Catalina Film Festival Announces 2015 Honorees and Tributes, Including Wes Craven, Diane

CATALINA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2015 HONOREES AND TRIBUTES, INCLUDING WES CRAVEN, DIANE WARREN, MENA SUVARI, KRISTIN DAVIS

Annual Craven Award and Special Wes Craven Tribute, TV and New Media Summit and $5000 Catalina TreasureHunt Slated for 5th Anniversary

LOS ANGELES—Catalina Film Festival (CFF) today announced featured tributes and events for the Sept. 24 – 27 festival, held on the famed Catalina Island. Among the honorees for the 5th annual Festival are inaugural recipient of theSoundtrack of Our Lives Award, legendary songwriterDiane Warren;Avalon Award recipient, Mena Suvari(American Beauty, American Pie);ISLA Earth Award recipient, Kristin Davis(Sex & the City, Gardeners of Eden,Couples Retreat); andCrest Award recipient,Lucas Till(X-Men: Apocalypse, Bravetown).CFF will also pay tribute toWes Craven, a supporter of the Festival who graciously founded the annual Craven Awardfor excellence in horror filmmaking and personally selected the winning films.

“We’re heartbroken to have lost our close friend and one of our biggest supporters. Wes Craven was not only an icon in the industry, he was a personal friend who will be incredibly missed,” said Festival co-founder, Delious ‘Tim’ Kennedy. “As the winner of our annual Craven Awardwas just picked days ago, it's with heavy, but proud and inspired, hearts that we will honor his legacy, vision and spirit.”

CFF is also expanding their tributes this year to include the first-ever Soundtrack of Our Lives award, honoring singers, songwriters, and musicians. Diane Warren — whose songs have been featured in more than 100 motion pictures — is the inaugural recipient. Warren has worked with Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga,Adele, Elton John, Kelly Clarkson, Faith Hill, Eric Clapton, Celine Dion, LeAnn Rimes, Mariah Carey, Barbra Streisand, Justin Bieber, and Jennifer Hudson, just to name a few. Her songs have provided the soundtrack for some of film’s most memorable moments, including “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” performed by Aerosmith for Armageddon. Her original song, “Til It Happens To You” performed by Lady Gaga, is featured in the recently released and critically acclaimed documentary The Hunting Ground.

“Diane Warren was the perfect choice for our inaugural Soundtrack of Our Lives award,” said Festival founder and director, Ron Truppa. “She’s one of the most prolific songwriters whose music hasnot only earnedseven Oscar™ nods, it’s shaped how we experience film.”

Mena Suvari, known for her breakout performance in the Oscar™Winning Best Picture,American Beauty, and currently the lead in WeTV’s series South of Hell,is this year’s Avalon Award recipient. Suvari recently starred in the Amazon pilot Hysteria created by Shaun Cassidy and just completed an arc on Chicago Fire and American Horror Story. Shealso starred in the American Pie franchise. The Avalon Award honors an actor or filmmaker making waves within the Hollywood community by continually entering “uncharted waters” in their career and standing out amongsttheir peers.

Kristen Davis, actress and activist who stole hearts as Charlotte in Sex & the City, will receive the ISLA Earth Award for her time and philanthropic efforts for serving as a Patron to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, as a Global Ambassador to Oxfam International, as well as working with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.Her film Gardeners of Eden, a documentary about the DavidSheldrickWildlife Trustand creating awareness to stop illegal poaching of ivory, will also be screened at the Festival. Presented by the Catalina Island Conservancy, the ISLA Earth Award honors films and filmmakers that aim to protect, educate, and promote the power of nature.

Lucas Till, who played “Young Jack Cash” in James Mangold’s Walk the Line, andMiley Cyrus’ love interest in Disney’sHannah Montana: The Movie, before mega-producer Neil Moritz cast him as a young Private in Sony’s Battle Los Angeles. However, it was his role as “Havok” in Fox’s X-Men seriesthat established him as one of Hollywood’s most promising young leading men.When he’s not in front of the camera, Till can be found behind it. At age 25, he’s already produced three feature films, including All Superheroes Must Die, which was bought and distributed internationally by Image Entertainment.Till will receive the Festival’s Crest Award.

Additional tributes, celebrities, and film selections to be announced.Recent honorees include Nicolas Cage, Andy Garcia, William H. Macy, Jon Favreau, Sharon Stone, Kate Bosworth, Stan Lee, and more.

The competitive fest and film market also features the Catalina TV and New Media Summit; Mercedes Benz Music Stage; Blackmagic Catalina Treasure Hunt($5000 in prizes hidden throughout the island);Stella Artois Beer Garden; Horseshoe Bend Vineyards Catalina Filming Wine Mixer; and Boxcast Live-Stream Lancer Auditorium.

About Catalina Film Festival
Catalina Film Festival is an annual celebration of film on the only West Coast resort island, where blue water and coastal breezes provide the perfect backdrop for films, parties, panels and networking . . . just 26 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. CFF’s beneficiary is the Catalina Island Conservatory. For additional information, visit follow @CatalinaFilm, #CatalinaFilm and Facebook.com/CatalinaFilm.

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