“This film festival exemplifies what a film festival should be!”

                                                                        Joe Mantegna

Tears amid the cheers at the ’08 LAFF

Emcee Chris McDonald congratulates honoree Joe Mantegna at the Sunday afternoon Filmmakers Award Luncheon

While there was plenty to cheer about during 2008 Lake Arrowhead Film Festival, there were plenty of tears and touching moments as well.   “I’ve never cried so much at an awards ceremony,” said Muhammad Ali Hasan (director of the winning student film, Rabia.)  And he wasn’t alone.

The entire weekend was filled with emotional moments.  And not all of them were on the screen.  While the festival exists for the purpose of showcasing independent and student films and honoring excellent achievement in both, LAFF has secured a reputation for its heartfelt moments both on and off the screen.

Honoree Beau Bridges’ voice cracked with emotion as he discussed the young men in the war-themed documentary, Operation Homecoming.  He observed that one of the men was 22 years old, the same age as his own son.

Diane Ambruso was so overcome at winning the second place award for the Best Short Documentary (for the cancer-themed The Hat Lady), that she almost couldn’t speak.  Fortunately, award presenter Tim Bottoms (whose brothers have gone through cancer treatment) stepped forward to comfort her. 

And tears streamed from the face of honoree Jack Hill as he watched a retrospective of his low budget independent films and heard tributes in his honor.  “I just never expected all this,” he said.

Award winning director (and quadriplegic) Jackie Julio was lifted to the stage (twice!) to receive awards for her short film, Hold On, by a group of men that included actors Lorenzo Lamas, Chris McDonald, Vincent Spano and her own co-director Doug Olear.

Friday night’s Gala Awards were punctuated by a touching tribute to June Lockhart as entertainer Gloria Loring sang a song written nearly 100 years ago by Lockhart’s father.

The words to the chorus were displayed on video screens and the entire audience joined in the sing-along.  It was a thoroughly unexpected but touching moment, the kind that has come to symbolize the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival.

Presenter Vincent Spano summed it up nicely.  “This is a festival about family and heart.”

"Greetings from the Shore" took both the Best Feature Film Award and the Best of the Festival Award

Honoree Joe Mantegna agreed, “This film festival exemplifies what a film festival should be.  You’ve done a remarkable job.  I will cherish this award because it’s from a community that’s doing it right.”

The festival’s top winners also included Greetings from the Shore (Best Feature and Best of the Festival), Bad Boys of Summer (Best Feature Documentary), The Beanie Baby Soldier (Best Short Documentary) and Grim Fetch (Best Animated Film).

This year’s honorees included actors Beau Bridges, June Lockhart and Joe Mantegna, cinematographer William A. Fraker, ASC, and directors Jack Hill and Joe Sargent.  Presenters and special guests included Tim Bottoms, Richard Crudo, ASC, Bob Fisher, Betty Garrett, Lorenzo Lamas, Eriq LaSalle, Donald M. Morgan, ASC, and Billy Ray along with the festival’s three event emcees, Ernie Hudson, Christopher McDonald, and Vincent Spano.

Entertainment at the Gala Awards Dinner was provided by Gloria Loring, Rich Callaci and Olivia Clark. 

The 2008 LAFF proudly screened four films associated with local residents, including shorts by Amanda Ellis (The Vaudevillian), Spencer Holden (The Red Ballet), and Jan Skrentny (Why’d the Beetle Cross the Road), and a feature film directed by Scott Madden (The Kiss).  Madden’s film – a world premiere screening -- played to a sold-out, standing room-only crowd on Saturday night.

As the festival prepares for its 10^th Anniversary next April, it is gratifying for the LAFF’s Board members and organizers to realize that the festival has indeed found an identity as a friendly, welcoming event with its emphasis placed clearly where it belongs:  on the filmmakers and their films.  The emotion that follows is merely a by-product of the hard work, long hours and great passion invested in these films by their makers – as well as in the long and storied careers of our honorees. 

Thanks to all of the many sponsors, merchants and volunteers who made the 2008 LAFF the special event that is was.  And please join us next year for the 2009 Lake Arrowhead Film Festival.  Submit a film. Become a sponsor.  Help out as a volunteer.  Or simply come to the festival, meet the filmmakers, and enjoy some of the most compelling and entertaining films around.

2008 Lake Arrowhead Film Festival Award Winners Presented at the Sunday Afternoon Filmmakers’ Luncheon
Best of the Festival Greetings from the Shore	Feature Documentary 1st Place :  Bad Boys of Summer 2nd Place : Hats Off
June Lockhart Award Jackie Julio and Doug Olear	Short Documentary 1st Place :  Beanie Baby Soldier 2nd Place : The Hat Lady
Feature Film 1st Place :  Greetings from the Shore 2nd Place : Under the Snow	Animated Film 1st Place :  Grim Fetch 2nd Place : Simulacra
Short Film 1st Place :  Hold On 2nd Place : Morning Fall	Student Film 1st Place :  Rabia 2nd Place : The Line
2008 Lake Arrowhead Film Festival Honorees Presented at the Friday Night Gala Award Dinner
Distinguished Artist Award Beau Bridges	Lifetime Achievement Award June Lockhart
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography William A. Fraker, ASC	Excellence in the Art of Independent Filmmaking Jack Hill
Exceptional Achievement in Directing Joe Sargent	Excellence in Film, Television and Beyond Joe Mantegna

Beau Bridges	William A. Fraker, ASC Cinematographer 6 time Academy Award Nominee	Jack Hill
June Lockhart Click here for June's KTIE 590 radio interview!	Joe Mantegna	... Joe Sargent Director 5 time Emmy Award Winner

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Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors for helping
to make LAFF 2008 such a great success!: