The following evening FA held their 11th Annual VisionFest event at the DGA theatre complex in Los Angeles. DGA Director-member/FA president Jacques Thelemaque presented FA’s inaugural Nilsson Award, bestowed upon filmmakers who are not only working at the highest levels of creative achievement, but also nurturing and maintaining the true spirit of independent film, to the award’s namesake, filmmaker Rob Nilsson (Northern Lights, Presque Isle). FA’s Community Vision Award was presented to Los Angeles Filmforum, the longest-running showcase for independent, experimental and progressive moving-image art in Southern California.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of FA’s Vision Award to a director whose distinctive vision has inspired generations of emerging filmmakers. This year’s honoree was DGA Director-member Kevin Smith (Chasing Amy, Clerks II, Zack and Miri Make a Porno). Previous Vision Award recipients include DGA Director-members Werner Herzog, Terry Gilliam, Mike Figgis, Wim Wenders, Allison Anders, Alexander Payne and David O. Russell.
