Dallas International Film Festival


The Dallas International Film Festival, presented by the Dallas Film Society, is an annual film festival that takes place in Dallas, Texas, each spring.

History

2007
The Dallas International Film Festival began in 2007 as the AFI Dallas International Film Festival.
2008
In 2008, the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival was held March 27 to April 6, 2008. The Opening Night Gala film was Helen Hunt's directorial debut film, Then She Found Me. The Closing Night Gala film was Stuart Townsend's Battle in Seattle. Mickey Rooney attended a presentation of the 70th anniversary of Boys Town. Helen Hunt, Mickey Rooney and Charlize Theron each received the AFI DALLAS Star Award.
2009
The 3rd annual festival was held from March 26 to April 2, 2009. Kathryn Bigelow was presented with the AFI DALLAS Star Award prior to a screening of her film, The Hurt Locker. Adrien Brody was presented with the AFI DALLAS Star Award prior to the screening of the Opening Night Gala film, The Brothers Bloom. Robert Towne received the AFI DALLAS Star Award at a presentation of the 35th anniversary of the film, Chinatown.
2010
In 2010, the name of the festival was changed to the Dallas International Film Festival after the contract with AFI expired. Amber Heard received the inaugural DALLAS Shining Star Award and writer/director Frank Darabont received the DALLAS Star Award. The 4th annual festival was held from April 8 to April 18, 2010.
2011
In 2011, the 5th annual festival was held from March 31 to April 10, 2011. Opening night was held at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in the AT&T Performing Arts Center, a location in the Arts District of downtown Dallas. The festival was dedicated to founder and chairman emeritus Liener Temerlin.
2012
The 6th annual festival was held from April 12 through April 22, 2012.
2013
In 2013, the 7th annual festival was held from April 4 through April 14, 2013, and presented more than 160 features, documentaries, shorts, and student films from 28 countries.
2014
The 8th annual festival was held from April 3 through April 13, 2014.
2015
In 2015, the 9th annual festival was held from April 9 to 19, 2015., and featured 165 films. The opening night film was I'll See You in My Dreams, starring Blythe Danner, who was present to accept the Dallas Star Award. Director John Landis was also present to accept the Dallas Star Award. Texas writer/producer/actor L.M. Kit Carson was presented with a posthumous Dallas Star Award.
2016
The 10th annual festival was held from April 14 through April 24, 2016. The opening night film was The Land, starring Erykah Badu. The Dallas Star Award was presented to cinematographer Ed Lachman and the inaugural L.M. Kit Carson Maverick Filmmaker Award was presented to Monte Hellman.
2017
In 2017, the 11th annual festival was held from March 30 through April 8, 2017. The Dallas Shining Star Award was presented to Zoey Deutch. A posthumous Dallas Star Award was presented to Bill Paxton. The L.M. Kit Carson Maverick Filmmaker Award was presented to David Gordon Green.
2018
The 12th annual festival was held from May 3 through May 10, 2018. In 2018, the festival screened more than 130 films from 22 countries, including several movies that were released nationwide later in the year: Eighth Grade, Won’t You Be My Neighbor, Dead Pigs, and Blindspotting.
2019
In 2019, the 13th Dallas International Film Festival powered by Capital One was held from April 11 through April 18, 2019. The festival screened more than 130 films from more than 35 countries, including five world premieres, one U.S. premiere, 37 Texas premieres, and 15 Dallas premieres. World premieres included: After So Many Days, El Corazón de Bolívar, Hurdle, The Pursuit, and This World Won't Break.

Awards

;2007
;2008
at the 2010 Dallas International Film Festival
;2009
;2010
;2011
at the 2011 Dallas International Film Festival
;2012
;2013
at the 2011 Dallas International Film Festival
;2014
;2015
;2016
;2017
;2018
;2019