists did a wave to celebrate.

Adults celebrated getting a right answer

The kids, on the other hand, looked at the adults acting like kids.

Deb and Clint McConnough

After the first part of the quiz ended for a break, KIPP DFW Campaign Co-Chairs Deb and Clint McDonnough put a shout-out for guests to support and get involved “to provide children in under-served communities with a free, rigorous, high-quality education that offers the knowledge, skills and character traits necessary to thrive in school, college and the competitive world beyond.”

A moving point in the evening was when 2003 KIPP Truth Academy Founding 5^th grader Jozlyn Hall told about her experience with KIPP. Thanks to KIPP DFW she went on to Texas Woman’s University, from which she would be graduating in seven days. But the KIPP connection didn’t end with her being able to study at TWU. She revealed that she would be teaching sixth-grade science at KIPP Destiny Middle School that opens this fall.

The evening ended with the lighting round that resulted in the KIPPsters once again taking home the honors.

Oh, were you wondering what the answers were to Lucy’s and the KIPP quiz? Don’t blame you. Follow the jump and the answers are there.

• What is a camel-hair brush made of? Squirrel fur
• Where are Panama hats made? Ecuador
• What color is a Purple Finch? Rose-red

Which of the following describes a result of the 13^th Amendment?

• African Americans in the North could vote
• State governments were required to protect individual rights
• Former confederate officials were prohibited from holding elected office
• Africa Americans in the South could move elsewhere

The product of three numbers is 138. One of the numbers is 23. What the other two numbers?

• 3 and 4
• 2 and 3
• 2 and 5
• 3 and 5

The atomic number of an atom is equal to

• The number of protons in the atom
• The number of protons and neutrons in the atom
• The number of protons and electrons in the atom
• The number of protons, neutrons and electrons in the atom

Which of these keeps Earth in its orbit?

• The rotation of the Earth
• The gravity of the Sun
• The revolution of the Moon
• The gravity of the Moon

With fundraising activities finally winding down for the 2015 spring season, Saturday, May 16th was the last really big push for having a reason for give. The BvB Dallas was holding Bridal Blitz to auction off couture bridal gowns over at 650. Project Transformation was “Off to the Farm” raising funds in the afternoon south of town.

And then there was Community Partners of Dallas’ young professionals group (yCPD) competing in all sorts of field day antics. One thing that hadn’t been planned was adorable emcee KDFW-FOX anchor/reporter Jenny Anchondo’s surprise. Just the night before equally adorable Heath Oakes had popped the question and backed it up with a dazzling ring. Needless to say, Jenny like the ring was sparkling. Maybe Jenny should have checked out the BvB Dallas Bridal Blitz? As for the rest of the games and fundraising, here’s a field report:

The young professionals group of Community Partners of Dallas (yCPD) hosted their first annual fundraiser with an old fashioned “Field Day” at The Rustic.

From the left: (standing) Jack Gannon, Ben Johnson, Ashley Kisko J.W. Mulkin, Deuce Robertson, Joanna Robertson; (kneeling) Lilly Neubauer and Jenny Anchondo*

Chaired by Lilly Neubauer, the event kicked off with DJ Colly T spinning tunes as twenty-four teams arrived “game ready” in matching team uniforms, costumes and workout gear. Prior to the event, captains submitted their team names with Tolleson Wealth Management winning “Most Clever Team Name” with name “Bad Assets.” But there were many contenders with names like “You’re Welcome for All the Awesome Roads and Bridges” with team members from the engineering firm, IEA; “Hostile Hoteliers” from Embassy Suites Dallas Park Center; “Boyz to Win,” the all-male team from ABC, BBD; “The Field Avengers,” led by yCPD board president Felipe Garza whose teammates all sported super hero costumes, and “Paralyzing Team Name Indecision” for yCPD board member Neill Fuqay’s team who just couldn’t decide.

Matt Leu, Scott Bronk, Colin Philips, Brian Hollabaugh, Elliott Wagner and Daniel Gatlin*

Fox4-TV’s weekend anchor Jenny Anchondo got the day started with announcements and then an explanation of the day’s activities. The teams huddled together to start “talking strategy” for the qualifying events which were: egg race, sponge relay, booty shaker, limbo, noodle toss, beach ball hot potato, wheel barrow race, corn hole and a social media station, where all team members had to send out a selfie or team photo with the signature hashtag of the day – #ycpdfieldday.   With only the top 10 teams making it to the next round, the competition was tight in games like booty shaker (ping pong balls in a Kleenex box tied around someone’s waist and then “shaken” out by shaking your behind, and in most cases, whole body), egg race, sponge relay, and wheel barrow race, while other events proved more challenging. The wind was not anyone’s friend as teams tried throwing a swimming “noodle” into a trash can from 8 feet away which proved to be the most difficult activity of the day.

Potato sack race*

After working up a sweat, the second round teams competing in the potato sack race were announced. Team captains gathered their troops quickly to practice getting in and out of the potato sack before the whistle was blown to begin. The top five teams were swiftly decided as they hopped their way across the finish line in record time. Those not moving on – took time to grab a popsicle from Steel City Pops or a cold beverage from the bar – as they perused the booths of event sponsors Orangetheory Fitness, Flywheel Sports and City Surf Fitness.

From the left: (top) Chaeley Barber and Missy Quintana; (second row) Chelsea Morehart and Kelly Hershman; (bottom row) Jolie Laurence, Cristin Caulfield and Mandy Mack*

With only the three-legged race standing in their way of the championship round, top five finalists tied themselves together with bandannas for some quick practice runs. After the dust had settled, McGuire, Craddock & Strother, P.C.  (members Deuce Robertson, Joanna Robertson, Jack Gannon, J.W. Mulkin, Ben Johnson and Ashley Kisko) and Team Dent (members Kristen Holash, Sarah Andersen, Laila Sarvarian, Travis Dent, Brynn Dent and Austin Wilcox) were the last teams standing and on to the final round.

Tug of war*

The crowd gathered around the field for the much-anticipated tug-of-war, but the McGuire, Craddock & Strother, P.C team was not to be denied and pulled the rope across the finish line in record time for the win. In addition to bragging rights as the inaugural Field Day Champions, members of the winning team each received a gold trophy, $50 gift card to The Container Store, COREhealth Wellness Massage, 5-pack Flywheel Indoor Cycling or Flybarre Classes at Flywheel Sports, unlimited month of classes at City Surf Fitness; and a two-week pass and swag bag courtesy of Orangetheory Fitness.

The event concluded with an After Party complete with cocktails and bites.  All participants received an event T-shirt and a goody bag, as well as a hero medal with a note attached that read: “No matter where you ranked today you are a #1 hero in the eyes of an abused and neglected child. Thanks for making a huge impact on a life!”

After all it is always all about the kids when CPD’s involved!

* Photo credit: Rhi Lee

Anyone who knew L.M. “Kit” Carson knew a true Texas personality. No, he didn’t chew tobacco. He wasn’t a high-rolling millionaire. He didn’t ride the rodeo circuit or even own a professional sports team.

But the North Texas native embodied a maverick spirit within the film industry that grew over the decades. When others were into big studio productions, Kit was his own man writing, directing, producing and acting. He worked with everyone from Sam Shepard, Dallas’ Wilson brothers (Andrew, Luke and Owen), Wes Anderson, and River Phoenix to Richard Gere. His films ranged from “David Holzman’s Diary”, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III”, “Breathless” to “Paris, Texas.” Why, he was even once married to the late actress Karen Black and is the father of actor Hunter Carson.

Back in March 2011, Kit was at the Dallas International Film Festival screening his 3 to 5 minute “African Diary,” that had been filmed on a Nokia N93 and N95 cellphone cameras.

His death last October did not end his influence within the film industry, especially for young up-and-comers. This past spring, DIFF honored him by featuring his 1983 film “Breathless” and posthumously awarding him with the Dallas Star Award.

In announcing plans for the 10^th annual Dallas International Film Festival (coming in April 2016), the Dallas Film Society has revealed the addition of the “Mavericks category to its programming strand, presented by the L.M. Kit Carson Storyfinders Foundation.” The new program will feature four groundbreaking and cutting edge films that spotlight unique cinematic voices breaking the rules of filmmaking to advance the art form. One Maverick filmmaker will be presented with the inaugural L.M. Kit Carson Maverick Filmmaker Award at Dallas Film Society Honors.

According to Hunter, “I truly believe that the art of creating ‘maverick’ films is rarified air. Films that introspectively look at the world in challenging ways deserve to be celebrated.”

The DIFF is accepting submissions for all categories including the Mavericks category:

• Grand Jury Prizes will be presented for Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Short Film, Animated Short Film, Student Short Film and Texas Film Competition presented by Panavision.
• Audience Awards will be given for Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Short Film.
• Additional programming categories include World Cinema Latino Cinema Showcase, Deep Ellum Sounds (music documentaries), Family Films, and Midnight Specials.

Submission deadlines are as following:

• Early deadline — Friday, October 16, 2015,
• Regular deadline — Friday, December 4, 2015 and
• Late deadline — Friday, December 11, 2015.

The 2016 DIFF will take place Thursday, April 14 to Sunday, April 24, 2016.

According to DIFF Senior Programmer Sarah Harris, “We can’t wait to get started on selecting films to showcase at the 2016 DIFF and looking forward to highlighting another group of incredible and diverse talent from around the world. We are so excited to celebrate a decade of sharing our love of film with the community and continuing to introduce Dallas to some of the finest work filmmaking has to offer.”

Submissions are open on WithoutABox and Film Freeway. For more information and to submit films, visit http://www.dallasfilm.org/submit-your-film-for-diff-2016/. Questions can be emailed to submissions@dallasfilm.org.

A lot of folks thought the brutal August heat and overpowering sunshine would be a real problem for the annual BvB Dallas Powder Puff Football Game on Saturday, August 8, at the Cotton Bowl. But whether it was a stroke of good luck or someone checking the setting sun, Old Sol hid behind the stands at the Cotton Bowl, causing a shade to cover the stadium’s stands and field.

On the other hand, the Fair Park parking lots were spilling over, especially with Rascal Flatts performing in nearby Gexa Energy Pavilion. But that didn’t really matter. Nothing was going to stop the BvB Dallas fans, players, coaches, sponsors and media.

But before the sun set, the pre-game preparations were buzzing. BvB Dallas Founder Erin Finegold with clipboard in one hand and walkie-talkie in the other was seamlessly juggling all questions, issues and people. She even managed to do it all with a non-stop smile, never giving a hint that she wasn’t all that happy. For the first time in the BvB Dallas history, they weren’t going to make their goal. Instead of writing a check for $600,000, she was disappointed that it would be for $475,000. Still, that was a record-breaker of an amount for the teams raising funds for Alzheimer’s research and treatment.

Erin and the other BvB vets had had such high hopes this year. They were returning to the Cotton Bowl. They were stepping back to let an executive director raise efforts to the next level. They had an outstanding group of sponsors, both old and new. Yup, they had come a long way since that first game back in 2008. Since then they had raised more than $1.8M.

Jennifer Bergman and Erin Cesla

Still, the game must go on. It was easy to tell the two teams — Blondes in pink and Brunettes in blue. The BvB Dallas leadership like BvB Dallas President Jennifer Bergman was in black. Sunscreen replaced perfume. Instead of makeup, faces were painted with Blondes or Brus.

Cash Sirois and Mike Sirois

The media was on hand to sweat through the event, too. Univision’s Pedro Silva did pre-game interviews. The Ticket was well represented Brothers Mike Sirois and Cash Sirois warmed up to do the play-by-play. They made it clear that they had their favs — Mike in his pink cowboy hat and Cash in his blue one. Ty Walker was the special guest and announcer and announced that “Cash will pound one Bud Light for every touchdown Team Brunette scores!”

DJ EJ

For pre-game entertainment and between quarters, there was Dallas Cowboys DJ EJ and the Dallas Mavericks ManiAACs, who have more costume changes than an Academy Award emcee.

