SPECIAL GUESTS

Robert Schwartzman - Star on the Horizon

Robert Schwartzman was born on 24th December 1982 to parents, actress Talia Shire and producer Jack Schwartzman, in Los Angeles California. He was born into one of the film industry’s most famous families, including uncle Francis Ford Coppola, cousin Nicolas Cage, cousin Sofia Coppola, (former) cousin-in-law Spike Jonze and brother Jason Schwartzman. His father was of Polish Jewish descent and his mother is of Italian ancestry.

Robert was featured in his cousin Sofia’s first short film Lick the Star, and played Paul Baldino in the directorial debut The Virgin Suicides. His breakthrough performance, however, came from playing the role of Michael Moscovitz in Disney’s The Princess Diaries, winning the role due to his musical ability. The movie also featured a scene with a section from the song “Blueside” that Robert wrote and is a real song for his band Rooney. Since 2002, Robert has taken time out from acting, and has focused on his music with his band Rooney, where he is the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist.

Brittany Snow - 2023 Career Achievement

The term Triple Threat refers to performer who is adept at Acting, Singing and Dancing. That makes Brittany Snow a Cinco de WowWow, as she is now adds writer and director to her impressive bio.

Brittany recently completed production as the writer/director and producer for the independent film “Parachute”. Brittany starred in A24’s X from director Ti West, opposite Mia Goth, Kid Cudi and Jenna Ortega. She stars in the Utopia original, The Good Half opposite Nick Jonas from director Robert Schwartzman. She will also be seen in the upcoming romantic comedy 

She is known internationally for starring in Universal’s smash hit franchise, Pitch Perfect, and the two sequels. She starred in New Line’s Hairspray, Sundance’s The Vicious Kind, 20th Century Fox’s John Tucker Must Die, Bushwick opposite Dave Bautista and in Hangman opposite Al Pacino.

Brittany will receive her Career Achievement Award prior to THE GOOD HALF, Friday, Nov 3rd at Hard Rock. She will also attend PARACHUTE, Saturday, Nov 4, 5:15pm at Savor Cinema.

Matt Walsh- 2023 Career Achievement

Matt Walsh is an American comedian and actor, best known for his role as Mike McLintock in Veep for which he received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He is a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy troupe, with which he co-starred in its original television series and the 2015 reboot, and was a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He has also appeared in films such as Road Trip (2000), Bad Santa (2003), School for Scoundrels (2006),
Role Models (2008), The Hangover (2009) and The Do-Over (2016).

Along with Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, and Ian Roberts, he is a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade improv comedy troupe and played “Trotter” in the troupe’s sketch comedy series, which ran for three seasons on Comedy Central.

In 2012, he began co-starring as Mike McLintock in the HBO series Veep, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2016 and 2017.  Walsh directed his first feature film High Road, an indie-comedy he co-wrote with Josh Weiner. Walsh co-wrote his second film, A Better You, with Brian Huskey, who also stars in the film.

Matt will receive the Career Achievement Award prior to THE GOOD HALF on Friday, Nov 3, 7pm at Hard Rock.

David Arquette - 2023 Career Achievement

David Arquette has been a household name in Hollywood for over 30 years. The youngest of the Arquette acting dynasty (stretching all the way back to his great grandparents), David recently reprised his role as Dewey Riley in the relaunch of SCREAM, which had a #1 opening weekend. David is also known for modem classics like BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, AIRHEADS, JOHNS, NEVER BEEN KISSED, READY TO RUMBLE and 3000 MILES TO GRACELAND.

David has also produced successful TV series like COUGAR TOWN and CELEBRITY NAME. Arquette is an investor in XTR, the leading premium nonfiction film and television studio in America, which has produced the critically acclaimed feature documentary on himself called YOU CANNOT KILL DAVID ARQUETTE,

David will receive the Career Achievement Award prior to THE GOOD HALF on Friday, Nov 3, 7pm at Hard Rock.

Alexandra Shipp - 2023 Career Achievement

Alexandra Shipp is an American actress and singer, best known for playing Storm in the X-Men franchise, starting with X-Men: Apocalypse, Abby Suso in the 2018 romantic comedy Love, Simon, and Susan Wilson in musical drama tick, tick… BOOM! Most recently, Shipp co-starred in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. In 2009, Shipp made her acting debut with a minor role in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.  

She reprised the role of Ororo Munroe / Storm in the 2019 film Dark Phoenix, and, the same summer, also starred as Sasha Arias in the Shaft sequel. This past spring, Shipp was on the Cinema Paradiso Hollywood screen (ok, and cinemas across the nation) in SPACE ODDITY, directed by Kyra Sedgewick. Films in production include Kung Fury 2 and Anyone But You.

