Pat Conroy to receive Beaufort International Film Festival Writing Award Feb . 20, 2010
The 2010 Beaufort International Film Festival, Feb. 18-21, 2010, will award novelist Pat Conroy with the festival’s highest honor, The Jean Ribaut Award, in acknowledgment of his outstanding and inspiring original material for film. The author of The Lords of Discipline, The Great Santini, and, most recently, South of Broad, Conroy will receive the award on Feb. 20. Several of Conroy’s works have been adapted for the screen, including Lords, Santini, and Prince of Tides. “Conroy captures the genuine voice of the Lowcountry. His writing gives international readers an understanding of the South,” says Terry Sweeney, sponsorship chairman for the film festival. Last year, the festival received submissions from over 22 countries including the Republic of Georgia and England. Festival directors anticipate even more international attention this year since the size of the competition has been expanded. Sweeney attributes the festival’s ongoing success to both the festival’s military-related offerings and the director discussions which follow individual showings. With such a close proximity to Parris Island and the Marine Corps Air Station, the festival receives a number of military-themed films each year, like Brats, which focused on soldier’s families. Meanwhile, at the end of each movie, directors are invited to come on stage and discuss their films, giving the festival a more intimate feel. The deadline for entries is Nov. 15. — Marina Flemming
Blythe Danner to Accept Top Award at 2010 Beaufort International Film Festival February 20
Blythe Danner has been chosen to receive the 2010 Beaufort International Film Festival’s “Excellence in Acting” award, one of the top awards of the festival. Ms. Danner starred in two Beaufort based movies adapted from Pat Conroy’s novels The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini. She also starred in Forces of Nature with Sandra Bullock which was also filmed in Beaufort. Upon hearing of Ms. Danner’s award, Pat Conroy, who will receive the festival’s top “Excellence in Writing Award,” said, “Not only is she a wonderful actress she’s also one of the nicest human beings you’ll ever meet.” Actor Michael O’Keefe, who played her son in The Great Santini, will present Ms. Danner with the award at the Awards Gala ceremony. On the news of her award, Ms. Danner said, “I’m thrilled to be asked to accept the “Excellence in Acting” award from my beloved Beaufort and I’m particularly happy to join Pat Conroy and Michael O’Keefe.” The Awards Gala ceremony is free to all who wish to attend and will be held in Beaufort at the USCB Performing Arts Center, 801 Carteret Street at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 20. Over 167 films from around the world have been submitted for the juried competition.
Michael O’Keefe will be presenter at this year’s Awards Gala. He will present the Excellence in Acting award to his good friend Blythe Danner. Michael is an Academy Award-nominated American film and television actor.
Many remember Michael as Danny Noonan in the comedy film Caddyshack. He received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role as the oldest son of a Marine aviator in The Great Santini, starring Robert Duvall, also nominated for an Academy Award for the film. He played a Marine in 1980 in the miniseries A Rumor of War as the friend of Brad Davis’ character, Philip Caputo. He has also appeared in the independent film The Glass House, as well as starring alsongside Tommy Lee Jones in the 1983 pirate adventure Nate and Hayes (also known as Savage Islands). More recently O’Keefe appeared opposite George Clooney in Michael Clayton. He’s appeared twice opposite Jack Nicholson, as his son in Ironweed and as the father of a murdered girl in The Pledge. His film Frozen River was in the competition at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008. He also plays the powerful District Attorney Calvin Beckett in the upcoming film American Violet.
His Broadway theatre credits include Side Man, Mass Appeal, Fifth of July, and Reckless with Mary Louise Parker.
He portrayal Fred, the husband of Roseanne’s sister Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) on the ABC series Roseanne. Micheal appeared on the show from 1993 to 1995. After leaving the series, he played the husband in the series Life’s Work, which aired after Roseanne in its final season. Additional television credits include the lead role of Simon MacHeath in the short lived Boston-based series Against the Law and guest appearances on Saving Grace, The West Wing, Criminal Minds, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, House MD, M*A*S*H and Ghost Whisperer
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