Mary Frances Burleson and Cody Baker

Longtime sponsor Ebby could be seen throughout the stands and on the field. No, not Ebby herself. Instead hand fans with “Ebby” stamped on them fluttered throughout the bleachers. Along the sidelines Ebby’s President Mary Frances Burleson and Marketing Guru Cody Baker arrived in a golf cart. Right at home, Mary Frances in white Puma sneakers, white blouse and slacks and black “shirt” was being diplomatically correct in taking sides. She swapped stories and laughs with others before the game commenced. On the field, the two teams worked out.

Greer Fulton, Jay Finegold and Erin Finegold

Other BvB vets on the sidelines included Erin’s dad Jay Finegold. Father of three girls, he was proud of what his daughter had created in the memory of her grandmother. But then he felt that way about the other original organizers of the fundraisers like 31-year-old Greer Fulton, who was just 23 at the first BvB when she was quarterback along with Erin that first year. And then there was Erin’s sister, Toby Finegold, who at the ripe old age of 14 ran the scoreboard way back then.

Brus’ coaches in blue-and-white argyle sock

A difference this year was that the two teams would not be on the same side of the field. The first half the Blondes would be across the field, while the Brus would be on the side where the fans were gathered. At halftime they would switch. Seems that the coaches wanted it that way. However, the Brus coaches in blue-and-white argyle socks were just too cute to complain. Luckily, there were big Coppus fans blasting cool air.

Cotton Bowl scoreboard

Not so cute was one of the scoreboards. Evidently, it was having a glitchy day. The right upper part of the screen just took a long coffee break, creating a black hole.

Brus arriving on

But once the announcement of teams arriving on the field came, nobody really cared. The Brus were first. They could be heard hollering their arrival as they walked down the tunnel arm-in-arm. There was no doubt that losing was not a part of their game plan as they smashed through their banner.

As they lined up along the goal line, someone suggested that they move to the far left. The Blondes were about to make their entrance.

Blondes arriving on field

Lindsey Kluempers and Becca Elinor

With the confidence of having won all of the previous games except one, the Blondes in pink broke their banner with smiles. Co-Captain Becca Elinor held high a flag with a picture of the ultimate blonde babe — Dolly Parton — and Co-Captain Lindsey Kluempers carrying a Go-Pro on a selfie stick to be used for future promotion.

Like any other football game, the teams went through last minute warmups as the crowds in the stands filled. Someone noticed that one of the Brus was “firing bullet passes for the Brus.”

Over the PA system they announced the outstanding fundraisers on each team like MVP Billie Jo Davis, who raised $21,100. Unfortunately, that tricky scoreboard only partially showed their photos.

Then the drama built as over the PA was heard, “Last year the Brus knocked on the door, kicked on the door, this year they will knock down the door!” and “The Blonde beast has once again been awakened. The dynasty. Victors in six of the last seven games!”

Then it was time for the game to commence with the coin toss. Oops, instead of years past when Mary Frances did the toss, she was escorted to the center of the field only arriving just as the coin landed with the Brus happy as can be.

But before the fun began, a moment of silence was held for those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and the singing of the national anthem.

The game was then on. Here’s a bit of play-by-play recap:

Sabrina Testut, Kimberly Burton and Lauren Davis

Blondes’ first possession is unsuccessful. Brus take over. #4 quarterback is Michelle Rowden. Hits a bullet pass to receiver #81 Vanita Krouch for a first down. But there’s a busted play on fourth down and Blondes take back over. Blonde QB #6 Becca Ellinor completes pass. But they give it up on fourth down, back to Brus. Michelle hits Vanita again for a long gainer. Then they’re just short of goal line. Completed pass to #14 Kristen Kramer for a TD. With extra point good, it’s now 7-0.

Leslie Chandler and Rita Metzinger

Blondes have ball. Drive down field. #39 Katie Tull is QB now. They score TD on completed pass to #57 Natalie Crittenden. Extra point no good, score now 7-6, and first quarter ends.

Mav ManiAACs Osito, Wild Dog, Munchie, Mardi Mar and Black Rhino

Between quarters, the Dallas Mavericks ManiAACs perform to the delight of the fans in the stands. Somebody noted that the quarters were lasting 20 minutes instead of the traditional 15 minutes.

The second period begins with Brus making a few long catches, including one to #91 Mikki Bailey and they score. Extra point is no good, so it’s 13-6 with 15:57 left in second quarter.

Over the PA is heard, “I speak for Team Blonde when I say, ‘Whatever.’”

Blondes with ball now. But, they soon turn it over to Brus. Says announcer: “It feels like a whole new year, Ty. Very Brunette-ish.”

A long pass is completed to #33 Jody Schueler and the announcer says, “Who are these girls? Do they even live in Texas? Brought in some ringers this year!” Then, #76 Jade Randle is all alone in the end zone and catches a pass. On extra point try, #42 for Blondes Lindsay Kluempers intercepts and runs the ball back 100 yards to give the Blondes 2 points. So, score is now 19-8. Blondes take over with 6:55 to play in quarter.

Can’t do anything. Brus take over. Vanita makes a nice run, then next play QB hands it off to V and she throws long pass to #33 Jody Schueler for a TD. Now 25-8. Blondes take over. #0 Kelsey Wasmer is QB. Makes nice long run. Completes some passes. Runs again. A fellow in stands yells: “Can you do anything but run?!” Brus take back over with seconds left. Half ends, score is 25-8.

At halftime the check presentation of $475K is made to Baylor AT&T Memory Center and The Center for Vital Longevity at the University of Texas Dallas.

2015 BvB Dallas check presentation

Second half starts. Vanita runs long. Completes a couple of passes, near goal line again. Completes a pass to #76 Jade Randle for TD—score now 31-8. Lots of stroking of chins among the blonde coaches.

Will Braaf

Football fan Will Braaf in pink headband and tank top with a couple of Buds in hand is not happy. Chris Neidhardt and others are with Will to support Blonde #9 Kristen Schoellhorn. Will yells, “No. 9, it’s all you out there!” and then: “Stop losing!”

Blondes deep in Bru territory now, but can’t do it. Brus take back over. Long pass completed to #91 Mikki Bailey and she does a long run. Quarter ends.

With another outfit change, Mavs Maniacs perform again to the delight of the fans.

The fourth quarter starts. TD pass is made to Jade and it’s now 38-8. Will yells out: “I encourage you now to disappoint me again!” Announcer says: “Come on Team Blonde. We’re only down 30.” Will: “You guys give me your best effort. It’s really working for you. Everyone gets a trophy.”

With mic in hand, Mike Sirois calls Will out to tone it down, but evidently Will doesn’t hear him and keeps up his remarks.

Whitney Bardales, Darby Chalko, Vanita Krouch, Sarah Hall and Elora Torres

Vanita is QB now. Brus have it. Then Blondes. Back to Brus. Vanita completes pass to #4 Michelle Rowden, who started at QB for TD. Now 45-8 with 5:30 to go in game.

Blondes take over. Incomplete pass and someone in stands yells, “Hey, catch the f–kin’ ball!” Brus get it back with 2:18 to go. They threaten a TD but Blondes repel them, take over the football with :26 to go. They complete a pass and game is over. Final score: 45-8. Someone says it’s the most points ever scored in this game.

Brus claiming the win and the trophy

Following a presentation of the trophy to the Brus and the Blondes graciously accepting defeat, the fans, players, coaches and friends emptied the stadium for a party with Empire 6 on stage. Someone mentioned how the last time the Brus won was also the last time that Vanita had played. She evidently brought them luck.

For more photos and there are a lot of ’em, check MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.

Evidently the Community Partners of Dallas folks have been very good. Sunday, September 20, while the Dallas Cowboys were losing Tony Romo, the clouds were like umbrellas over Brook Hollow for the CPD’s Change Is Good. Thanks to crossed fingers and good thoughts, Change Is Good Co-Chairs Heather and Kevin Bonfield with their kids Sydney and Lola and Christa and Ketric Sanford with their kids Jackson, Cason and Landry had lucked out with wonderful weather for the event.

And to add to the indoor/outdoor activities, there was the most pleasant breeze keeping things just right. While some dads like Crayton Webb opted for walking shorts and a Brooks Brother polo shirt, others went the blue jean route. Speaking of Crayton, he was supposed to have been in Russia for Mary Kay. But the trip was cancelled, so he could help wife Nikki Webb with the boys. He promises to be in town for CNM Connect’s A Night of Light on Thursday, November 12, at Sixty Five Hundred, which he and Nikki are co-chairing.

Lara Tafel, Joanna Clark and Roger Briggs

Mom Lara Tafel, her daughter Mimi Tafel and her brother Roger Briggs were early arrivals. CPD is one of Lara’s favorites. Want proof? The Tafels have been the presenting sponsors for the Chick Lit Luncheon since 2009. Lara explained that she especially admired “Change Is Good” because it was an opportunity for wee ones to take those first steps in supporting nonprofits.

Bounce house

(If this is your first time at Change is Good, youngsters collect change and haul it to the Brook Hollow event to support kids rescued from neglectful and potentially dangerous situations. As the coins are gathered, the kids and parents celebrate with games, loads of food, music provided by DJ Bill Cody and outdoor activities.)

Cathy Barber

At one table overlooking the bounce house, the bungee jumping and the Brook Hollow golf course, Honorary Chair Cathy “Boo” Barber was chatting with CPD Executive Director Paige McDaniel. Cathy is renowned for her efforts and friends who create Easter baskets each year for the CPD kids.

Sophia Carrizales unbraided

Sophia Carrizales braided

Just a couple of tables away were three generations — grandma Lee Bailey, mama Leigh Bailey and kids Sophia Carrizales and Trey Carrizales. While Lee babysat Trey, Leigh and Sophia disappeared into the clubhouse. Eventually, mom and daughter reappeared. Sophia’s head of curls had been perfectly braided thanks to La Bichette. They were doing land office business. Leigh made sure that she got their card.

The Dallas Film Society has been very busy finalizing plans for the April 14-24 Dallas International Film Festival. And, boy, did they come up with news! It took a 27-page press release to list all the plans including the full schedule of 113 films to be shown at the 10^th Annual DIFF.

First off, there are the awards that will be presented at the Dallas Film Society Honors on Friday, April 22, at Highland Dallas. The Dallas Star will be presented to Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Ed Lachman, who just this year got a tip of the hat for “Carol”. His visual art has included “Desperately Seeking Susan,” “Tokyo-Ga,” “The Limey,” “The Virgin Suicides,” “Erin Brockovich,” and “Far From Heaven.” Such directors as Robert Altman, Steven Soderbergh, Sofia Coppola and Paul Schrader have tapped Ed for collaboration. On the next day, Ed’s “Far From Heaven” will be screened at 12:30 at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema DFW with a conversation with Ed afterwards.

Adding to the recognitions will be the inaugural presentation of the L.M. Kit Carson Maverick Filmmaker Award to 86-year-old director/editor/producer Monte Hellman, who has lived up to the spirit of the award. While not being nominated by the Academy, he has been well known for “cutting-edge filmmaking across multiple genres, working with budgets, from high-to-low and with casts featuring starts to complete unknowns.” Of course, you want proof, so think “The Shooting“ (1966), “Two-Lane Blacktop” (1971) and “Road To Nowhere” (2010). He got his start working with another film maverick — Roger Corman in 1959. Even modern-day mavericks like Quentin Tarantino has sought his expertise. Monte served as executive producer for Quentin’s “Reservoir Dogs.”

This year’s festival is gonna be a popcorn feast with world premieres, loads of new talents being spotlighted and even a concert at Dallas City Performance Hall on Saturday, April 16, “celebrating the career of award-winning composer John Williams.”

Festival passes for Dallas Film Society members are now available here.  General public tickets will be available Thursday. Ah, once again membership pays off!

And if you want to check out all the deets in the epic release, follow the jump:

The Dallas Film Society announces the full schedule for the 10th edition of the Dallas International  Film Festival (April 14-24)  Academy Award-nominated DP Ed Lachman will receive the Dallas Star Award, and legendary director Monte Hellman will receive the first L.M. “Kit” Carson Maverick Award  USA Network’s Queen of the South debuts first episode on the big screen as Centerpiece presentation  Nine world premieres include Shaun M. Colón’s A FAT WRECK,  Alix Blair and Jeremy M. Lange’s FARMER/VETERAN,  Ben Caird’s HALFWAY, Ciaran Creagh’s IN VIEW,  Jeff Barry’s OCCUPY, TEXAS, Willie Baronet and Tim Chumley’s SIGNS OF HUMANITY, Jenna Jackson and Anthony Jackson’s  UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT, and the next episode in  Randal Kleiser’s VR series, Defrost

Dallas, TX (March 21, 2016) – The Dallas Film Society today announced the full schedule of film selections for the 10th edition of the Dallas International Film Festival. The list of titles and events are led by an Opening Weekend Celebration at the Dallas City Performance Hall (2520 Flora Street), Presented by One Arts Plaza on April 14-17. Centerpiece Gala presentations include the first episode for the USA Network’s locally shot new television series, Queen of the South, and the previously announced selection of Chris Kelly’s OTHER PEOPLE. The famed Dallas Star Award will be presented to Academy Award-nominated cinematographer, Ed Lachman, and the inaugural presentation of the L.M. Kit Carson Maverick Filmmaker Award to director Monte Hellman.

The Opening Weekend Celebration will serve as one of the anchor events for Dallas Arts Week (April 10-17) as DIFF continues to put film on the arts pedestal in the City of Dallas.

Among the 114 films (64 features, 50 shorts), representing 31 countries, are nine films making their world premieres, including Shaun M. Colón’s A FAT WRECK, Alix Blair and Jeremy M. Lange’s FARMER/VETERAN, Ben Caird’s HALFWAY, Ciaran Creagh’s IN VIEW, Jeff Barrry’s OCCUPY, TEXAS, Willie Baronet and Tim Chumley’s SIGNS OF HUMANITY, and Jenna Jackson and Anthony Jackson’s UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT joining the previously announced THREE DAYS IN AUGUST (directed by Johnathan Brownlee) and DAYLIGHT’S END (directed by William Kaufman), as well as the world premiere of the next episode in Randal Kleiser’s  groundbreaking VR series, Defrost. U.S Premieres include Livia Ungur and Sherng-Lee Huang’s HOTEL DALLAS, and Emre Şahin’s TAKIM (THE TEAM), as well as the previously announced ORION (directed by Asiel Norton).   Films in the Narrative Competition are: Carlo Lavagna’s ARIANNA, Maris Curran’s FIVE NIGHTS IN MAINE, Ben Caird’s HALFWAY, Creagh’s IN VIEW, Diego Luna’s MR. PIG, Greg Kwedar’s TRANSPECOS, and Elizabeth Wood’s WHITE GIRL

Films in the Documentary Feature Competition are: Keith Fulton and Lou Pepe’s THE BAD KIDS, Garrett Zevgetis’s BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS, Blair and Lange’s FARMER/VETERAN, Nanfu Wang’s HOOLIGAN SPARROW, Patrick Shen’s IN PURSUIT OF SILENCE, Jessica Dimmock and Christopher LaMarca’s THE PEARL, and Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami’s SONITA.

The recipients of the 2016 DIFF awards will receive MOVIE MAGIC Budgeting and Scheduling software bundles from Entertainment Partners.

Films in the Texas Competition (with the winner receiving a camera rental package valued at $30,000 courtesy of Panavision) are: Berndt Mader’s BOOGER RED, Kaufman’s DAYLIGHT’S END, Brenda Greene Mitchell and Sam Wainwright Douglas’s HONKY TONK HEAVEN: LEGEND OF THE BROKEN SPOKE, Jeff Barry’s OCCUPY, TEXAS, Clay Liford’s SLASH, Keith Maitland‘s TOWER, and Jenna Jackson and Anthony Jackson’s UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT.  Films eligible for the Silver Heart Award (Presented by the Embrey Family Foundation and bestowed on an individual or film for their dedication to fighting injustices and/or creating social change for the improvement of humanity. The Silver Heart Award winner receives a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of the Embrey Family Foundation) include: Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newberger’s THE ANTHROPOLOGIST, Fulton and Pepe’s THE BAD KIDS, Blair and Lange’s FARMER/VETERAN, Wang’s HOOLIGAN SPARROW, Dimmock and LaMarca’s THE PEARL, Maghami’s SONITA, and Jackson and Jackson’s UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT.

The Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation Audience Awards will be presented to: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Short Film.

“This year’s 10th anniversary edition of the Dallas International Film Festival appropriately does what we do best: present films from around the world, independently produced, and locally shot productions, that are entertaining, exciting, surprising, and challenging for Dallas audiences to see for the first and possibly the only time,” said James Faust, Artistic Director of the Dallas Film Society. “In our 10th year, we will once again bring to Dallas our favorite films from the festival circuit, as well as new discoveries, we’ll celebrate the work of film legends and amazing artists behind the camera, and we’ll add some brand new, fun wrinkles to our programming – like the debut of a locally shot television series. and the next episode of a new VR series, as well.”

As a nod to the vibrant film and television production hub that the city of Dallas has been over the past decade, DIFF will debut the first episode of the USA Network’s new series, Queen of the South as its Centerpiece presentation on Saturday, April 16 at the Dallas City Performance Hall. Based on the global best-selling novel “La Reina Del Sur,” by internationally-acclaimed author Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Queen of the South is a thrilling drama following the journey and exploits of a woman (played by Alice Braga) who is forced to run and seek refuge in America after her boyfriend, a drug-dealer, is murdered in Mexico. As she faces new challenges and dangers, she teams with an unlikely figure from her past to bring down the leader of the very drug trafficking ring that has her on the run.

On Friday, April 15, DIFF will also make a special presentation of the world premiere of Willie Baronet and Tim Chumley’s documentary, SIGNS OF HUMANITY at the Dallas City Performance Hall. The film documents artist and professor Willie Baronet’s crosscountry trip from Seattle to New York City as part of his ongoing campaign to purchase more than 1,000 homeless signs over the past 22 years, then use them to create installations to raise awareness about homelessness. Since the film festival’s inception, the Dallas Film Society has made a dedicated effort toward working with and contributing to local Dallas-based charities and non-profits, and once again, putting their “film festival” where their heart is, DIFF and The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center will utilize the screening of the film as a fundraiser to aid Dallas’ homeless community and those in need.

Three world premieres promise to be major events in Dallas, with the likelihood of more than a few emotional moments on screen and in-person. Caird’s HALFWAY looks at the systemic failure of the American prison system via a drama starring THE BLIND SIDE’s Quinton Aaron, and a supporting cast including Jeffrey DeMunn (The Walking Dead), Amy Pietz (Caroline in the City), and Gillian Zinser (90210), with several expected to be in attendance. Barry’s OCCUPY, TEXAS is a locally produced drama that follows a washed up Occupier who returns home after the death of his parents to find himself responsible for his two teenage sisters and his Texas-sized past. The film’s cast includes Gene Gallerano, Lorelei Linklater, Catherine Elvir, Janine Turner, Nikki Moore, Reed Birney, Paul Benjamin, David Matranga and Peri Gilpin with some expected to be on hand at the screening. Jackson and Jackson’s UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT, about a 2006 case where a four-year-old died mysteriously of salt poisoning and his foster mother was

charged with capital murder, and sent to prison for life is almost certain to inspire an emotional response from the Dallas audiences.

A heartfelt drama, Ciaran Creagh’s IN VIEW, and a stirring documentary, Alix Blair and Jeremy M. Lange’s FARMER/VETERAN will also make their world premieres at DIFF. IN VIEW follows a woman’s extreme attempt to right a wrong, make peace with a past drunken indiscretion and placate her soul, while FARMER/VETERAN deals with an Iraq war veteran’s struggles to acclimate himself to life on the farm, as he is haunted by, and actually missing somewhat, the experience of war. Another documentary making its world premiere is Shaun M. Colón’s A FAT WRECK, which tells the story of founders Fat Mike (of the legendary punk band NOFX) and his ex-wife Erin Kelly-Burkett, spanning the birth, growth, struggles, and survival of the Fat Wreck Chords label.

Randal Kleiser’s VR series, Defrost, stars Tanna Frederick (who also produces), Harry Hamlin, Bruce Davison, Christopher Atkins and Carl Weathers, in a virtual reality experience of a woman who has been awakened after being cryogenically frozen for 30 years. She immediately finds her family has aged while she has not, and in some cases have become strangers to her now. The debut episode made a splash at Sundance, and this would be the first opportunity for the public to experience the next episode in the series – which places the viewer in the newly revived woman’s shoes and allows them to see the world as she sees it and her family and friends, as they interact with her. Kleiser, Frederick and one of the other stars from the project will be in attendance and participate in a special panel on storytelling in the VR world.

A hallmark of the Dallas International Film Festival has been presentation of the Dallas Star Award. Joining the illustrious group of legends and notable film artists that have received the award, will be cinematographer Ed Lachman. Nominated for an Academy Award this year for his sublime work on Todd Haynes’ masterpiece CAROL, and known for his masterful and influential work on films like DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN, TRUE STORIES, LIGHT SLEEPER, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, ERIN BROCKOVICH, and LIFE DURING WARTIME, Lachman will receive his award during the DFS Honors Presented by the Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation event at The Highland Dallas (5300 E. Mockingbird Lane) on Friday, April 22, as well as participate in a special Q&A following the screening of another of his classic collaborations with Haynes, FAR FROM HEAVEN, for which he received his first Oscar nomination.

This year will also mark the first presentation of the L.M. Kit Carson Maverick Filmmaker Award. Named after the iconic and influential Texas film artist (PARIS, TEXAS) who was a true friend of the film festival and frequent attendee, and designed to honor filmmakers that exemplify the unique visionary work that Carson was known for, the Maverick Award will first go to director Monte Hellman. In a career spanning six decades, Hellman has personified cutting edge filmmaking across multiple genres, working within budgets from high-to-low, and cast from stars to unknowns. Two films in particular, THE SHOOTING (1966), and TWO-LANE BLACKTOP (1971) are examples of Hellman’s rare ability to take two vastly different genres – the western and the road movie, and deconstruct, strip them down, and make them into singular entries in what is a remarkably diverse filmography.

Hellman began working with legendary producer Roger Corman, debuting with BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE (1959), and later delivered another of his more notable films, RIDE THE WHIRLWIND (1966) for Corman, further cementing his reputation among critics, fellow filmmakers, and cinephiles, as a director with a singular and influential style. After an unusually long hiatus (more than 20 years), Hellman came back to the big screen with a vengeance with the visionary neo noir, ROAD TO NOWHERE (2010).

The Maverick section will include Ungur and Huang’s HOTEL DALLAS, which mixes fiction and documentary in a story set in the 80s, in the twilight of communist Romania, where Dallas is the only American show allowed on TV. The show inspires a man to build the Hotel Dallas, a life-size copy of the “Dallas” mansion, while his daughter immigrates to America, becomes an artist, and directs a film starring Patrick Duffy, as a soap opera character who dies in Texas and wakes up in Romania, in a hotel that looks just like home. And to continue the meta-theme, Duffy is expected to attend the screening. Norton’s gritty ORION stars David Arquette and Lily Cole in a sci-fi film set in a future dark age, after civilization has collapsed, where rumors and prophecies of a savior has survivors on edge. Meanwhile, a hunter fights to save a maiden from a cannibal shaman and searches for the world’s last city. Arquette is also expected to attend the screening.

Previously announced, is a special concert and screening celebrating the career of award-winning composer John Williams at the Dallas City Performance Hall on Saturday, April 16. The Dallas Winds, also honoring a significant anniversary – their 30th, begin the afternoon with a performance of some of Williams’s signature works. A Q&A with Dallas Winds Artistic Director and Conductor, Jerry Junkin, will follow as the Hall is prepared for a special screening of Steven Spielberg’s family classic, E.T. – THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL, which will also include a special Q&A with the film’s star, Henry Thomas.

