Campus News

Robert Osborne announces guests for 2009 film festival

Robert Osborne announces guests for 2009 film festival

Actors Talia Coppola Shire, Fred Willard and Michael Hitchcock will join director Guy Hamilton, film restoration expert James C. Katz, film noir specialist Alan Rode and vice president of the Turner Classic Movies network Tom Brown as special guests at Robert Osborne’s Classic Film Festival from March 19-22 at the Classic Center.

“Our guests this year include two Academy Award winners as well as other amazing industry veterans,” said Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies and columnist for The Hollywood Reporter. “We are honored to welcome them all to Athens.”

The guest list is subject to change.

Shire’s career includes acting, producing and directing credits. She has appeared in a variety of films since the late 1960s including the Rocky and Godfather series. She had a starring role in The Godfather which will be shown at the festival on March 21.

Willard will join the festival this year as co-host and festival guest for the screening of Funny Girl, which will be shown March 20. Willard is known for his improvisational comedy skills and his roles in the Christopher Guest “mockumentary” films This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and the latest Guest film, For Your Consideration, which will be shown at the festival March 21. He also received three Emmy nominations for his recurring role on the TV series Everybody Loves Raymond.

Hitchcock has appeared in the four most popular Christopher Guest directed films, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and this year’s film festival pick, For Your Consideration. In addition to his film and television work as an actor, he has served as a producer and writer for MADTV.

Hamilton directed four James Bond films: Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die and the Man with the Golden Gun. Hamilton’s first Bond film, Goldfinger, will be shown March 19 as the festival’s opening film.

E.T. star Dee Wallace will greet the festival audience through a specially taped interview for the festival’s closing film March 22. Wallace starred as Elliot’s mother in the Steven Spielberg film. She also had key roles in popular cult films The Hills Have Eyes and The Howling and appeared in The Stepford Wives.

Festival tickets can be purchased separately or as a package at the Classic Center box office, online (www.classiccenter.com) or by calling (800) 918-6393. Tickets are $10 per individual film or $60 for a pass to all films and panel discussions. Students and UGA Alumni Association members can purchase individual film tickets for $8 or a pass to all films and the panel discussion for $45 with valid identification.