Emily Blunt Among Inaugural Hamptons International Film Festival Dinner Honorees

On Sunday, October 11th, the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) will hold its inaugural Awards Dinner, which will toast to internationally-acclaimed actress Emily Blunt, independent film production company Killer Films, documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles, and longtime HIFF board chairman Stuart Match Suna. Proceeds from the dinner will support HIFF’s year-round programming initiatives, the annual Screenwriters’ Lab, and two longtime summer initiatives, SummerDocs and the Student Filmmaking Workshops.

“The Hamptons International Film Festival was founded to celebrate independent voices in cinema, and it is in that spirit that we choose to fete this extraordinary group of individuals, each of whom has made a remarkable impact on independent film culture,” said Executive Director Anne Chaisson. “Also, it is with great admiration that we celebrate our outgoing chairman Stuart Match Suna. His vision and support over the past 18 years has led HIFF to where it is today.”

Emily Blunt, a previous HIFF Rising Stars [now Ten Actors to Watch] honoree, will receive the Variety Creative Impact in Acting Award. The Golden Globe winner can soon be seen in Lionsgate’s “Sicario” with Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin. In the film, Blunt stars as an FBI agent chosen by an elected government task force to aid in the intensifying war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.

Killer Films founders Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler will be presented with the HIFF Industry Award celebrating the New York-based production company’s 20 years of groundbreaking, courageous films and for constantly backing unique voices in independent pictures. Killer Films has produced several acclaimed movies including “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “Carol,” “Far from Heaven,” and “Still Alice,” which made its US Premiere last year at HIFF with the film’s star, Julianne Moore, in attendance.

Iconic documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles will be honored during a posthumous tribute. Maysles passed away in March 2015, leaving cinephiles with his legendary resume that includes “Grey Gardens,” “Gimme Shelter,” and “Iris,” last year’s HIFF’s Documentary Audience Award winner.

HIFF will commemorate founding board member Stuart Match Suna for his 18 years as Board Chairman. Following the 2015 festival, Suna will serve as HIFF’s Chair Emeritus role, stepping down as Chairman with longtime board members Randy Mastro and Alec Baldwin taking over the role. Under Suna’s guidance, the Festival has grown to include screenings in Southampton, Montauk, Sag Harbor, and Westhampton, and developed into a year-round organization. Alec Baldwin will present the award to Suna.

The Hamptons International Film Festival will take place Thursday, October 8th through Monday, October 12th.

For more information, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.