Alexandra will receive the Star On The Horizon Award prior to THE GOOD HALF on Friday, Nov 3, 7pm at Hard Rock.

Charles Martin Smith - 2023 Lifetime Achievement

Charles Martin Smith first came to prominence as one of the young stars of George Lucas’ AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973). He has starred in many other films including Brian DePalma’s THE UNTOUCHABLES (as the accountant who caught Al Capone), and Sam Peckinpah’s PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID. In THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Smith used his musical background to portray the bass player of the Crickets, playing all the music live. In Carroll Ballard’s NEVER CRY WOLF, Smith spent two years in the high arctic, working with wolves, caribou, and developing a deep friendship and appreciation for the Inuit. It was a life-changing experience that led to Smith emigrating to Canada. Other acting credits include DEEP COVER, THE HOT SPOT, DEEP IMPACT, LUCKY YOU, and John Carpenter’s STARMAN, as well as many TV films and mini-series in a career spanning over 50 years.

Smith was born in L.A. where his father, Frank A. Smith, was a respected animator and director, working for most of the major studios. Smith attended UCLA and Cal State University Northridge, majoring in theatre, with an emphasis in directing. After college, he continued to study acting privately with acclaimed acting teacher Nina Foch, while pursuing a successful career in acting, writing and directing in films and television. Smith made his film directing debut with the satirical horror film TRICK OR TREAT (1986), for Dino DeLaurentis.

Charles will receive his Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, Nov 4, 3:15pm, Savor Cinema before the screening of THIS TIME.

Dianne Ladd - 2023 Lifetime Achievement

Diane Ladd, is an actress-writer director-author and winner of more than 72 awards including British Academy Award, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit, and Cannes Palme d’or. Diane is a three-time Emmy nominee, and a three-time Academy Award nominee for “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”, “Wild at Heart” and “Rambling Rose”. For …Rose, she and her daughter, Laura Dern, in tandem, made show biz history as the only mother/daughter to both be nominated for Academy Awards – same year, same film. 

Ladd was Mimi in David O. Russell’s “JOY” (and narrated the entire film) with Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro and Bradley Cooper. She was Nell O’Brien in Hallmark’s “Chesapeake Shores”.  “The Last Full Measure” alongside Christopher Plummer, William Hurt, Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris,
Peter Fonda, Sebastian Stan and John Savage. Ms. Ladd appeared in the movie, “Charming the Hearts of Men” with Kelsey Grammer, and in the Chicago doc “Live at Mister Kelly’s.” She has appeared in over 200 films and TV shows including the TV Series, “Alice” (based on original film) and Steven King’s “Kingdom Hospital” and co-starred in hit TV series, “Enlightened” with her daughter Laura, for HBO. Ladd is the only woman in history to direct an ex-husband (Bruce Dern) in a film, “Mrs. Munck,” which she wrote/directed. The film received magnificent reviews and awards throughout Europe, opening the Edinburgh Festival. 

Diane Ladd will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award prior to the
screening of ISLE OF HOPE, Sunday, Nov 5, 3:15pm at Savor Cinema.

MIchael Chiklis - 2023 Career Achievement

Diane Ladd, is an actress-writer director-author and winner of more than 72 awards including British Academy Award, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit, and Cannes Palme d’or. Diane is a three-time Emmy nominee, and a three-time Academy Award nominee for “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”, “Wild at Heart” and “Rambling Rose”. For …Rose, she and her daughter, Laura Dern, in tandem, made show biz history as the only mother/daughter to both be nominated for Academy Awards – same year, same film. 

Ladd was Mimi in David O. Russell’s “JOY” (and narrated the entire film) with Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro and Bradley Cooper. She was Nell O’Brien in Hallmark’s “Chesapeake Shores”.  “The Last Full Measure” alongside Christopher Plummer, William Hurt, Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris,
Peter Fonda, Sebastian Stan and John Savage. Ms. Ladd appeared in the movie, “Charming the Hearts of Men” with Kelsey Grammer, and in the Chicago doc “Live at Mister Kelly’s.” She has appeared in over 200 films and TV shows including the TV Series, “Alice” (based on original film) and Steven King’s “Kingdom Hospital” and co-starred in hit TV series, “Enlightened” with her daughter Laura, for HBO. Ladd is the only woman in history to direct an ex-husband (Bruce Dern) in a film, “Mrs. Munck,” which she wrote/directed. The film received magnificent reviews and awards throughout Europe, opening the Edinburgh Festival. 

Diane Ladd will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award prior to the
screening of ISLE OF HOPE, Sunday, Nov 5, 3:15pm at Savor Cinema.