Additional highlights among the feature film selections in this year’s edition of DIFF include Ben Wheatley’s highly anticipated HIGH-RISE, starring Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller, Elizabeth Moss, Luke Evans, and Jeremy Irons. DIFF alumni Matt Johnson (THE DIRTIES/2013), returning with his Sundance buzz-worthy hit, OPERATION AVALANCHE, ONCE’s John Carney’s musical romance SING STREET, Elizabeth Wood’s controversial semi-autobiographical WHITE GIRL., and another fascinating narrative/documentary hybrid, BOOGER RED. Directed by Berndt Mader, BOOGER RED delves into the American legal system, as it examines an investigation of purportedly the largest child sex ring in Texas history–inside of a swinger’s club in Mineola, TX.

Award winners from past festivals also dot the schedule, including recent SXSW winners, like Greg Kwedar’s TRANSPECOS (Narrative Film Audience Award), Keith Maitland’s TOWER (Documentary Grand Jury and Audience Award), and HONKY TONK HEAVEN: LEGEND OF THE BROKEN SPOKE (24 Beats Per Second Audience Award), joining the previously announced selection of Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami’s SONITA, which was the winner of the Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize and Audience Awards. Finally, the celebration of films enjoying anniversaries themselves along with DIFF itself include the 20th Anniversary of Julia Dyer’s delightful lesbian comic

romance, LATE BLOOMERS (1996), and Mike Nichols’ acidic relationship parlor game, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF (1966), celebrating its 50th Anniversary.

Once again, the Dallas Film Society has teamed up with DART for their successful partnership called DART to DIFF. Many DIFF activities and events take place in the heart of Dallas and the partnership with DART will provide quick and convenient transportation for all festival attendees.  Online ticket sales will be available for Dallas Film Society members beginning Monday, March 21 at DallasFilm.org, and will open to the public on Thursday, March 24. The physical Prekindle Box Office at Mockingbird Station will open on Thursday, March 31.

THE 2016 DIFF OFFICIAL SELECTIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS  CENTERPIECE GALA SELECTION OTHER PEOPLE  Director: Chris Kelly Country: USA, Running Time: 97min A struggling New York City comedy writer, fresh from breaking up with his boyfriend, moves to Sacramento to help his sick mother. Living with his conservative father and younger sisters, David feels like a stranger in his childhood home. As his mother worsens, he tries to convince everyone (including himself) he’s “doing okay.” The film stars Molly Shannon and Jesse Plemons.  CENTERPIECE GALA SELECTION Queen of the South – Pilot Director: Charlotte Sieling Country: USA, Running Time: 42min Based on the global best-selling novel “La Reina Del Sur,” by internationally-acclaimed author Arturo Pérez-Reverte, QUEEN OF THE SOUTH tells the powerful story of Teresa Mendoza (Alice Braga), a woman who is forced to run and seek refuge in America after her drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered in Mexico.  In the process, she teams with an unlikely figure from her past to bring down the leader of the very drug trafficking ring that has her on the run.      PREMIERE SERIES  COMPLETE UNKNOWN Director: Joshua Marston Country: USA, Running Time: 90min As a man (Michael Shannon) contemplates moving to a new state with his wife for her graduate program, an old flame (Rachel Weisz) – a woman who often changes identities – reenters his life at a birthday dinner party.

HIGH-RISE Director: Ben Wheatley Country: UK, Running Time: 119min HIGH-RISE stars Tom Hiddleston as Dr. Robert Laing, the newest resident of a luxurious apartment in a high-tech concrete skyscraper whose lofty location places him amongst the upper class. Laing quickly settles into high society life and meets the building’s eccentric tenants: Charlotte (Sienna Miller), his upstairs neighbor and bohemian single mother; Wilder (Luke Evans), a charismatic documentarian who lives with his pregnant wife Helen (Elisabeth Moss); and Mr. Royal (Jeremy Irons), the enigmatic architect who designed the building. Life seems like paradise to the solitude-seeking Laing. But as power outages become more frequent and building flaws emerge, particularly on the lower floors, the regimented social strata begins to crumble and the building becomes a battlefield in a literal class war.  MORRIS FROM AMERICA Director: Chad Hartigan Country: USA/Germany, Running Time: 89min A heartwarming and crowd-pleasing coming-of-age comedy with a unique spin, Morris from America centers on Morris Gentry, a 13-year-old who has just relocated with his single father to Heidelberg, Germany. Morris, who fancies himself the next Notorious B.I.G., is a complete fish-out-of-water—a budding hip-hop star in an EDM world.  To complicate matters further, Morris quickly falls hard for his cool, rebellious, 15-year-old classmate Katrin.  OPERATION AVALANCHE Director: Matt Johnson Country: USA, Running Time: 93min In 1967, during the height of the Cold War, two young CIA agents (Matt Johnson and Owen Williams) go undercover at NASA to investigate a possible Russian mole. In disguise as documentary filmmakers, they tap phones and break into offices while purporting to learn more about the Apollo project. But when they end up uncovering a shocking NASA secret — and a major government cover-up — they decide to embark on a new mission that may put their own lives at risk.  SING STREET Director: John Carney Country: Ireland/USA/UK, Running Time: 105min  SING STREET tales us back to 1980s Dublin seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old-boy named Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who is looking for a break from a home strained by his parents’ relationship and money troubles, while trying to adjust to his new inner-city public school where the kids are rough and the teachers are rougher. He finds a glimmer of hope in the mysterious, über-cool and beautiful Raphina (Lucy Boynton), and with the aim of winning her heart he invites her to star in the band’s music videos. There’s only one problem: he’s not part of a band…yet. She agrees and now Conor must deliver what he’s promised – calling himself “Cosmo” and immersing himself in the vibrant rock trends

of the decade, he forms a band with a few lads, and the group pours their heart into writing lyrics and shooting videos.    A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS Director: Natalie Portman Country: Israel/USA, Running Time: 98min Based on Amos Oz’s international best-seller, A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS is the story of Oz’s youth at the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the early years of the State of Israel. The film details young Amos’ relatinship with his mother and his birth as a writer, looking at what happens when the stories we tell, become the stories we live.  THREE DAYS IN AUGUST – WORLD PREMIERE Director: Johnathan Brownlee Country: USA, Running Time: 96min Starring Barry Bostwick, Meg Foster, and Mariette Hartley, the film is about an Irish American artist who is forced to confront her past when both sets of parents come together over a weekend for her to paint a family portrait.

NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION  ARIANNA Director: Carlo Lavagna Country: Italy, Running Time: 84min At the age of nineteen, Arianna still hasn’t had her first period. The hormones that her gynaecologist has prescribed don’t seem to have any effect on her development. In the heat of the silent summer afternoons she spends in the family’s hunting lodge in Tuscany, she starts inquiring about her body and her past, to finally face with the true nature of her sexuality and her true identity.  FIVE NIGHTS IN MAINE Director: Maris Curran Country: USA, Running Time: 82min Sherwin is a good man, flawed like any other, but deeply invested in his family and in love with his wife, Fiona. When she returns from visiting her estranged and ill mother and acts distant, he shows concern. Their conversations lead to fights, the worst in their marriage. Fiona no longer sees herself as a mother; she does not want children. Sherwin is confused and angry. The life they have built begins to break down. And before there can be resolution, Fiona dies, in an auto accident after driving distractedly on the freeway. Sherwin is devastated. All that is dear to him — his wife, his sense of self and his future, vanish. In the middle of his grief, Sherwin receives a phone call from the person he least expects, Fiona’s mother. She invites him to visit her in rural Maine, saying: “it might do us both some good.” Sherwin decides to go to Maine, and embarks on an unlikely journey of healing, compassion and empathy.  HALFWAY Director: Ben Caird

Country: USA, Running Time: 103min Starring Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side) and Jeff DeMunn (The Walking Dead), HALFWAY tells the story of a recently released convict who faces the conflict of enduring ties with his old criminal world while struggling to adapt to life on probation as the only black man in a conservative white farm town. Among prisoners released in 30 states in 2005 roughly 68% were rearrested within 3 years with over 75% rearrested within 5 years. Halfway wants to bring to light that there is a serious systematic failure within the American prison system, where a lack of opportunity for those who have transgressed in their past seems to guarantee a future behind bars.  IN VIEW – WORLD PREMIERE Director: Ciaran Creagh Country: Ireland, Running Time: 93min Ruth’s life is one of burgeoning guilt dominated by rage, alcoholism, depression and selfloathing which has its origins in a once-off drunken indiscretion with a work colleague some years previous. Having lost all that was dear to her, Ruth is still trying to seek out help but is coming to realize that there is only one course of action that may placate her soul.  To end her life so as her organs can be donated to help others which will, in her mind, be payback for her perceived sins.  MR. PIG Director: Diego Luna Country: Mexico, Running Time: 100min Eubanks (Danny Glover), an old-school pig farmer from California, leaves his foreclosed family farm and sets off on a road trip to Mexico with Howard, his last beloved and very large pig. Ambrose must smuggle Howard across the border to find him a new home. As they embark across Mexico, Eubanks’ drinking and deteriorating health begin to take a toll, derailing their plans. His estranged daughter, Eunice (Maya Rudolph), shows up unexpectedly and joins them on their adventure. Driven by strong convictions and stubbornness in his old ways, Ambrose forges ahead to make sure he finds Howard the home he deserves and potentially mend many of the relationships that mean the most to him.  TRANSPECOS Director: Greg Kwedar Country: USA, Running Time: 85min On a remote desert highway, a makeshift Border Patrol checkpoint is manned by three agents: Flores (Gabriel Luna): with an uncanny ability to track; Davis (Johnny Simmons): joined the Border Patrol with dreams of romancing señoritas and riding on horseback; Hobbs (Clifton Collins Jr): one of the old guard who believes a college degree can’t stop a bullet. It’s like most boring days, but soon the contents of one car will change everything. What follows is a journey to uncover the surreal, frightening secrets hidden behind the facade of this lonely outpost. The end of the path may cost them their lives along a border where the line between right and wrong shifts like the desert itself.  WHITE GIRL

Director: Elizabeth Wood Country: USA, Running Time: 88min Summer, New York City. A college girl falls hard for a guy she just met. After a night of partying goes wrong, she goes to wild extremes to get him back.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION  THE BAD KIDS Directors: Keith Fulton, Lou Pepe Country: USA, Running Time: 101min At a remote Mojave Desert high school, extraordinary educators believe that empathy and life skills, more than academics, give at-risk students command of their own futures. This coming-of-age drama watches education combat the crippling effects of poverty in the lives of these so-called “bad kids.”  BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS Director: Garrett Zevgetis Country: USA, Running Time: 90min Off a dirt road in rural Maine, a precocious 20-year-old woman named Michelle Smith lives with her mother Julie. Michelle is quirky and charming, legally blind and diagnosed on the autism spectrum, with big dreams and varied passions. Searching for connection, Michelle explores love and empowerment outside the limits of “normal” through a provocative fringe community. Will she take the leap to experience the wide world for herself? Michelle’s joyful story of self-discovery celebrates outcasts everywhere.  FARMER/VETERAN – WORLD PREMIERE Directors: Alix Blair, Jeremy M. Lange Country: USA, Running Time: 82min After three combat tours in Iraq, Alex Sutton attempts a fresh start hatching chickens and raising goats on 43 acres in rural North Carolina. Alex embraces life on the farm with his new love Jessica, but cycles between a state of heightened alert and “feeling zombified” from a cocktail of prescriptions meant to stabilize his injured mind. When Jessica becomes pregnant, the dark past Alex has tried to escape -the loss of his first family, the war he was forced to leave- closes in on him. The farm becomes another battleground. Farmer/Veteran attempts to reconcile the identity of a perfect soldier with the reality of a haunted man determined to hold onto the best chance at peace he has ever known.  HOOLIGAN SPARROW Director: Nanfu Wang Country: China, Running time: 84min Traversing southern China, a group of activists led by Ye Haiyan (AKA Sparrow) protest a scandalous incident where a school principal and a government official allegedly raped six school girls. Sparrow becomes an enemy of the state, but detentions, interrogations, and evictions can’t stop her protest from going viral.

