Films and Event Line-up Announced for the 2015 John Wayne Film Festival in Dallas, Texas, Benefitting the John Wayne Cancer Foundation

DALLAS, Sept. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The 4^th Annual John Wayne Film Festival returns to Dallas for its second year with the charitable Kara and Randall Goss serving as this year's festival chairs and Anne and Steve Stodghill serving as Honorary Chairs. Wayne family members Patrick Wayne, Melinda Wayne-Munoz, Ethan Wayne, Marisa Wayne, and Anita Swift will return to Dallas to join the festival chairs, host committee and guests for the four-day festival. The John Wayne Film Festival will be held at Highland Park Village Theatre and LOOK Cinemas from September 24^th through September 27^th and is a rare opportunity to see some of The Duke's most legendary films on the big screen.

"Randall and I are looking forward to engaging the Dallas community this year and raising much needed funds for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation," says Kara Goss, John Wayne Film Festival event chair. "We are excited to build off the momentum Anne and Steve Stodghill created for the festival last year, and are especially proud to recognize Steve's sister, who ultimately lost her battle with cancer earlier this year." 

The festival will be hosted at Highland Park Village and kicks off on Thursday, September 24^th with a VIP screening at Highland Park Village Theatre, followed by a VIP dinner and live auction at Bistro 31. On Friday, September 25^th, the festivities continue with two screenings in the evening at Highland Park Village Theatre and three overflow screenings at LOOK Cinemas. On Saturday, September 26^th, Highland Park Village Theatre and LOOK Cinemas and will have five screenings total. Also on Saturday, the John Wayne Film Festival will host a public screening of The Searchers at Klyde Warren Park. Finally, the final film screening at Highland Park Village Theatre will be followed by a private closing night party. Question and answer sessions with the Wayne Family will take place during the festival.

Auction sponsor Heritage Auctions will manage the John Wayne Film Festival auction with many great items to bid on including a few John Wayne items. The auction will be live online from September 3^rd to 23^rd transitioning to a live auction on the evening of the VIP Dinner on Friday, September 24^th. The online auction can be accessed visiting www.johnwayne.org. Auction items include an image of John Wayne in The Searchers from the John R. Hamilton Collection, a John Wayne .45 pistol and custom case by America Remembers, a John Wayne guitar and case by ASG, a painting of Grace Kelly by Russell Young, and many more one-of-a-kind items.

Films to be Shown During Festival
Flying Leathernecks
Fort Apache
How the West Was Won
In Harms Way
True Grit
Red River
Rooster Cogburn
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
The Barbarian and the Geisha
The Cowboys
The Shootist
The Sea Chase
The Searchers

In addition, on Thursday, September 24^th, the John Wayne Family will participate in an Art Walk through Highland Park Village. The Art Walk is open to the public September 20^th through 26^th and features the recently uncovered 'Lost Archive' of rarely-seen and never-seen photographs from John R. Hamilton's collection. John R. Hamilton has photographed the most iconic celebrities from the 1940's to 1990's, including John Wayne, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot and Ann-Margret. To see more from the collection, or for upcoming events visit JohnHamiltonCollection.com.

This year's festival sponsors include Highland Park Village, U.S. Risk, Kara and Randall Goss, Dan Hagood, Heritage Auctions, Anne and Steve Stodghill, Jeff Price, The Deason Foundation, Richard H. Collins, DUKE Spirits, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Modern Luxury Dallas, Bistro 31, John R. Hamilton Collection, Klyde Warren Park, Cherry Tart, Hilton Dallas/Park Cities and LOOK Cinemas.

All the proceeds from the John Wayne Film Festival will benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. Suggested attire for the Festival is boots and jeans. Event information including sponsorship and links to purchase tickets can be found by visiting www.johnwayne.org.

About John Wayne Cancer Foundation
John Wayne beat lung cancer in 1964. He died 15 years later after a struggle with cancer of the stomach. During this difficult period, he became passionate about helping others fight this terrible disease. To honor his memory, his family created the John Wayne Cancer Foundation (JWCF) with the mission to bring courage, strength and grit to the fight against cancer. JWCF funds novel and innovative programs that improve cancer patients' outcomes and save lives through research, education, awareness and support. JWCF established the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA and their research has led to groundbreaking training, procedures and treatments. JWCF also funds an innovative skin cancer awareness and prevention program for youth called Block the Blaze.  The John Wayne Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity. For more information visit www.johnwayne.org.

About Highland Park Village
Highland Park Village is a favorite among locals, as it has been for many generations.  Built in 1931 and widely regarded as the country's first true shopping center, the Village is internationally recognized for its architectural significance and mix of the world's best-known upscale retailers including Akris, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Carolina Herrera, CHANEL, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Escada, Harry Winston, Hermès, Jimmy Choo, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford and Tory Burch.  It is a treasured part of the community and offers several annual events including a special holiday celebration and horse-drawn carriage rides each winter.  During the holiday season, our shopping center illuminates over 2 million LED lights for our guests to enjoy.  In 2000, Highland Park Village was recognized as a National Historic Landmark. For more details visit hpvillage.com.

About LOOK Cinemas
Dallas-based LOOK Cinemas offers state-of-the-art theatres featuring luxurious reserved seating, as well as signature restaurants. You can LOOK & Dine in our dine-in theatres with full food and beverage service; savor handcrafted cocktails and light fare with your movie in The Lofts; stretch out in one of our three spacious seating options in the Living Rooms; or enjoy our largest screens paired with power recliners and Dolby Atmos sound in Evolution. LOOK Cinemas is located on Beltline Road at the intersection of Prestonwood Road in north Dallas.  Follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

About Klyde Warren Park
Klyde Warren Park is a 5.2-acre deck park, bridging Uptown Dallas to Downtown Dallas. The park includes a performance pavilion, restaurant, dog park, children's park, great lawn, shaded walking paths, water features, free Wi-Fi, ping pong and foosball tables, and a reading and games area. The mission of Klyde Warren Park is to provide free daily programs to all visitors. Klyde Warren Park is privately operated and managed by the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information on programming, volunteering or to make a donation to support free daily programs, please visit www.KlydeWarrenPark.org

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SOURCE John Wayne Cancer Foundation (JWCF)

Related Links

http://johnwayne.org