Each year the annual Vision Fest screening at the Guild is preceded by a presentation of the Vision Award, an honor bestowed upon a director whose distinctive vision has inspired generations of emerging filmmakers. Previous recipients include: Terry Gilliam, Mike Figgis, Wim Wenders, Allison Anders and Alexander Payne. This year’s recipient was DGA Director-member David O. Russell whose work includes Flirting with Disaster, Three Kings, I (Heart) Huckabees and Soldiers Pay.

For 12 years FA has created a support system for a community of artists dedicated to independent filmmaking. The DGA returned for its sixth consecutive year as a sponsor of this event, and also hosted a dinner for the Vision Fest Filmmakers at Ca’Brea Restaurant where director members David O. Russell and George Hickenlooper spoke to the attendees about the advantages of Guild Membership.