IN PURSUIT OF SILENCE Director: Patrick Shen Country: USA, Running Time 81min In our race towards modernity, amidst all the technological innovation and the rapid growth of our cities, silence is now quickly passing into legend. Beginning with an ode to John Cage’s seminal silent composition 4’33”, the sights and sounds of this film delicately interweave with silence to create a contemplative and cinematic experience that works its way through frantic minds and into the quiet spaces of hearts. As much a work of devotion as it is a documentary, In Pursuit of Silence is a meditative exploration of our relationship with silence, sound, and the impact of noise on our lives.  THE PEARL Directors: Jessica Dimmock, Christopher LaMarca Country: USA, Running Time: 97min THE PEARL explores the raw emotional and physical experience of being a middle aged to senior transgender woman against the backdrop of post-industrial logging towns in the Pacific Northwest. The film leans into the struggle of those who were reared and successful as men and have reached middle age or later with a burdensome secret they can no longer keep to themselves.  SONITA Director: Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami Country: Germany/Iran/Switzerland, Running Time: 91min Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, SONITA tells the inspiring story of Sonita Alizadeh, an 18year-old Afghan refugee in Iran, who thinks of Michael Jackson and Rihanna as her spiritual parents and dreams of becoming a big-name rapper. For the time being, her only fans are the other teenage girls in a Tehran shelter. And her family has a very different future planned for her: as a bride she’s worth $9,000. Iranian director Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami poignantly shifts from observer to participant altering expectations, as Sonita’s story unfolds in an intimate and joyful portrait.

TEXAS COMPETITION – SPONSORED BY PANAVISION  BOOGER RED Director: Berndt Mader Country: USA, Running Time: 96min A hybrid narrative/documentary film that examines the convergence of memory, sexuality and the legal system through the investigation of purportedly the largest child sex ring of a true Texas “crime”. In 2006, seven people were sentenced to life for purportedly running the largest child sex ring in Texas history–inside of a swingers club in Mineola, TX. Onur Tukel, a gutsy investigative journalist of Turkish descent, sets out to find the real people involved in this “crime”: the defendants, the lawyers, the notorious foster mother who made the initial allegations, and the supposed victims.

DAYLIGHT’S END – WORLD PREMIERE Director: William Kaufman  Country: USA, Running Time: 105min Shot in Dallas and points ranging from East Texas to the West Texas town of Rio (pop. 3) along the famed Route 66, the film is a hard driving action-horror-thriller starring Johnny Strong, Lance Henriksen and Louis Mandylor. It focuses on a rogue drifter who’s on a vengeful hunt, years after a mysterious plague has devastated the planet and turned most of humanity into blood-hungry creatures. When he stumbles across a desperate band of survivors in an abandoned police station, the drifter reluctantly puts his own thirst for blood on hold and agrees to help them defend themselves, only to realize that his mission of revenge and theirs may in fact coincide.   HONKY TONK HEAVEN: LEGEND OF THE BROKEN SPOKE Directors: Brenda Greene Mitchell, Sam Wainwright Douglas Country: USA, Running Time: 75min George Strait, Willie Nelson, Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills, George Jones and Roy Acuff have all been regulars on stage at the world famous honky tonk, The Broken Spoke. With fifty years under its belt buckle “the last of the true Texas dance halls” has endured rapid urban growth and skyrocketing rents due to the passion and hard work of its charismatic, tenacious owners. More than a history of who played and when at this landmark venue, the film reveals a universal story about what it takes to maintain a family business in our increasingly corporate-driven society. Interviews include Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dale Watson, James Hand, Jesse Dayton, the Waco Brothers and Alvin Crow.  OCCUPY, TEXAS – WORLD PREMIERE Director: Jeff Barry Country: USA, Running Time: 95min OCCUPY, TEXAS follows a washed up Occupier (Gene Gallerano) who returns home after the death of his parents to find himself responsible for his two teenage sisters (Lorelei Linklater and Catherine Elvir) and his Texas-sized past. The cast also includes Janine Turner, Nikki Moore, Reed Birney, Paul Benjamin, David Matranga and Peri Gilpin.  SLASH Director: Clay Liford Country: USA, Running time 100min Neil is an introverted, questioning high school freshman. His main social outlet is the steamy erotic fan fiction he writes about Vanguard, the brawny, galaxy-hopping hero of a popular sci-fi franchise. When his stories are exposed in class Neil is mortified, but the fearless, effortlessly cool Julia comes to his defense. An erotic fan fic writer herself, Julia pushes Neil to publish his stories to an online “adult” forum, where they quickly grab the attention of the site moderator, Denis. When Neil is invited to present his work at a comic con live-read event, he has to face the fact that Denis’ interest in him may be more than simply professional… perhaps like his own feelings for Julia.

TOWER Director: Keith Maitland Country: USA, Running Time: 96min On August 1st, 1966, a sniper rode the elevator to the top floor of the University of Texas Tower and opened fire, holding the campus hostage for 96 minutes. When the gunshots were finally silenced, the toll included 16 dead, three dozen wounded, and a shaken nation left trying to understand. Combining archival footage with rotoscopic animation in a dynamic, never-before-seen way, TOWER reveals the action-packed untold stories of the witnesses, heroes and survivors of America’s first mass school shooting, when the worst in one man brought out the best in so many others.  UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT Directors: Jenna Jackson, Anthony Jackson Country: USA, Running Time: 108min In October 2006 a four-year-old from Corpus Christi named Andrew Burd died mysteriously of salt poisoning. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder, vilified from all quarters, and sent to prison for life. But was this churchgoing young woman a vicious child killer? Or had the tragedy claimed its second victim?

DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE  THE ANTHROPOLOGIST Directors: Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger Country: USA, Running Time: 80min THE ANTHROPOLOGIST considers the fate of the planet through the eyes of an American teenager, whose mother is studying the impact of climate change on indigenous communities. Environmental anthropologist Susie Crate drags her teenage daughter Katie along with her to the farthest reaches of the globe. Featuring commentary from Mary Catherine Bateson, daughter of famed anthropologist Margaret Mead, the film explores how human beings adapt to catastrophic change.  LIFE, ANIMATED Director: Roger Ross Williams Country: USA, Running Time: 89min LIFE, ANIMATED tells the remarkable story of how Owen found in Disney animation a pathway to language and a framework for making sense of the world. By evocatively interweaving classic Disney sequences with verite scenes from Owen’s life, the film explores how identification and empathy with characters like Simba, Jafar, and Ariel forge a conduit for him to understand his feelings and interpret reality. Beautiful, original animations further give form to Owen’s fruitful dialogue with the Disney oeuvre as he imagines himself heroically facing adversity in a tribe of sidekicks. With an arsenal of narratives at his disposal, Owen rises to meet the challenges of adulthood in this moving coming-of-age tale.

LO AND BEHOLD, REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD Director: Werner Herzog Country: USA, Running Time 98min In LO AND BEHOLD: REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD, the Oscar-nominated Herzog chronicles the virtual world from its origins to its outermost reaches, exploring the digital landscape with the same curiosity and imagination he previously trained on earthly destinations as disparate as the Amazon, the Sahara, the South Pole and the Australian outback. Herzog leads viewers on a journey through a series of provocative conversations that reveal the ways in which the online world has transformed how virtually everything in the real world works – from business to education, space travel to healthcare, and the very heart of how we conduct our personal relationships.  TONY ROBBINS: I AM NOT YOUR GURU Director: Joe Berlinger Country: USA, Running Time: 115min TONY ROBBINS: I AM NOT YOUR GURU, Joe Berlinger’s twelfth feature documentary, captures internationally renowned life and business strategist and best-selling author, Tony Robbins, in a revelatory cinéma vérité film that goes behind the scenes of his mega once-a-year seminar “Date With Destiny,” attended by over 2,500 people, to give an insider look at how one man can affect millions. Granted never before seen access, this film is an emotional tour de force, pulling back the curtain on Tony Robbins and unveiling the inner-workings of this life-altering and controversial event, the zealous participants and the man himself.  WEINER Directors: Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg Country: USA, Running Time: 96min With unrestricted access to Anthony Weiner’s New York City mayoral campaign, this film reveals the human story behind the scenes of a high-profile political scandal as it unfolds, and offers an unfiltered look at how much today’s politics is driven by an appetite for spectacle.

WORLD CINEMA  DEMIMONDE Director: Attila Szász Country: Hungary, Running Time: 88min The story of three women – a famous prostitute, her housekeeper and their new maid – living in Budapest of 1910s, whose passionate, bizarre and complex relationship can only lead to one thing: murder.

DHEEPAN Director: Jacques Audiard Country: France, Running Time: 115min Three Sri Lankan refugees pose as a family to flee their war-ravaged homeland for France, only to find themselves embroiled in violence in the Parisian suburbs. Winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Jacques Audiard’s (A PROPHET) latest is a gripping, human, and timely tale of survival.  DISORDER Director: Alice Winocour Country: France, Running Time: 101min Vincent, a French Special Forces soldier just back from Afghanistan, is suffering from  a post-traumatic stress disorder. He is hired to ensure the security of Jessie, the  wife of a rich Lebanese businessman at their luxurious villa “Maryland.” As he starts experiencing a strange fascination for the woman he has to protect, Vincent increasingly seems to fall into paranoia. Unless he is right, and the danger is very real indeed…  JOHNNIE TO’S OFFICE Director: Johnnie To Country: Hong Kong, Running Time: 120min Adapted by actress Sylvia Chang from her hit stage play “Design For Living”, the film is a musical set in a corporate high-rise immediately before and after the 2008 financial collapse. The story centers around two assistants starting new jobs at a financial firm. One naively enters the world of high finance with noble intentions, while the other harbors a secret.  Chow Yun-fat, Eason Chan and Tang Wei star alongside Chang.  KILL ZONE 2 Director: Cheang Pou-soi Country: Hong Kong, Running Time: 120min A undercover cop attempts to find the mastermind of a drug syndicate. When his cover is blown, he winds up in a Thai prison. Surprisingly, he is a bone marrow match for a guard’s daughter.  LAST SUMMER Director: Leonardo Guerra Seràgnoli Country: Italy, Running Time: 94min A sailing boat is at anchor in a bay off of a Apulian island. Naomi, a young Japanese woman, after having lost custody of her six year-old son, Ken, will be spending her last four days with him on board the boat of her father-in-law. In a hostile environment, Naomi faces the difficulty of approaching Ken under the controlling glare of the crew. Alex notices Naomi’s attempts to connect with Ken and eases his control, entering into conflict with the rest of the crew. When Naomi’s hopes seem lost Ken starts to take an interest in her, thus reducing the distance between them. The crew, in conflict with the captain, informs the boat’s owner. Alex, disobeying his employer’s wishes, takes Naomi and Ken to a beach where they can be alone and bond for the first time. Back on the boat, a timeless day magnifies the weight of their last goodbye and when Ken falls asleep, Naomi must

leave. Watching the boat sail away, Naomi sees Ken for one last time wearing the mask she has made for him as a parting gift – the Japanese god of the sea.  MA MA Director: Julio Medem Country: Spain/France, Running Time: 111min  Academy Award®-winning actress and producer Penélope Cruz delivers an extraordinarily emotional performance in ma ma, the newest film from acclaimed director Julio Medem (SEX AND LUCÍA). Honoring the high melodrama of Pedro Almodóvar and Douglas Sirk, ma ma follows Magda (Cruz) as she experiences tragedies and miracles alike. Just as Magda is diagnosed with breast cancer, she meets Arturo (Luis Tosar), a devoted husband and father in the midst of unspeakable loss. Their chance encounter leads both down a path of strength, grace, love, and rebirth.  RIVER Director: Jamie M. Dagg Country: Canada, Running Time: 88min In the south of Laos, an American doctor (Rossif Sutherland) becomes a fugitive after he intervenes in the sexual assault of a young woman. When the assailant’s body is pulled from the Mekong River, things quickly spiral out of control.  TAKIM (THE TEAM) – U.S. PREMIERE Director: Emre Şahin Country: Turkey, Running Time: 104min Takim tells the tale of street soccer players from all walks of life in Istanbul who come together to save their favorite soccer pitch from ruthless developers.  The story is loosely based on the very real urban phenomenon happening in Turkey today as corrupt construction giants bully the poor to move out and build immense buildings in their wake. Turgay and Tufan are up against the wall when they are threatened by a construction company to sell their family land, which also happens to be an hourly rental soccer field. Facing eviction from the bank on a loan gone bad, and with no options left, the two turn to the only thing they know: Soccer.  Now they must build a strong team and try to win a famous tournament for the prize money for the sake of both their family and their land, all in a matter of weeks.  VIVA Director: Paddy Breathnach Country: Ireland/Cuba, Running Time: 100min Jesus is a hairdresser for a troupe of drag performers in Havana, but dreams of being a performer. When he finally gets his chance to be on stage, a stranger emerges from the crowd and punches him in the face. The stranger is his father Angel, a former boxer, who has been absent from his life for 15 years. As father and son clash over their opposing expectations of each other, Viva becomes a love story as the men struggle to understand one another and become a family again.

