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Every year around this time – fans congregate to see the new schedule. No, I’m not talking about the Cowboy’s 2009 regular season which was announced today, but the 39th Annual USA Film Festival being held April 29-May 3, 2009 at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas.

Usually, when someone proclaims that they’re 39, it means that they’re old and don’t want to admit it. But the USA Film Festival is 39 years young & judging by their newly released schedule - better then ever!

The festival continues its tradition of honoring master artists and showcasing new films and filmmakers in a setting designed to bring filmmakers together with audiences. This year’s honorees include some of the most venerable character actors in contemporary cinema (M. Emmet Walsh, Brian Cox, Ray Liotta), a commercials director who brought character to the small screen (Joe Sedelmaier), one of the most iconic and beloved songwriters and composers of our time (Paul Williams) and a Hollywood movie maid who made history (Juanita Moore).

Other highlights include anniversary screenings of the cult classic Phantom of the Paradise (1974) featuring Paul Williams’ Oscar-nominated song score and the enduring classic Imitation of Life (1959) featuring Juanita Moore’s Oscar-nominated performance, the 31st Annual National Short Film & Video Competition (an Academy-qualified program), a new print/special screening of Jean-Luc Godard’s Made in U.S.A. (1966) previously unreleased in the U.S., along with new films from Mexico, Turkey and the U.K.

And I know you won’t want to miss Battle for Terra, the debut of the exciting animated feature based on the short film that won the Animation Prize in the 2004 USAFF National Short Film and Video Competition!

Official Sponsors of the 39th Annual USA Film Festival include American Airlines, Blockbuster Inc., Amegy Bank of Texas, CareerLink Companies, The Independent Film Channel, Jones Day, QUICK, Texas Commission on the Arts, and Ticketmaster. The USA Film Festival is supported, in part, by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs.

So here’s your homework:
1. Clear your calendar for 5 nights beginning April 29th.
2. Call Ticketmaster - beginning April 16 by calling 214-631-82787.  Tickets for all programs $10.

Now would be a good time to start making up excuses why you can’t attend your cousin Tillie’s wedding at the end of the month.

A complete schedule of all Festival events may be obtained by calling the Festival office at 214-821-FILM or may be viewed on line at: http://www.usafilmfestival.com/images/usaff.schedule.pdf

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