Dallas, TX – March 19, 2024 – The Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) today announced the World Premiere of ESPN Films’ “30 FOR 30” documentary, “Dude Perfect: A Very Long Shot,” as the Opening Night film of the 18th edition of the Festival. The documentary about the Frisco-based group, known around the world for their videos of hard-to-believe trick shots, will open DIFF 2024 on Thursday, April 25th, at The Majestic Theatre in downtown Dallas.
“ESPN Films’ documentary about the incredible story of Dude Perfect is the perfect way, literally, to kick off this year’s Festival,” said James Faust, DIFF Artistic Director. “The Dudes have an enormous global fan base. Having the world premiere of their film at The Majestic for DIFF Opening Night will be special – marking our fifth time to open the Festival at this iconic venue.”
Dude Perfect is a phenomenon—the five-member sports-comedy troupe has a massive following on the Internet, television, and beyond. “Dude Perfect: A Very Long Shot” is another step in their journey, chronicling their hard-earned road to stardom, the tale of one of their biggest stunts yet, and the question of where their path may go from here.
Dates for the 2024 Dallas International Film Festival are Thursday, April 25-Thursday, May 2. The host theater for the Festival is Violet Crown Cinema in West Village at 3699 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX. 75204.
In addition to the Opening Night screening at The Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St, Dallas, TX. 75201, additional Opening Weekend screenings will take place at The Texas Theatre, 231 Jefferson Blvd, Dallas, TX. 75208.
DIFF 2024 will feature screenings of more than 100 films, Q&A sessions with filmmakers and actors, nightly DIFF Red Carpets, and special events throughout the film festival.
Passes for the Dallas International Film Festival are on sale at https://dallasfilm.org/diff/passes. Passholders will have priority opportunity to reserve seats for the Opening Night screening beginning April 1st. Individual tickets for the Opening Night screening will go on sale to the public on April 8th.
Film submissions to the Dallas International Film Festival hit record levels this year, said Beth Wilbins, DIFF CEO. “Submissions were entered by filmmakers from more than 80 countries, and we look forward to announcing the DIFF 2024 Official Selections from this wealth of entries on March 28. We know festivalgoers will be excited by the diverse schedule of films curated by our talented programming team.”
Grand Jury Prizes for DIFF 2024 will be awarded for Best Texas Short Film, Best Texas Feature, Best Documentary Short Film, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Feature, Best Animated Short Film, and Best Student Film within the Shorts Competition. Additionally, Audience Awards will be given for Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Feature, and Best Short Film. There will also be a Dallas County Historical Commission Prize for Best Historical Film.
Other film categories and tracks will include Music, Sports, World Films, Latino Films, Canadian Films, Family Films, Indigenous Films, LGBTQIA+, Persons with Disabilities, Environment/Sustainability, and Midnight Films.
DIFF has also introduced a Screenwriting Competition in partnership with Event Horizon Films. The three Grand Prize winners will be featured in table reads during the Festival. Details of the screenwriting competition are available at https://www.eventhorizonfilms.com/dallas-screenwriting-comp.
The Dallas International Film Festival was cited by Travel + Leisure Asia in naming April among “The Best Times to Visit Dallas for Sporting Events and Festivals”. The festival was also cited by MovieMaker magazine in naming Dallas among the “Best Places to Live and Work as a MovieMaker in 2024”.
Through curation of the broadest range of expression through film, DIFF is committed to providing accessible, inclusive, immersive, educational, and entertaining film experiences for all audiences. With a variety of year-round screenings, educational programs, community partnerships, and festivals, DIFF raises awareness of the world’s most approachable and inclusive art form. The Dallas International Film Festival is the signature program of the organization, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2006 as Dallas Film Society, Inc. by people who believe passionately in the art and magic of film. More information is available at www.dallasfilm.org.
DIFF 2024 Sponsors as of March 19 include: PREMIER SPONSOR – Virgin Hotels Dallas; PRESENTING SPONSORS – Akin, Boxer Property, CommerceHouse, Mercury One, Oliver Wyman, Violet Crown, West Village; MAJOR SPONSORS – Dallas Film & Creative Industries Office, Selig Polyscope Company; VIP SPONSORS – Bonez, Consulate General of Canada in Dallas, Dallas County Historical Commission, DFW MSP, Event Horizon Films, Favorite Brands, Fort Worth Film Commission, Four Corners Brewing Co., H-E-B, K Forbes Social, MoviCo, Nowadays Orange, Vestals Catering; PARTNER SPONSORS – AdChat DFW, BestofGuide.com, DIRECTV, DJ Astronaut, Folk and Rowe, Fons PR, Gentle Ben Spirits, IdeaMan Studios, LaByron Thomas Media, Ritual Zero-Proof, Sherrill Actors Studio, Top Tier Event Rentals.
DIFF is supported by the City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture, the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, and the Texas Commission on the Arts. For more information on sponsorships, visit https://dallasfilm.org/sponsor.
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