LATINO SHOWCASE  ALL THE COLORS OF THE NIGHT Director: Pedro Severien Country: Brazil, Running Time: 71min Iris lives alone in a spacious apartment by the sea. The green horizon seems to distance it from the city in comfortable isolation. At nightfall, the place hosts known and unknown in a frantic party flow. Iris is the main attraction. But on a hung over morning, she finds a corpse in the living room. As in the distorted reflection of a crooked mirror, Iris feels repeating steps of her childhood friend, Tiara, a medical student involved in an accident that resulted in death in the past. Tiara plunges into a spiral of self-pity, sentimental emptying and violence. The case is well known in town and Iris does not want to become another ghost in this dark repertoire of stories. In ALL THE COLORS OF THE NIGHT, reality works as a dimension of imagination, memory and madness.  I PROMISE YOU ANARCHY Director: Julio Hernández Cordón  Country: Mexico, Running Time: 88min I PROMISE YOU ANARCHY follows two teenage lovers in Mexico City who become embroiled in the city’s illegal, narco-run blood trade. Newcomers Diego Calva and Eduardo Martínez Peña, non-actors the director found on Facebook, give outstandingly honest and committed performances as young lovers Miguel and Johnny. They skate with their friends through the chaotic neighborhoods of Mexico City, they revel in their blissful sexuality, and they make a bit of cash in the illegal blood trade. A contact hooks them up with some narcos—drug traffickers who need black-market blood, since they can’t go to hospitals—and it seems like a perfect way to make a lot of money. But the scheme goes off the rails, and Miguel and Johnny are in over their heads, their eyes opened too late to the truly disturbing underground network of clinics servicing those injured in the drug wars.  MAGALLANES Director: Salvador del Solar Country: Peru, Running Time: 109min Taxi driver Magallanes (Damián Alcázar) supplements his meager earnings with a job taking an old man (Federico Luppi) out on daily excursions. This old man is now senile and frail, but he was once a much-feared colonel in the Peruvian military during its bloodiest years of conflict with the Shining Path insurgency. Magallanes was his subordinate. One day a woman enters Magallanes’ cab. Celina (Magaly Solier) doesn’t recognize Magallanes, but he remembers her very well. Many years ago, Celina was a sexual plaything for the Colonel, who kidnapped the young indigenous girl and held her captive in a hotel room for an entire year. Magallanes has a photograph to prove this — a photo he can use to blackmail the Colonel’s affluent son (Christian Meier). But can this aging cabbie suddenly transform himself into an extortionist? Or is Magallanes, still in love with Celina after all these years, in over his head?

ROMANCING APRIL Director: Joel Núñez Country: Mexico, Running Time: 90min A romantic comedy in which a male writer who writes under a female pseudonym falls for a female journalist who writes under a male pseudonym. When love comes almost always takes us by surprise and nobody can object.

FAMILY FRIENDLY – SPONSORED BY WHOLE FOODS  LABYRINTH (1986) Director: Jim Henson Country: USA, Running Time: 101min Teenage Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) journeys through a maze to recover her baby brother (Toby Froud) from a goblin king (David Bowie).  ODDBALL Director: Stuart McDonald Country: Australia, Running Time: 95min The true story about an eccentric chicken farmer (Shane Jacobson) who, with the help of his granddaughter, trains his mischievous dog Oddball to protect a wild penguin sanctuary from fox attacks and in the process tries to reunite his family and save their seaside town.

DEEP ELLUM SOUNDS  A FAT WRECK – WORLD PREMIERE Director: Shaun M. Colón Country: USA, Running Time: 85min A FAT WRECK tells the story of founders Fat Mike (of the legendary punk band NOFX) and his ex-wife Erin Kelly-Burkett, spanning the birth, growth, struggles, and survival of the Fat Wreck Chords label. Half inspirational story of chosen family and community, half debauchery and occasionally involuntary drug use, the film blazes exciting new ground in the cinematic genre of puppet-driven punk rock music documentary filmmaking. Arguably the best film in the history of American cinema featuring a dominatrix spanking a puppet.   MISS SHARON JONES! Director: Barbara Kopple Country: USA, Running Time: 93min Dreams never expire, but sometimes they are deferred. MISS SHARON JONES! tracks the talented and gregarious soul singer of the Grammy-nominated R&B band Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings during the most challenging year of her life. Confronting a cancer diagnosis and her own self doubts, she works to again find her voice and salvage the career that once eluded her for 50 years.

PRESENTING PRINCESS SHAW Director: Ido Haar Country: Israel, Running Time: 80min The true story of the incredible Princess Shaw and the enigmatic composer Kutiman, who discovers her from the other side of the world. By day, Samantha Montgomery cares for the elderly in one of New Orleans’s toughest neighborhoods. By night, she writes and sings her own songs as Princess Shaw on her confessional YouTube channel. Raw and vulnerable, her voice is a diamond in the rough. Across the globe, Ophir Kutiel creates video mash ups of amateur Youtube performers. Known as Kutiman, he is a composer, a musician, and a pioneering video artist embraced by the world of fine art. Kutiman “transforms sampling into a multimedia art”, whether at his home on a kibbutz in Israel or at a live performance at the Guggenheim in New York. Two strangers, almost 7,000 miles apart, begin to build a song. The film unfolds as Kutiman pairs Princess Shaw’s emotional performances in a beautiful expression of generosity and compassion, revealing the bonafide star underneath and her fight to never give up on her dreams.  A SONG FOR YOU: THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS STORY Director: Keith Maitland Country: USA, Running Time: 97min Packed wall to wall with the greatest music from Texas and beyond, with performances from Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ray Charles, Beck, Alabama Shakes, and Radiohead, A SONG FOR YOU: THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS STORY is music to the ears of fans everywhere. This film highlights the PBS series’ evolution, proving that after 40 years, ACL is more relevant now than ever before. Featuring interviews with dozens of artists and fans, and untold insights from long-time producer Terry Lickona, A SONG FOR YOU transcends the TV show and gives audiences a front-row seat and backstage pass to the greatest performances of the longest running music show in television history.

MAVERICK  COLLECTIVE: UNCONSCIOUS Directors: Lily Baldwin, Frances Bodomo, Daniel Patrick Carbone, Josephine Decker, Lauren Wolkstein  Concept by: Dan Schoenbrun Country: USA, Running Time: 81min Five of independent film’s most adventurous filmmakers adapt each other’s dreams for the screen. A man and his grandmother hide out from an ominous broadcast. The Grim Reaper hosts a TV show. The formerly incarcerated recount and reinterpret their first days of freedom. A suburban mom’s life is upturned by the beast growing inside of her. And a high school gym teacher runs drills from inside a volcano.

HOTEL DALLAS – U.S. PREMIERE Directors: Livia Ungur, Sherng-Lee Huang Country: USA/Romania, Running Time: 74min Playfully mixing fiction and documentary, HOTEL DALLAS is a surreal parable of capitalism, communism, and the power of art. In the 80s, in the twilight of communist Romania, “Dallas” is the only American show allowed on TV. Its vision of wealth and glamour captures the imagination of millions. Among them are Ilie and his daughter Livia. He is a small-time criminal and aspiring capitalist; she is in love with the show’s leading man, Patrick Duffy. After communism falls, Ilie builds the Hotel Dallas, a life-size copy of the “Dallas” mansion. Livia immigrates to America, becomes an artist, and directs a film starring Patrick Duffy, as a soap opera character who dies in Texas and wakes up in Romania, in a hotel that looks just like home.   ORION – U.S. PREMIERE Director: Asiel Norton Country: USA, Running Time: 110min In a future dark age, after civilization has collapsed, there are rumors and prophecies of a savior to come. A hunter fights to save a maiden from a cannibal shaman and searches for the world’s last city. The film stars David Arquette and Lily Cole

SPECIAL PRESENTATION  E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL (1982) Director: Steven Spielberg Country: USA, Running Time: 115min A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return to his home-world.  Defrost – second episode Director: Randal Kleiser Country: USA, Running Time: 10min After being cryogenically frozen for 30 years, Joan Garrison awakens to meet her aged family. The VR series stars Tanna Frederick, Bruce Davison, Harry Hamlin, Christopher Atkins, and Carl Weathers.  FAR FROM HEAVEN (2002) Director: Todd Haynes Country: USA, Running Time: 108min The story – which crosses both sexual and racial lines – revolves around a privileged suburban family whose lives are filled with daily family etiquette, social events at the club, and an overall desire to keep up with the Joneses. The family is turned upside down when both husband and wife are faced with choices that not only create a gossip mill for the entire community but also change their entire lives forever.

LATE BLOOMERS (1996) Director: Julia Dyer Country: USA, Running Time: 107min Who would’ve thought a little one-on-one could get a girl in so much trouble? When high school basketball coach Dinah Groshardt falls for school secretary Carly Lumpkin, the uproar reverberates from classroom to locker room, from the principal’s office to the PTA. A film about true love, tolerance, and naked basketball, LATE BLOOMERS redefines family values. A movie for everyone who believes it’s never too late to fall in love.  THE LIBERATORS Director: Cassie Bryant Country: USA, Running Time: 75min Medieval art treasures seized by the Nazis go missing at the end of World War II. Were they destroyed in the chaos of the final battles? Or were these thousand-year-old masterpieces stolen by advancing American troops? For over forty years, the mystery remained unsolved. A true detective story, THE LIBERATORS follows a dogged German art detective through the New York art world and military archives to the unlikeliest of destinations: a small town on the Texas prairie. The film raises intriguing questions as to the motivations of the art thief and the whereabouts of the items that, to this day, remain waiting to be discovered.  SIGNS OF HUMANITY – WORLD PREMIERE Directors: Willie Baronet, Tim Chumley Country: USA, Running Time: 90min Signs of Humanity is a documentary film that explores the inter-related themes of home, homelessness, compassion and humanity. Artist and professor Willie Baronet has purchased more than 1,000 homeless signs over the past 22 years, and he uses this collection to create installations to raise awareness about homelessness. During the month of July, 2014, Willie and three companions drove across the country, connecting with more than 100 people on the streets and purchasing more than 275 signs. Signs of Humanity is a film about that trip.  WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF (1966) Director: Mike Nichols Country: USA, Running Time: 131min History professor George (Richard Burton) and his boozy wife, Martha (Elizabeth Taylor), return late one Saturday night from a cocktail party at the home of the college president, Martha’s father. Martha announces that she invited another couple, newly appointed instructor Nick (George Segal) and his timid wife, Honey (Sandy Dennis), over for a nightcap. When the younger couple arrive, the night erupts into a no-holds-barred torrent of marital angst and verbal tirades.

