8th annual Catalina Film Festival to hold awards ceremony Saturday

Hollywood legend Richard Dreyfuss is an American actor best known for starring in popular films during the 1970s through 1990s, including American Graffiti, Jaws, Stand by Me, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, The Goodbye Girl, Always, and Mr. Holland’s Opus, is slated to receive the Catalina Spotlight Award. Courtesy photo

Highlighting the amazing movie legacy of Catalina Island, the Catalina Film Festival is sponsoring its 8th annual festival this year with a new addition of “bridge building” activity to Long Beach. (See catalinafilm.org for details about discussions and films.)

According to founder and Executive Director Ron Truppa, new to the festival this year were major activities in Long Beach and other activities in Newport Beach that provide a “launching point” for main festivities over the weekend on Catalina Island.

In Truppa’s words, the festival is designed to support its overall mission of “imagination, education and destination” to inspire filmmakers. Mainland activities provide easier access to the media and younger filmmakers, many of whom attended the opening events Wednesday.

Avalon Mayor Anni Marshall said she not only supports the mainland activities for the festival but suggested some ideas for Truppa. She said some events and ticket prices for events are better suited for the mainland. The festival includes five days of activities designed to highlight short films, documentaries and feature films featuring top filmmakers, industry professionals and financiers. According to the official schedule, the festival opens for two days on the mainland, featuring workshops, screenings and other activities, jumps the channel to Avalon for two days of similar activities on Catalina, then returns to conclude in Long Beach on Sunday.

“We are a non-profit public benefit corporation comprised of industry professionals that love film, the creative process and the people that make it happen,” said Truppa. He said the festival attempts to use current events to harken back to link with the legacy of Catalina’s rich Hollywood past.

The festival kicked off with seminars and educational workshops for young filmmakers in Long Beach, as industry professionals Gena Vazquez and Lisa Gruhm sat with younger filmmakers answering their questions about getting started in the business.

Major stars will be on hand to accept this year’s major awards. Richard Dryfuss will receive the Stanley Kramer “Social Artist” Award, Ashanti will be the recipient of the Avalon “Gem of the Ocean” Award, Kevin Hart will receive the “Mack Sennett “King of Comedy” Award, Rob Riggle will be presented the Catalina Spotlight Award Saturday at the festival’s red carpet event at the Avalon Casino.