MIDNIGHT  ANTIBIRTH  Director: Danny Perez Country: USA/Canada, Running Time: 94min In a desolate community full of drug-addled marines and rumors of kidnapping, a wildeyed stoner named Lou wakes up after a crazy night of partying with symptoms of a strange illness and recurring visions. Without being able to remember anything from the night before, she struggles to get a grip on the reality of her situation as unusual conspiracy theories begin to arise.

SHORTS COMPETITION  BACON & GOD’S WRATH Director: Sol Friedman Country: Canada, Running Time: 9min  BATTALION TO MY BEAT Director: Eimi Imanishi Country: Algeria/USA/Western Sahara, Running Time: 14min  BECOMING Director: Katie Featherston, Dave Shotwell Country: USA, Running Time: 15min  BISONHEAD Director: Elizabeth Lo Country: USA, Running Time: 9min  THE BLACK BELT Director: Margaret Brown Country: USA, Running Time: 11min  BOXING Directors: Grayson Moore, Aidan Shipley Country: Canada, Running Time: 13min  THE CHICKENING Directors: Nick DenBoer, Davy Force Country: Canada, Running Time: 5min  DIRT Director: Darius Clark Monroe Country: USA, Running Time: 7min

EAT PREY Director: Hannah Pearl Utt Country: USA, Running Time: 9min  FATA MORGANA Director: Amelie Wen Country: China/USA, Running Time: 21min  THE FIRST MEN Director: Benjamin Kegan Country: USA, Running Time: 14min  HER FRIEND ADAM Director: Ben Petrie Country: Canada, Running Time: 17min  HOMECOMING QUEEN Director: Robert Machoian Country: USA, Running Time: 4min  HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT IN 4 EASY STEPS Director: Ben Berman  Country: USA, Running Time: 8min  JOIN THE CLUB Director: Eva Vives Country: USA, Running Time: 5min  KHAWADJAT Director: Bentley Brown Country: Chad, Running Time: 3min  MAMAN(S) Director: Maimouna Doucouré Country: France, Running Time: 21min  MELODY Director: Jean-Pierre Caner Country: USA, Running Time: 11min  THE MINK CATCHER Director: Samantha Buck Country: USA, Running Time: 13min

MINOR SETBACK Director: Augustine Frizzell Country: USA, Running Time: 11min  MORE THAN FOUR HOURS Director: Bryan Poyser Country: USA, Running Time: 10min  MY LAST FILM Director: Zia Anger Country: USA, Running Time: 9min  NOTES FROM THE BORDER Director: Iva Radivojevic  Country: Greece, Running Time: 10min  NOTHING HUMAN Director: Tom Rosenberg Country: USA, Running Time: 17min   OVER Director: Jörn Threlfall Country: UK, Running Time: 14min  PB Director: Nickolas Grisham Country: USA, Running Time: 10min  PICKLE Director: Amy Nicholson Country: USA, Running Time: 15min  PORTAL TO HELL!!! Director: Vivieno Caldinelli Country: Canada, Running Time: 13min  THE PROCEDURE Director: Calvin Lee Reeder Country: USA, Running Time: 4min  THE RAIN COLLECTOR Director: Isabella Wing-Davey Country: UK, Running Time: 12min

RATE ME Director: Fyzal Boulifa Country: UK, Running Time: 17min  THE SEND OFF Directors: Ivete Lucas, Patrick Bresnan Country: USA, Running Time: 13min  SISTERS Director: Chris Osborn Country: USA, Running Time: 21min  SO GOOD TO SEE YOU Director: Duke Merriman Country: USA, Running Time: 11min  TACO TERROR Director: Tyler Rice Country: USA, Running Time: 4min  TEAPOT Director: Anonymous Country: USA, Running Time: 11min  THUNDER ROAD Director: Jim Cummings Country: USA, Running Time: 13min  VERBATIM: THE FERGUSON CASE Director: Brett Weiner Country: USA, Running Time: 17min  VINCENT Director: Tati Barrantes Country: USA, Running Time: 13min

ANIMATED SHORTS COMPETITION – SPONSORED BY REEL FX  BOB DYLAN HATES ME Director: Caveh Zahedi Country: USA, Running Time: 6min  DEER FLOWER Director: Kangmin Kim Country: USA/South Korea, Running Time: 8min

EDMOND Director: Nina Gantz Country: UK, Running Time: 9min   GLOVE Directors: Alexa Lim Haas, Bernardo Britto Country: USA, Running Time: 5min  I’M GOOD WITH PLANTS Director: Thomas Harnett O’Meara Country: UK, Running Time: 8min  THE LONELIEST STOPLIGHT Director: Bill Plympton Country: USA, Running Time: 7min  POMBO LOVES YOU Director: Steve Warne Country: UK, Running Time: 12min  SNOWFALL Director: Conor Whelan Country: Ireland, Running Time: 5min  TRASH CAT Director: Kelsey Goldych,  Country: USA, Running Time: 2min  WAVES ‘98 Director: Ely Dagher Country: Lebanon/Qatar, Running Time: 15min

SHORTS BEFORE FEATURES  MIDNIGHT MOTEL Director: Michael Tully Country: USA, Running Time: 11min

ABOUT THE DALLAS FILM SOCIETY The Dallas Film Society celebrates films and their impact on society. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Dallas Film Society recognizes and honors filmmakers for their achievements in enhancing the creative community, provides educational programs to students to develop a better understanding of the role of film

in today’s world, and promotes the City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking. The annual Dallas International Film Festival is a presentation of the Dallas Film Society and has been named by Movie Maker Magazine as one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World.” In addition to producing one of the largest festivals in the Southwest, the Society produces numerous year round events, screening series and programs in partnership with arts organizations around the city. The offices of the Dallas Film Society are located at 3625 North Hall Street, Suite 740, Dallas, TX 75219. For more information about the Dallas Film Society and its ongoing events, visit www.dallasfilm.org or call (214) 720-0555.

ABOUT DART TO DIFF DART allows commuters to navigate around Dallas and 12 surrounding cities with modern public transit services and customer facilities tailored to make transportation fast, comfortable and economical. The new DART to DIFF partnership is making it even easier for 2016 Dallas International Film Festival-goers to quickly and safely travel from the 2016 DIFF hub in Mockingbird Station to exciting events around the city. As the main public transportation provider in Dallas, DART is the perfect partner for the 2016 festival and a vital resource for movie-goers. In addition, DART pass and ticket holders will receive $2 discount off DIFF regular ticket prices when purchasing tickets at the DIFF Box Office in Mockingbird Station.

2016 DIFF SPONSORS:  ABCO; A&C Texas Magazine; AdChat; Advocate Magazine; Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, LLP; Alamo DraftHouse Cinemas DFW; The Angelika Film Center; Austin Film Festival; Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation; Buy LEDs; Cinelease; Cinesend; City of Dallas – Office of Cultural Affairs; The Crow Collection of Asian Art; Commerce House; D Magazine; Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau; Dallas Film Commission; Dallas Morning News; Dallas Museum of Art; Dallas Producers Association; Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District (DTPID); DART; Deep Eddy Vodka; Downtown Dallas Inc.; Earth Day Texas; El Creative; Embrey Family Foundation; Film Freeway; Flagship Marketing; Fun Flicks; The Hall Group; Harwood International; The Highland Dallas, Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office; Hyatt House – Uptown; KD Conservatory; Klyde Warren Park; Levenson; Magnolia Hotel Dallas/Park Cities; Marcs Clips; Media 2-Way; Mockingbird Station; Movie Magic; Murray Media; My Sweet Charity; Nasher Sculpture Center;  Nowadays Orange; Panavision; PaperCity; People’s Last Stand; Post Asylum; Prekindle; Pure Evil Sound & Music Design; Radar Creative Studio; ReelFX; Ruthies’s Rolling Café; SAGindie; Selig Polyscope Company; Sewell Motors; Southern Methodist University – Division of Film & Media Arts; Stella Artois; Studio Movie Grill; Texas Association of Film Commissions; Texas Commission of the Arts; Texas Film Commission; Univision; WFAA; Which Wich; Whole Foods Market; Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker; Women In Film

PRESS CONTACT John Wildman Wildworks PR jswildman@hotmail.com 323.600.3165

Dallas’ leading fashion event will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday. And there’ll be some real dogs in the lineup. Yup, it’s the Petropolitan Pooch Parade at Lee Park.

Lee Park and Arlington Hall Conservancy President/CEO Gay Donnell is keeping her eyes on the weather for this 50^th anniversary of Easter in Lee Park. According to the latest reports, if “graceful” showers sans hail and the end-of-the-world shenanigans are gonna happen before noon, they’ll take place in the morning which means that the afternoon of activities (Easter Egg Hunt, music and people/pooch watching) will be timed just right from 1 to 4 p.m.

The only caveat is that the temps may be a tad-bit cool, so if that adorable bare-shouldered sundress is demanding an outing better haul out that pale blue or pink pashmina as well.

As for the four-legged critters, all breeds, sexes and ages are welcome to paw their stuff in spring finery, as long as they have a “friendly” attitude. Remember, there is a $10 entry fee and the models should have their humans on a leash…a non-retractable one.

The parade starts at 2 p.m., but you’ll want to get there early to get registered and check out the competition.

The North Texas Food Bank team was prepared. After last year’s snow and ice, they had a back-up plan all warmed up for the Friday, March 11, fundraising “Empty Bowls” at the Meyerson. Okay, so the Highland Park and Richardson ISDs, Jesuit and Ursuline students were on spring break, but there were still a load of NTFB supporters and downtowners in need of soup as the temps dipped into the 60s with drips and drops from the clouds above.

Empty Bowls’ bowls

Just as the doors opened at 10:30 a.m. for the VIP types, the lineup was overflowing in the lower level with folks like photographer Lisa Stewart to check out the tables filled with hundreds of the handcrafted bowls for sale. The organizers were prepared for such a turnout and have chairs set up for double duty — to provide a path to the sell-athon and for sitting if the wait seemed a bit long. Even presenting sponsor Kroger’s Gary Huddleston had to check in!

Gary Huddleston

Nico Sanchez

Upstairs on the ground level the chefs like Tejano Brothers New Texas Cuisine’s Patrick Smith were serving all types of soups. Meso Maya‘s Nico Sanchez was double dutying. In addition to doling out Sopo de Pollo, he updated friends that the new location at Abrams and Mockingbird was scheduled to open late May. And, yes, it would have a patio for dining and sunning.

Across the way, a couple of cuties topped with crowns were helping Caitlyn Fantl sell NTFB T-shirts. Why the top gear? They were Miss Frisco Outstanding Teen Heather King and Miss Frisco Christina Clawson. When asked if they slept wearing their crowns, the response was laughter and the admission that it would be uncomfortable.

Griffin Schlitt and Liza Schlitt

Taylor Ollivierre

At the landing between the ground-level lobby and the upstairs balcony, mom Liza Schlitt and her three-year-old son Griffin Schlitt watched musicians like violinist Taylor Ollivierre provide the perfect background music for supping.

In the back of the lobby within the roped-off, super-duper VIP area, a table waited for NTFB’s Jan Pruitt’s arrival complete with a reserve sign and a glorious centerpiece.

Paula Lambert and Marisa Partin

On the other side of the Meyerson lobby that was jammed with designer soup bowls on display for the silent auction was a traditional favorite — Paula Lambert’s Mozzarella Company complete with Paula and Marisa Partin.

Evidently the word started making the rounds that smarty pants peeps were heading up the stairs, where Mi Cocina-ers were handing out gift bags and there were tables for sitting and supping. For those with a need for a sweet chaser, Panera had loads of cookies ripe for the taking.

Daniel Villatoro, Jolie Oree-Bailey and Stacey Setzer

Across the way was the dark horse soup of the day. Low Country Quisine ‘s Chef Jolié Oree-Bailey and her team (Daniel Villatoro and Stacey Setzer) were serving up shrimp-and-grits soup. It was impressing folks to a point that its vote jar of dollar votes had folks returning to add more greenbacks.

For more photos, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.

Breaking from the past of having fashions at the Art in Bloom luncheon, this year’s Chair Barbara Daseke decided it might be more fun to have guests compete with table decorations following the presentation by British landscape historian Dr. Todd Longstaffe-Gowan on Monday, March 21, at the Dallas Museum of Art. Wise move because the guests really got into it. Here’s a report from the field:

Barbara Daseke and Linda Ivy*

Luncheon chairman Barbara Daseke, with honorary chairman Linda Ivy and honoree Olivier Meslay, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs, Senior Curator of European and American Art and the Barbara Thomas Lemmon Curator of European Art at the DMA, were joined by over 260 guests at the seventeenth annual Art in Bloom, on Monday, March 21, 2016. Hosted by the Dallas Museum of Art League, proceeds from the event will benefit the DMA’s exhibition and education programs and the DMA League’s Floral Endowment Fund.

The festivities began with a reception in the Hamon Atrium with an opportunity to bid on amazing items in the silent auction, such as a complimentary DMA League upgraded Art Patron membership; a private tour for six with the new Lillian and James H. Clark Associate Curator of European Art, Nicole R. Myers, with lunch at Lark on the Park; a special three-course dinner for two with the host of Emmy Award-winning Bravo series “Top Chef,” Padma Lakshmi, in the DMA Founders Room, inspired by her favorite recipes; includes a hardcover copy of Laksmi’s book, “Love, Loss and What We Ate” and a DMA Fast Track pass; VIP access to upcoming 2016 DMA Opening Exhibition Celebrations for “Irving Penn” in April, “Concentration 60 and 61” in September, “Devine Felines” in October and more.

At the appointed time, attendees were directed to the Horchow Auditorium for remarks from this year’s featured speaker, landscape architect and landscape historian Dr.

Todd Longstaffe-Gowan*

, Gardens Advisor to Historic Royal Palaces in the United Kingdom. Dr. Longstaffe-Gowan entertained the crowd as he shared images and experiences from some of his recent projects, including The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace Gardens and The Crown Estate, as well as the redesign of Kensington Palace Gardens, the eleven-acre pleasure ground around the palace, to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.

Afterward, patrons returned to the Museum’s Atrium for a seated lunch featuring tables dressed with beautiful linens and tabletops courtesy of POSH Couture Rentals, this year’s luxury rental sponsor, with floral centerpieces from David Kimmel Design.

Faye C. Brigg’s table*

Barbara Daseke’s table*

Art in Bloom tabletop*

Mami Driscoll at Jewel Williams’ table*

Six tables featured original tablescapes as part of the inaugural table design competition, using the theme “International” as their inspiration. Table design competitors included Barbara Bigham, Faye Briggs, Barbara Daseke, Dr Delphinium, POSH Couture Rentals and Jewel Williams.  Judged by Dr. Longstaffe-Gowan, Jewel Williams’ tablescape, designed by floral designer Mami Driscoll with collaboration from Stephen Frels with Stella Fine Flowers, was selected as the winning design with a prize of a three-day spree for two in London, complete with exceptional accommodations, a lunch at Clarke’s Restaurant and a private tour with Dr. Longstaffe-Gowan of Kensington Palace and other historic Palace Gardens.

Guests enjoyed a delicious lunch of butter lettuce salad with sherry vinaigrette and thyme blossoms for their first course, followed by an entrée of crispy Cornish hen with truffle spring pea puree, pea tendrils and garnished with nasturtiums.  As dessert of white and dark chocolate mousse tart with hazelnut brittle was served, the live auction, with Heritage Auctions auctioneer Kristen Schultz, began featuring items such as a Judith Leiber jeweled egg-shaped minaudières, a VIP behind-the-scenes tour of the DMA’s Painting Conservation Studio with chief conservator Mark Leonard, dinner at Lark on the Park, reserved seating for two at the DMA Arts & Letters Live presentation of “Dutch Masters & Deceit” and more; and an extravagant night on the town for two including a one-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton, dinner at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille and a box at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra with transportation proved by United Limo.

Diann Contestabile and Margot Perot*

Jennifer Houser and Suzanne Palmlund*

As lunch came to an end, guests lined up to meet Dr. Longstaffe-Gowan as he signed his recent book, “The London Square.”

Art in Bloom International attendees included Honorary Chair Linda Ivy, Dallas Museum of Art League President Jewel Williams, Underwriting Chair Barbara Durham, Auction Chair Cecelia Otiniano-Moore, Barbara Bigham, Margaret McDermott, Margot Perot, Charlene Marsh, Holly Huffines, Robin Carreker, Sheila Durante, Jennifer Houser, Connie Carreker, Mary McDermott Cook, Beverly Freeman, Susan Fisk, Jill Goldberg, Faye Briggs, Libby Swindle, Betsy Waggoner and Ann Dyer.

* Photo credit: Tamytha Cameron

The Junior League of Dallas is well known for being a incubator of leadership with such programs as the T. Boone Pickens Leadership Institute. But on Thursday, March 31, its partnership with Mary Kay Inc. resulted in recognizing tomorrow’s leaders at the third annual Women LEAD Scholarship Program. Here is a report from the field:

Four deserving Dallas Independent School District high school seniors are one step closer to pursuing their dreams of higher education as the Junior League of Dallas (JLD) and Mary Kay Inc. announced the recipients of the third annual Women LEAD (Learn • Excel • Achieve • Dream) Scholarship Program. On Thursday, March 31, 2016 at the Junior League of Dallas’ headquarters, two of Dallas’ most respected women’s organizations partnered to award $25,000 in scholarships to four female students to create opportunities for future women leaders.

“Education is a main area of support in the League and Women LEAD directly reflects our mission to develop the potential of women,” said JLD President Meredith Mosley. “We are honored that in collaboration with Mary Kay, we are able to award these young women with scholarships and hope the funds help the recipients further their education and move one step closer to pursuing their dreams.”

Established in 2013, the scholarship program was inspired by the late Mary Kay Ash, founder of the iconic global beauty company more than 50 years ago that has led the way for millions of women worldwide to pursue their dreams. The 10 finalists from Emmett J. Conrad High School, South Oak Cliff High School, and Thomas Jefferson High School prepared a speech based on the essay topic, “how do you make a difference in your community and what drives you to give back,” which directly aligns with JLD’s mission. A panel of judges selected four winners based on their scholarship application, community involvement, academic record and speech presentation. The 2016 judges included Meredith Mosley, Dr. Cynthia Wilson, DISD Chief of Staff Dr. Cynthia Wilson, Dallas Deputy Chief of Police Catrina Shead and Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility Vice President Crayton Webb.

Crayton Webb, Bonner Allen, Renee Moreno, Anjana Ghaley, Cynthia Izaguirre, Yoga Karki, Gianni Alexander and Meredith Mosley*

First place winner Gianni Alexander, a senior at South Oak Cliff High School, will receive a one-time $10,000 scholarship. Homeless as a child, Alexander stressed that “education is freedom” and that through her acts of community service, she hopes to inspire Dallas youth. With this scholarship, she is one step closer to becoming an art director and plans to pursue a degree in advertising.

Second place winner Renee Moreno, third place winner Yoga Karki and fourth place winner Anjana Ghaley will each receive a one-time $5,000 scholarship. Moreno, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School, stated the importance of “doing everything with love” and plans to pursue a career that allows her to give back to her community. Karki, a senior at Conrad High School, plans to attend medical school in hopes of becoming a doctor. After growing up in Nepal, Ghaley, also a Conrad High School senior, plans to pursue a career in nursing and has dreams of educating rural communities in disease prevention.

“Mary Kay’s mission of enriching women’s lives vividly comes to life through the Women LEAD Scholarship Program by promoting the next generation of women leaders,” said Crayton. “In a longstanding partnership with the Junior League of Dallas, an outstanding organization with a legacy of empowering women throughout the city, we are thrilled to celebrate these young women as they develop into the future leaders of our community.”

* Photo credit: Rhi Lee

Tierney Kaufman Hutchins was just 21 years old when Lynn and Allan McBee co-chaired the very first Party on the Green for TACA. Now, 10 years later she’s chairing the 10^th anniversary of the fundraiser at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. And guess who she’s tapped for honorary co-chairs. Yup, Lynn and Allan.

Jared Hutchins and Tierney Kaufman Hutchins (File photo)

Lynn and Allan McBee (File photo)

In addition to chairing the event and holding down her job at Trinity Trust, Tierney this past year has gotten married to Jared Hutchins and just recently moved into a new house.

Brian Luscher (File photo)

Matt McCallister (File photo)

Danyele McPherson (File photo)

Ah, but the blonde is a multi-tasker. She’s arranged for the following chefs to be cooking up a storm all over the grounds and rooms of the Mansion: Nick Amoriell of Kitchen LTO, Fidel Baeza of Rosewood Mayakoba, Edgar Beas of Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi, Blythe Beck of Pink Magnolia, Nicolas Blouin of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Matt Dallman and Scott Gottlich of 18^th and Vine, Graham Dodds of Wayward Sons, Enrico Figliuolo of Rosewood Castiglion de Bosco, Mervin Friday of Rosewood Crescent, Lisa Garza-Selcer of Sissy’s Southern Kitchen and Bar, Jared Harms of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Mathew Ingersoll of The Capital Grill, Brian Luscher of The Grape and Luscher’s Red Hots, Matt McCallister of FT33 and Filament, Danyele McPherson of Remedy and HG Supply Co., Victor Palma of Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, Stephen Rogers of Gemma, Peter Rudolph of Rosewood Sand Hill, Abraham Salum of Salum, Michael Scott of Rosewood Ranches Wagyu Beef, Braden and Yasmin Wages of Malai Kitchen and Devadip Zahar of Rosewood Las Ventanas.

Lisa Garza-Selcer (File photo)

Abraham Salum (File photo)

Scott Gottlich (File photo)

Of course, there will be right-official judging for the winner of the Golden Skillet Award by foodie know-it-all types — The Dallas Morning News’ Leslie Brenner, D Magazine’s Catherine Downes and Modern Luxury’s Kristie Ramirez. But there’s an addition this year! Guests will be able to add their two-cents by voting the winner of the first ever Party on the Green People’s Choice Award.

Party On The Green (File photo)

Still another addition this year is the voting for the silent auction packages that will feature “20 exclusive travel- and food-related silent auction packages, each personally curated by participating celebrity chefs.” Tierney has arranged to have the bidding to be via “mobile bidding this year to make it easy to spend money.”

Of course, there will be the wine cork pull that’s being co-sponsored by Glazer’s and Merrill Lynch and the 2016 Lexus RX-350 donated by the Dallas-Fort Worth Lexus Dealers. Other sponsors include:

• Presenting sponsor — Lexus
• Patron sponsor — The Rosewood Corporation
• Wristband sponsor — Frost Bank
• Official airline — American Airlines
• Fireworks sponsor — Highland Park Village
• Auction sponsor — AT&T
• Pashmina sponsor — Sandra and Sam Moon
• Chef sponsors ($5,000) —Diane and Hal Brierley, Carlson Capital LP, Barbara and Don Daseke, Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians, Gwen and Leldon Echols, Kara and Randall Goss, Dawn and Tobin Grove, Jennifer and Chris LeLash, the Marie Keese-LeLash Foundation, Deborah and Jim Nugent, Paradox Compensation Advisors, Leah and Jim Pasant, Family Sommer, Strait Capital and Flexjet and Michele and Stephen Vobach.

If you’ve already locked down your tickets and a handful of raffle tickets, then go get that adorable outfit that you’ve been dying to buy. Now, you’ve got the perfect excuse to have it!